Bill Gates Rubbishes $100 Laptop

Techtree News Staff, Mar 17, 2006 1657 hrs IST

Bill Gates has publicly slammed the much-hyped $100 laptop being developed at MIT, backed by funding from Google.

Philanthropist and Microsoft Chairman and Chief Software Architect, Bill Gates, has publicly slammed the much-hyped $100 laptop that is being developed at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) - backed by funding from Google.

Dubbed "One Laptop per Child," the $100 laptop project aims at providing inexpensive computers to people in developing countries. However the project has come under criticism, that these laptops would lack in several features that are found on typical personal computers such as hard disks and software.

Earlier this year Google co-founder Larry Page pledged his company's support for MIT's project, and showed a model using a crank as a source of power.

At the Government Leaders Forum held in Washington, Gates asserted that the last thing one would expect from a shared-use computer is the lack of a disk and the presence of just a tiny little screen.

He expressed the view that hardware is only a small part of the cost of providing computing capabilities, and that the big costs typically come from network connectivity, applications and support.

Gates suggested that for a project wherein computers are being developed for shared-use, it would be advisable to get a broadband connection and get somebody to help support the user, rather than having to crank the computer while trying to type.

Sometime back Kofi Annan heaped praises on the $100 laptop, calling it an "expression of global solidarity," however those in the business of making computers have not shied-away from expressing their "real views" on the project - Bill Gates being the latest case in point.

There have been no comments on the matter, from representatives for the project.

Related News:
Quanta to Build $100 Laptop

USER COMMENTS

I need a Lap Top computer so it will be more easier for me to my work.

by Carla Muhammad, Chicago ILL, on Jun 16, 2009 10:14 AM, Report abuse Reply

There is this social canka that is chopping deep into the fibre in most of the rural communities in Ghana.Women are relegated to the background most specially in the field of education. We are in a group of five and deem it necessary carrying out very intensive project regarding this canka and also empowering women but then we need a laptop computers at least two(2) to assist us execute this project. Please help us with this logistics to stop this canka now. Please we need to save our women now and forever.We hope agent attention will be paid to our cry.Thank you.

by FRANCIS, BOLGATANGA, on Apr 11, 2009 02:39 AM, Report abuse

I AM AN AFRICAN AND WILL BE HAPPY IF YOU CAN SEND ME A MINI -LAPTOP

by OSEI YEBOAH, kumasi, on Feb 23, 2009 06:55 PM, Report abuse Reply

My Heart is really full of joy hoping that my request will gonna have a good reply Please send me one lap top,even an old one because here in our country the life is more hard to buy a Lap top is a gig problem 'cause of successive wars... Please help me with one Lap top Thank you hop to hear from you God bless Kasindi Kasongo valery

by kasindi kasongo, Goma/ DR Congo-Africa, on Jan 25, 2009 07:38 PM, Report abuse Reply

I WILL BE VERY HAPPY IF YOU SEND ME THE LAPTOP AND I WILL THAT YOU FOR THAT OKAY I TANK YOU FOR THAT MAY GOD BE WITH YOU GOODBRY

by david konney, accra, on Oct 20, 2008 10:38 PM, Report abuse Reply

i am a boy of 18 years and in a computer school my parents are very poor they cant afford to buy me a laptop so i am pleading on you sir if you could give me one. God will richly bless you and your entire family. I am a true christian and a god fearing person. i hope by the grace of God you will get it for me amen. Thank you Sir

by Ernestahulu, accra, on Oct 20, 2008 08:46 PM, Report abuse Reply

IT IS VERY GREAT TO MEET BILL GATES!!! HOW ARE YOU PREPARING TO LAUNCH 2015 WINDOW? ARE YOU NOT CHALLENGE OF LINUX DEVELOPMENT? IT'S COMPETITION, YOU HAVE TO DEVELOP NEW THINGS EVERY DAY!!!

by Akin, gabs., on Apr 14, 2008 08:52 PM, Report abuse Reply

THIS IS GOOD FOR ALL PEOPLE WHO IS THAT CATEGORY

by vitthal, mumbai, on Feb 11, 2008 08:26 PM, Report abuse Reply

This is best activity did by Mr.Bill Gate why not other like that thats incresae courage of the people who r that category.

