Comments on: Netbooks = AfriGadget http://kikuyumoja.com/2009/02/26/netbooks-afrigadget/ Thu, 11 Mar 2010 03:19:25 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: umbrarchist http://kikuyumoja.com/2009/02/26/netbooks-afrigadget/comment-page-1/#comment-30000 umbrarchist Thu, 18 Jun 2009 04:57:25 +0000 http://kikuyumoja.com/2009/02/26/netbooks-afrigadget/#comment-30000 I bought an OLPC on the Give 1 Get 1 plan a year ago. I was just curious about it but I admit that I was impressed by the ruggedness of it and the screen is much better than I expected. But I have looked at a couple of netbooks, a Lenovo and an Asus. The annoying thing about the OLPC from an adults perspective is the keyboard. The netbooks have better keyboards in terms of usability, but I think most netbooks could be broken much more quickly than the OLPC. The netbooks are considerably more powerful than the OLPC-XO1 though. The OLPC can get bogged down on a lot of websites that do fancy graphics. <a href="http://www.netbookation.com/netbkbnch.htm" rel="nofollow">Byte '83</a> http://www.netbookation.com/netbkbnch.htm I bought an OLPC on the Give 1 Get 1 plan a year ago. I was just curious about it but I admit that I was impressed by the ruggedness of it and the screen is much better than I expected. But I have looked at a couple of netbooks, a Lenovo and an Asus. The annoying thing about the OLPC from an adults perspective is the keyboard. The netbooks have better keyboards in terms of usability, but I think most netbooks could be broken much more quickly than the OLPC.

The netbooks are considerably more powerful than the OLPC-XO1 though. The OLPC can get bogged down on a lot of websites that do fancy graphics.

Byte ‘83

http://www.netbookation.com/netbkbnch.htm

]]> By: Leo Faya http://kikuyumoja.com/2009/02/26/netbooks-afrigadget/comment-page-1/#comment-25970 Leo Faya Sun, 01 Mar 2009 01:23:56 +0000 http://kikuyumoja.com/2009/02/26/netbooks-afrigadget/#comment-25970 jke: In the US during Netzero, AOL, Compuserve,Prodigy, we used dial up, I remember Netzero had a lucrative business model around dial up. Businesses didnt complain about connectivity, businesses adapted to the burgeoning internet wave, 56K was an issue but we were all excited to access content and develop this new thing called the web. To me its seems like Kenya is just waiting for Bandwidth and then they will attempt to solve all these issues that they think they are having because of bandwidth... I dont think it works like that, I think we make do with what we have... Just like we did with the mobile phones - although again I have to go back to platforms.. if there is no platform for local developers or businesses to build apon all these devices and utilities will go to waste.. Ive seen this happen over and over again in Kenya.. jke:

In the US during Netzero, AOL, Compuserve,Prodigy, we used dial up, I remember Netzero had a lucrative business model around dial up. Businesses didnt complain about connectivity, businesses adapted to the burgeoning internet wave, 56K was an issue but we were all excited to access content and develop this new thing called the web.

To me its seems like Kenya is just waiting for Bandwidth and then they will attempt to solve all these issues that they think they are having because of bandwidth… I dont think it works like that, I think we make do with what we have… Just like we did with the mobile phones – although again I have to go back to platforms.. if there is no platform for local developers or businesses to build apon all these devices and utilities will go to waste.. Ive seen this happen over and over again in Kenya..

]]> By: jke http://kikuyumoja.com/2009/02/26/netbooks-afrigadget/comment-page-1/#comment-25956 jke Sat, 28 Feb 2009 01:06:49 +0000 http://kikuyumoja.com/2009/02/26/netbooks-afrigadget/#comment-25956 Thx! @Lexi: Yes, they are perfect for kids. Erik also gave his 4G eee PC to his daughters. @Leo: That's a damn good question about the local content. Like local content for phones, netbooks may also help to propel the development of local services - although, again, connectivity is the issue here, I guess. Phones were made for 1:1 communication, but computers? It would be interesting to see local WiMax solutions coming up that could help promoting local content. Thx!

@Lexi: Yes, they are perfect for kids. Erik also gave his 4G eee PC to his daughters.

@Leo: That’s a damn good question about the local content. Like local content for phones, netbooks may also help to propel the development of local services – although, again, connectivity is the issue here, I guess. Phones were made for 1:1 communication, but computers?

It would be interesting to see local WiMax solutions coming up that could help promoting local content.

