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Baquawn
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Sun Aug 13, 8:37 AM ET
BANGKOK, Thailand - Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has announced that an ambitious project to provide low-cost laptop computers to all of Thailand's millions of elementary school students will begin in October.
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The U.S.-based "One Laptop per Child" project aims to deliver up to 30 computers to Thailand in October and 500 more in November, Thaksin said in a nationwide radio broadcast on Saturday.
"If this project is completed, each elementary school child will receive a computer to learn on at school," Thaksin said.
"Each elementary school child will receive a computer that the government will buy for them, free of charge, instead of books, because books will be found and can be read on computers," he said.
He said the first batch of laptops — costing around US$100 (euro79) each — will be distributed to children in rural areas where access to technology is limited. Those children will test the computers before the government proceeds with the project nationwide. The laptops are not yet in production.
The Thai government adopted the project a year ago after Thaksin met the "One Laptop Per Child" project's founder, Nicholas Negroponte, the state Thai News Agency reported Sunday.
Some critics say the project misallocates resources and that governments in developing countries would do better to invest in providing for more basic needs. Other countries that have shown interest in the project — which has been endorsed by the United Nations — include China and Brazil, Thaksin said.
The machines are being designed to be cheap and sturdy, and have minimum running costs. They will use the free Linux operating system, flash memory instead of a hard drive, and according to Thaksin will be able to run on an outboard electricity generator that is pumped by hand.
Thaksin entered business as an agent for IBM computer systems, and later built a telecommunications empire that made him one of Thailand's richest men.
The prime minister last week launched his campaign for re-election at polls scheduled for Oct. 15.
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Thai Girls : Meet Sexy Thai Girls
Posted on: 11:25 pm on Aug. 13, 2006
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Skip
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LOL- Pure electioneering... 
Watch and see- he'll tell the rural masses delivery begins the week following the election. Only, he'll call the deal off based on a technicality right after. 
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Bangkok Women : Meet Sensual Bangkok Women
Posted on: 11:51 pm on Aug. 13, 2006
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DaffyDuck
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First off, Baquawn, don't be stepping on PL69's toes... what with posting articles and stuff.
Secondly - oh dear buddha, Thaksin fell for Nic Negroponte's $100 laptop idiocy, and I'm sure Niccy is rubbing his hands all over that coup...
Sorry, but even if these laptops ever see the light of day in production, the whole concept is insanely stupid, and useless without any serious connectivity. Sure, it's nice for kids to have laptops -- to play solitaire on.
What will most likely happen is that you will be able to purchase these laptops quite quickly at MBK or Panthip for $50-$100, the first week the family has to eat.
You are right, pure electioneering - and definite proof that Thaksin has lost it.
Hey, he's running for re-election? I thought he 'stepped out'? I guess that little smoke and mirror trick worked like a charm.
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Thai Girls : Meet Sexy Thai Girls
Posted on: 1:51 am on Aug. 14, 2006
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Mel Gibson
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US$100,,, AHHh did they explain to TAXSIN that is just the plastic cover ??? no internals?,, no screen.
But then again if its from the USA best it NOT have any internals that may twist and contort Thai brains to thinking, tonite ??? Ketchup??? Shrimp ???Cantelope???
Tom - MAY -toe ???? 9-11 when it was 11-9 ???????????
Driving on the wrong side of the road???
God bless America for her help in giving the Thai's over-priced laptop covers, hopefully they will be filled with correct English language and date formats.
Fire away boys.
LOL
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Bangkok Girls : Meet Sexy Bangkok Girls
Posted on: 3:28 am on Aug. 14, 2006
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expatchuck
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Mel:
I'm gonna report you to the IDF if you keep this up.
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Thai Women : Meet Matured Thai Women
Posted on: 6:11 am on Aug. 14, 2006
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LocalYokul
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now the local population will be popping out even more kids in the hopes of getting a free computer, 555
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Bangkok Women : Meet Beautiful Thai Girls
Posted on: 7:33 am on Aug. 14, 2006
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Tyfon
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530 computers / (school-age population of Thailand)...
Yeah, that should just about work out to 1:1 8^)
Wait until all the older sisters get a hold of them, this forum is going to be knee-deep in BGs =8^O
The article has a typo:
"Those children will test the computers before the government proceeds with the project nationwide. "
Should read:
"Those children will SELL the computers before the government KNOWS WHAT'S HAPPENING. "
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Bangkok Girls : Meet Attractive Thai Girls
Posted on: 7:56 pm on Aug. 14, 2006
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Mel Gibson
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Expat,,, IDF ok,, but please PLEASE not the IRS,,, I get enough trouble from the Aussie Tax nazies.
Maybe my maths needs tuning,,, but aren't there around 15 million children 14 and under,,, so maybe 20 odd million wanting those lap=tops,,,,, plus a birth rate of some 50,000 plus per month and Taksin is ordering 500 a month????
Just to make a small dent in the problem he needs 100,000 per month which equates to US$10,000,000 per month for crap that won't really help.
Surely the best initial direction would be to have a more than few cheap PC's in schools, linked to a server that runs/stores the bulk of programmes etc etc and allow / restrict internet access. Cheap to set up,, the kids don't get to sell them and they have access to a lot of the latest programmes ( hopefully minus porn and games ----sorry to be a miser). Pc's that are more than capable are available for less than AUD$100 inclusive of a CD burner ( per 4 PC's) for them to save their work, internet access surely would be negotiable from a cost point of view from a leading Thai company. A school with say 800 students could have 80 PC's and server set up under AUD$11,000, with ongoing costs minimal.
AHH perhaps I dream,, alll sounds too easy and after all this IS Thailand.
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Thai Girls : Meet Active Thai Girls
Posted on: 8:04 am on Aug. 15, 2006
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Ballsburstin
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Mel Gibson,
You aren't far off with the idea about PC's in the upcountry schools. My TGF's village, which is hardly a megalopolis, and definitely qualifies as "rural," has a few PC's in the school, along with internet connectivity. It's affordable, with government help, and allows the teachers to control their whereabouts (so they don't end up in the local pawn shop so quickly).
- Balls
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Thai Women : Meet Matured Thai Women
Posted on: 12:11 pm on Aug. 15, 2006
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