by vitthal, mumbai, on Feb 11, 2008 08:16 PM, Report abuse Reply

I want 2 buy kids laptop where will i get in pune can u give me address with ph no 9911576770

by DINESH, delhi, on Dec 21, 2007 08:09 PM, Report abuse Reply

Dear Techtree team members I very much thankful to you if you helped me to reach this letter to Bill Gates. Dear Sir, It is very grateful me to meet you even by this mail & an infinity valid Thanks to you for spending a little minute on this letter for me and too ?so sorry? in advance if any mistakes are placed. I was so much impressed and inspired of you. I very much love your auto biography and aimed to my life even to reach a 1% position of you. It is very difficult to explain in little words about my feelings on you at first time and the life time is also can be little if I have to say about you, because everything of my aims or inspiration just elevated by ?YOU? and I am very low to say all those sir. Anyhow if you excuse - my prologue: I; P. Aditya Venkata Sivaram, I am an Indian. I am a normal graduate and doing my Post Graduation in MSC (IT) by correspondence from Alagappa University, India. I very much interested in computer proficiency. I am an employee in one of the largest construction company of India as EDP cum System administrator at site level. But this is initial stage to me even if I am doing this job since Sept-2004, because it is unable to me to learn & to reach even a better position in computers culture in my remuneration, due to my family responsibilities & financial crisis. I was full of thoughts and excited with my goals as thirsted man of seeking for a career in Information Technology, incorporating high degree of creativity and innovativeness, thereby opening avenues for my self development and growth to contribute significantly towards my goal. I very much need and requesting you highly, give me your blessings, suggestions and caring hand to make my life meaningful. Sir I will anticipate for your reply for my long life. Please tell my regards to all your family members, relatives, friends and every one of you. Thanking you a lot. Yours lovingly Aditya Sivaram aditya_sivaram1982@yahoo.ca

by ADITYA SIVARAM , A.P., INDIA, on Dec 16, 2007 05:10 PM, Report abuse Reply

i want 2 buy kids laptop where will i get in pune can u give me address along with ph no

by Yogesh Patil, Pune, on Nov 03, 2007 11:38 AM, Report abuse Reply

Call Salil for Laptop-9910904654

by Salil, Delhi, on Aug 22, 2007 07:48 PM, Report abuse Reply

Pls Call For laptop

by Salil, Delhi, on Aug 22, 2007 07:47 PM, Report abuse Reply

Call for Laptop Salil-9910904654

by Salil, Delhi, on Aug 22, 2007 07:45 PM, Report abuse Reply

........i have no laptop or PC...... WHAT CANI DO.....only to see others,.....

by what's need of , kerala, on Aug 20, 2007 07:07 PM, Report abuse Reply

i just can't afford a laptop

by simon, kohima,india, on Aug 20, 2007 02:06 PM, Report abuse Reply

Dear, Sir My name is Ratnesh I'm Studying Hardware & Networking course. I need a free laptop from Bill Gates. I'm very poor thatswhy I can't purchase a laptop so please sir provide me a free laptop

by Ratnesh Ranjan, Raipur, on Aug 18, 2007 09:13 PM, Report abuse Reply

Dear, Sir My name is Seemab I'm Studying M.B.A from Patna University. I need a free laptop from Bill Gates. I'm very poor thatswhy I can't purchase a laptop so please sir provide me a free laptop

by Seemab Soni, PATNA, on Jul 27, 2007 01:04 PM, Report abuse Reply

Its wonderful and has no comments to comment on it.

by Mohd Saif, Allahabad, U.P., India, on Jul 22, 2007 10:30 AM, Report abuse Reply

i know that bill gates is made for poor people he is great man ....we indians will not forget bill any time he is best man i world ........................i love u bill...... i am poor

by sumit, pune, on Apr 29, 2007 11:07 AM, Report abuse Reply

Ah this just infuriates me. "He expressed the view that hardware is only a small part of the cost of providing computing capabilities, and that the big costs typically come from network connectivity, applications and support. " This is Gate's app and support not Linux which are low cost or free and better quality. Plus you do have online apps that are free too for kids or whatever. Plus he is using the term 'shared' because he wants like 5 people on his 500 dollar offering that people will only steal. This is one laptop per-child for basic computing. Everything is negative with him. You all may think Gates is a nice guy and I did agree with his 'passive television' statemet but I am not liking him much lately because he changes words around and doesn't explain himself properly. He comes off as a manipulator. The idea might be a loot but it's a start. Setting up factories take time.