]]> By: Lexi http://kikuyumoja.com/2009/02/26/netbooks-afrigadget/comment-page-1/#comment-25954 Lexi Sat, 28 Feb 2009 00:38:16 +0000 http://kikuyumoja.com/2009/02/26/netbooks-afrigadget/#comment-25954 Awesome article, and good points. Netbooks also seem like they might be good for kids? Awesome article, and good points.

Netbooks also seem like they might be good for kids?

]]> By: Leo Faya http://kikuyumoja.com/2009/02/26/netbooks-afrigadget/comment-page-1/#comment-25951 Leo Faya Fri, 27 Feb 2009 20:35:40 +0000 http://kikuyumoja.com/2009/02/26/netbooks-afrigadget/#comment-25951 Probably one of the best posts i've read in a long time, while I agree and see where you are going with this one. I have to pose an interesting question or challenge to you. To me the netbook is just a device, to call it an Afrigadget wouldnt be ideal because it assumes that the device by itself will solve most of Africa's connectivity and IT usage problems. the underlying factors I think for me are platforms, people buy laptops today in Kenya to access content that is not available in Kenya. People buy mobile phones to access content that is in Kenya. Do you see where I am going with this? I dont think the netbook should be the answer to Africa if Africa doesnt have a framework to make local content available on the Netbook or any other device that will come up. To me thats the ultimate solution in Africa/ Kenya because if these devices will only be available to people who can afford yet there is no local demand, local content and local material then the NETBOOK will just end up being a device for the "people like me" (a particular class and status of people) Its a sad and sorry truth I believe. Just my two cents.. But none the less I enjoyed the post because I too have been keen on the NETBOOK and think its what AFRICA needs, but I am thinking more in terms of enabling the framework around the netbook and other portable devices. LF Probably one of the best posts i’ve read in a long time, while I agree and see where you are going with this one. I have to pose an interesting question or challenge to you. To me the netbook is just a device, to call it an Afrigadget wouldnt be ideal because it assumes that the device by itself will solve most of Africa’s connectivity and IT usage problems.

the underlying factors I think for me are platforms, people buy laptops today in Kenya to access content that is not available in Kenya. People buy mobile phones to access content that is in Kenya. Do you see where I am going with this? I dont think the netbook should be the answer to Africa if Africa doesnt have a framework to make local content available on the Netbook or any other device that will come up.

To me thats the ultimate solution in Africa/ Kenya because if these devices will only be available to people who can afford yet there is no local demand, local content and local material then the NETBOOK will just end up being a device for the “people like me” (a particular class and status of people) Its a sad and sorry truth I believe.

Just my two cents.. But none the less I enjoyed the post because I too have been keen on the NETBOOK and think its what AFRICA needs, but I am thinking more in terms of enabling the framework around the netbook and other portable devices.

LF

]]> By: jke http://kikuyumoja.com/2009/02/26/netbooks-afrigadget/comment-page-1/#comment-25949 jke Fri, 27 Feb 2009 19:18:13 +0000 http://kikuyumoja.com/2009/02/26/netbooks-afrigadget/#comment-25949 Let's hope that prices will drop further - Acer already lowered theirs in a first attempt, offering basic 8,9" Linux devices for below ~ EUR 200. The many GNU/Linux distros with a special focus on Netbooks are another advantage I haven't mentioned here (=> no malware => more productivity; support for GSM devices). Let’s hope that prices will drop further – Acer already lowered theirs in a first attempt, offering basic 8,9″ Linux devices for below ~ EUR 200.

The many GNU/Linux distros with a special focus on Netbooks are another advantage I haven’t mentioned here (=> no malware => more productivity; support for GSM devices).

]]> By: Kirima http://kikuyumoja.com/2009/02/26/netbooks-afrigadget/comment-page-1/#comment-25941 Kirima Fri, 27 Feb 2009 04:59:07 +0000 http://kikuyumoja.com/2009/02/26/netbooks-afrigadget/#comment-25941 I couldn't agree more, the extended battery life would be what we are all looking for especially when on the road. Internet hotspots in Kenya are notorious for NOT providing power sockets. Netbooks are increasingly popular in the market but the price difference with conventional laptops is still very small but I trust they will hit critical mass within a very short time. I couldn’t agree more, the extended battery life would be what we are all looking for especially when on the road. Internet hotspots in Kenya are notorious for NOT providing power sockets.
Netbooks are increasingly popular in the market but the price difference with conventional laptops is still very small but I trust they will hit critical mass within a very short time.

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