The $100 laptop

[FoulDragon at aol.com]

In a message dated 10/10/2005 2:20:35 PM US Mountain Standard Time, 
plug-discuss at stcaz.net writes:

>  There are still a very few applications where it makes sense, but I don't 
believe this >system will ever be used by people who could afford that type of 
vertical market app.

There are probably some "vertical" applications which might have great appeal.

I could imagine setting these machines up with complete copies of legal codes 
and forms so people can apply for government services more easily.  
Similarly, it might become appealing to develop specialised spreadsheets and databases 
for compliance with local tax codes or trade rules.  I doubt TurboTax comes in 
a Botswana edition. :D

Depending on the connectivity available, I could also see specialised 
communications apps for different nations' infrastructures.  Some areas may set up a 
BBS-style system if Internet access is limited or to provide a censored forum, 
and others may want offline readers to keep communications costs low.

The schools that get these will likely need localized, both in language and 
content, edutainment and research tools.  Will a student in Brazil want an 
Americocentric encyclopedia on CD?

If a lot of distribution is done through governments, I'd fully expect each 
government would have its own visions of what apps would be useful to include, 
likely in synch with its particular motives, and they might front the money 
for some of the development.