by Joe, Chicago, on Mar 17, 2006 08:40 PM, Report abuse Reply

Windows rules Microsoft now no longer bothers about competetion from Linux, Microsoft now focuses on making some advances software like gesture recognition, which we people can afford. You must accept the fact that people still use pirated Windows OS even though Free Linux is available. I work at Datacenter, We have 80 people for support on Linux and just 13 people for Windows support (there are more Windows server than linux in out Datacenter) - Over all Windows is cheaper than Linux

by Jitesh Ghushe, Mumbai, on May 12, 2006 08:47 AM, Report abuse

we want to know more

by prashanth, warangal, on Mar 26, 2006 10:02 PM, Report abuse Reply

What a rubbish idea. In one hand these big country claim that they are helping poor people around the world by giving dollor away through NGO and UN and in other hand their reasearcher want that money back by selling $100 laptop. Primary and seconday school student still learn using paper and pencile in most of the developed country and these guys are selling laptop to the third world country. The big countries are doing nothing but giving $1 away and taking $10 back by selling these gismos and making them more poorer. If these MIT (along with google ) guys were so serious about this project they would have had setup the assembling plant in one of those african countries and would have generated some employment before selling. This stupid idea is nothing but a loot.

by Prem Sinha, Geneva, Switzerland, on Mar 17, 2006 06:44 PM, Report abuse Reply

You are nuts! Can't you think before you open your big mouth? Bill Gates is mad because, he is not getting his share of $$$ from each laptop sold to the poor in 3rd world countries. I bet Bill will soon come up with a plan to sell $200 laptops ($100 for windows & $100 for the hardware). May be we can pool our resources to donate the laptops rather than making them pay for it! $100 laptop is a gift and not a ripoff like you imply! Joey, Houston, USA

by Joey Matthew, Houston, on Mar 17, 2006 11:28 PM, Report abuse

You guys are just so much onto linux, you do not have brain to understand even basic stuff. Does it really matter what Mr. Gates likes or Dislike about others work, For me it should not. I am raising the question about viability of the project, why to spend $100 for buying gismos when any one can do their study using pen & pencile. Education is basic problem of any third world country, why not train more teachers, open schools and make available books to the poor students. If one has to started this project they should understand first what is needed for them, not that I have invented this and I want to be famous and earn money. I apprecite other MITians who are really doing right work in Africa and Asia and East european country by inventing and teching them how they can make their work easy and earn at the same time how they can inhance to day to day life. ----- out of the subject ---------- Any private company either it be Microsoft, or any other company who promotes linux are going to ripp off the profit by selling their products, only their way of doing is different.

by Prem Sinha, Geneva, switzerland, on Mar 18, 2006 04:37 PM, Report abuse

Its not the question of Linux/Windows. Where do we get the "teachers" from? And if so, who is going to pay for them? Can every child learn from a honorary service? I doubt! Looking from a different angle, I believe the access to information is the goal of the initiative. Hence, the point is to have some OS that sports a pretty decent "Browser". Taking this to the extent of enriching every child in the remote corners of the world. While the costs of these laptops can be shared by NGOs, the internet providers can do their share providing low-cost service to these kids. Its like giving these kids a million books to read and refer!! No idea goes waste - not even if this is never implemented. Probably it can come as backup power idea for normal laptops or any other gizmo! The idea is great and we should aid its reach rather than discouraging it all-together.

by prakram, Bangalore, on Mar 20, 2006 11:37 AM, Report abuse

Mr. prakram, it seems you never bother to read the article before commenting on it and donot have any idea what a poorest society wants before laptop. Even though these laptops will be bought by those poor guys (from their gov), they will sell it and buy bread. Certainly new ideas should be tried out but for that you have to bring the society to that level and you have to start from the basic. I am not able to understand it why anyone wants to develop these laptop, when similar type of toys are present in the market, enhance it, put more stuff, make less jazzy and distribute it for free, why any one wants to collect the cost. Why you want to tech 4th or 5th grader what is internet. You live in Bangalore, why don?t you visit Belgum (I am not sure about spelling) and find out what is there need.

by Prem Sinha, Geneva, on Mar 22, 2006 12:39 AM, Report abuse

http://www.hindu.com/2006/03/17/stories/2006031709 680100.htm From what I can understand of it M$ and BillG are out to dominate the world, come GNU/Linux, Hell or High Water !! They will use all the lowdown dirty tricks to sneak Windoze/Winblows into your already part M$ owned mindshare so that nothing else even gets a snowballs chance in hell. The part in this news report that is of significance is this "No piracy threat" Interestingly, with all the proposed free availability of original software, Microsoft does not see piracy as a threat. "We trust the students [not to indulge in piracy]. The financial and legal aspects are being worked out," Mr. Somasegar said. Microsoft is also looking at setting up its technology components in laboratories of select institutions and train the faculty in curriculum-related technologies. "We will aim for a judicious mix of geographically spread institutions," Chandar Sundaram, the company's Academic Lead, said. I don't believe the first part cause students are simply going to make copies of it and give it to all their pals and who is going to stop it from falling into the hands of major pirates. M$ thats a laugh. The second part is about making M$ software insidious like that other scheme that they have with the education department of the Govt. of Tamil Nadu. Make sure that the teachers know only Windoze/Winblows and if confronted with GNU/Linux can say I know only Windoze/Winblows and since I see only it everywhere why bother to learn another. The current Tamil Nadu govt. is not known for its acomplishments let alone its interest in doing things for the people of Tamil Nadu. So M$ has absolutely no problem in undermining any even vague scheme of using Free/Open Source Software. Now one understands that George Orwell was talking through his hat about '1984' he could not even have begun to imagine of people like Bill G. The guy actually uses philanthropy to have a image make over while he is making sure that nobody even thinks about anything other than M$ software everywhere and anywhere.

by K M Ashraf, Chennai, on Mar 18, 2006 12:20 AM, Report abuse Reply

That's not true. I'm a product of the TN educational system. Many of my friends from rural areas who didn't know enough to power on a PC can now confidently use the Net, windows, basic office suites, etc. Since it is the most widespread, it makes sense to teach it.Although I personally am a nerd who fell in love with UNIX, I support windows. Because - It - Works!!! Yes, it's buggy. Yes, it's irritating. But think of the vast range of mobos, processors, grafix cardss and whatnot that windows supports... It's got to have a few defects. Heck, our college had only Linux (RedHat) on the Net systems... U can't use a bloody flashdrive for heaven's sake.. Plus you can't game properly. When was the last time u saw a Linux version of a mainstream game? And to just use a floppy u gotta go thru major acrobatics. It's not that Linux is bad, it has a long way to go before it has an icecube's chance in hell of unseating MS as king of the consumer desktop market.

by Aditya, Coimbatore, on Mar 20, 2006 08:25 PM, Report abuse

Aditya, you're one of those rare Unix/Linux techies who've got a sensible head. It's easy to use $ instead of S in MS, it seems to be fashionable among blind lovers of Linux. I hate Microsoft and for that very reason I switched to Linux some 5 years back. I was using a 'distro' which was labelled one of the most user-friendly. Out of my own fascination with the command line and general non-techie hacking, I even managed to update libraries and such. I was annoyed at the ugly looking fonts on web pages and the complication of installing browser plugins. I was disillusioned, but still I was firm about not returning to the Evil OS, or O$. But, as I'm a journalist, I've to type text in Tamil. I tried various solutions, apps like Akaram, etc., but I found them to be substandard. I had to type commands on the Konsole to launch the required app. Add to that the mysterious bdf fonts. I accepted defeat in the end and returned to Win98 in which I didn't have to struggle.

by Southall, Southall, on Mar 22, 2006 12:10 AM, Report abuse

(Continuation of my previous message) Just think what a rural consumer would do. Tamil versions of KDE and Gnome are available, but the guys who translated them are so clueless about things like readablity - well-intentioned though they are - that the English tech terms are actually easier to understand than the Tamil equivalents. They mess up even the most fundamental strings like File, Save as, etc. Even if they get a good Tamil or any Indian language interface that would make computer usage easier for them, the inherent complexity of Linux would only restrict them. Even the weird file names are enough to frighten them! Linux is definitely not for the rural user. FYI, I've authored some non-docbook howtos and FAQs on Linux in Tamil when I believed in the hype. Now that I've started thinking about people on the other other of the digital divide, I'm convinced that Linux is just not ready for the 'Joe user'.

by Southall, Southall, on Mar 22, 2006 12:13 AM, Report abuse

Uncle Bill would rather prescribe the $1000 UMPC aka Origami for poor people. Add Rs. 18,000, the cost of Office apps and it gets cheaper. This is just the kind of comment one would expect from Bill. OTOH, I hope this $100 laptop won't be an eyewash like Simputer.

by Southall, Southall, on Mar 21, 2006 02:40 PM, Report abuse Reply

A notebook for a child in a poor country, for $100... wouldnt be much more positive to give them more FOOD and health care??

by Larry, Chicago, on Mar 18, 2006 07:26 AM, Report abuse Reply

health care is just knowledge the laptop can give access to that knowledge

by Chris, Boulder, on Mar 18, 2006 10:43 AM, Report abuse

You feed 'em today and I feed 'em tomorrow and who does this thereafter! Lets help and teach them earn their bread!

by prakram, Bangalore, on Mar 20, 2006 11:42 AM, Report abuse

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by dudu, new york, on Mar 20, 2006 12:03 AM, Report abuse Reply

Ask bill to produce a laptop with winxp and a 3 hour battery for 100$ ..

by varunkrish, chennai, on Mar 19, 2006 10:02 PM, Report abuse Reply

All this kind of rubbish is aimed at only the supposedly called third world countries where bill gates and gill bates and other crappy ******** like him can bribe politicians and get away with dumping their stuff on uneducated nerds and saying see mine is bigger and better than yours. It happens only in India and Africa and countries of the like.
** Message edited by moderator **

by Dr. duckyboose, repaired mumbai, on Mar 19, 2006 03:15 PM, Report abuse Reply

It sounds like Bill can't stand the fact that a computer might be mass-produced that you can't put Windows on. AND that Google is supporting! Go Bill!

by dHinge, Salt Lake, on Mar 19, 2006 04:29 AM, Report abuse Reply

the thoughts better than the actuality!with all the schools in us that could use some why dosnt mister bill gates send some to my sons school in madison,wi.leopold elm.comon mr gates.donate your best to us schools and familys here.ok.

by julea akacheshi, madison,wi, on Mar 18, 2006 10:21 PM, Report abuse Reply

This shows greedy silly BILLY boy's "VAYITHERICHAL"...

by J Prasath, Sivakasi, on Mar 18, 2006 05:58 PM, Report abuse Reply

I have read the comments which have deviated from the matter in issue and prdictably converged on MS bashing and bad mouthing Bill Gates. Please, leave that aside for a moment and let us get down to brass tacks. Firstly, why Laptop and why not Desktop? Secondly, fully functional Desktop with monitor, cd-rom, modem, built-in interface, audio, etc. can be assembled at $200 which can run WIN XP and play many games (of course, not high end ones). It is necessary to concentrate on power to use the contraption - there are many places without eletricity. How about using solar cells? Any enlightment from shall be welcome. Thanks, in advance.

by ence, Kolkata, on Mar 18, 2006 04:55 PM, Report abuse Reply

Well Well Well//!! I quit M$ from today.. Switching to learning Linux and when I am don e learning.. i will migrate all my work/business/academic related works using Open Source.. This guy really sux!!

by Ajay Kumar, Panipat, India, on Mar 18, 2006 03:02 PM, Report abuse Reply

Bill Gate's is a control freak. His dislike of the $100. computer is directly related to its lack of Microsoft technologies.

by S. Ravenna, St. Louis, on Mar 18, 2006 02:52 PM, Report abuse Reply

Great Idea . I like it alot ! Go Larry Page -- Go MIT !!

by Ed-Coelho, Global Village, on Mar 18, 2006 02:04 AM, Report abuse Reply

Bill is just mad because thanks to Linux, Bill won't be getting his $80 per machine for the Windows license. It seems like his 'logic' here is "Why bother? Since REAL laptops are so much better." Of course there is no real logic to this. The fact is, if you teach technology to children, especially in poor countries where the government might be oppressive, you are empowing these children to go find information for themselves. This is why China filters internet traffic, and why North Korea has almost no net connectivity at all. A generation of educated and empowered children are going to grow up into those that bring their countries into the first world. All for $100. Good show people :)

by Michael, Los Angeles, on Mar 18, 2006 02:00 AM, Report abuse Reply