Larry Press wrote: > > Folks, > > Regardless of the form factor -- PC, laptop, PDA, cell phone, tablet, > etc. -- it needs a fast connection to the Net. > > For many of the applications we are discussing, a connected PDA would > be superior to a stand alone super computer. > > The connectivity part is difficult because it requires a coordinated > infrastructure investment. > > Larry
Yes, this is the BIGGEST problem! They talk about the last mile... in a lot of countries, it's the last country. I met a new friend at the MobileActive Convergence... from the DRC (Congo), who crosses a border to stand in line at a cybercafe in the hope that they don't close before he gets to use a computer. The main problem with internet access that I have seen in the developing world is related to telecommunications regulation. Not technology. Law before connectivity is the rule. Bad rule, in my opinion. So yes, fast internet is necessary. Definitely. But with less bloated data, you don't need as much of a connection. Open Challenge: Someone send me a Microsoft Office document, and I can send it back to you smaller in an open format. Unfortunately, Microsoft doesn't support it... but that format is used by OpenOffice.org and has reduced file sizes TO 33% of the Microsoft sizes that I have seen. Or just try RTF (Rich Text Format). An algorithm that decreases the time it takes to do something in half is always better than a processor that is twice as fast as the previous processor. And that goes with size too. -- Taran Rampersad Presently in: San Fernando, Trinidad [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.knowprose.com http://www.easylum.net http://www.digitaldivide.net/profile/Taran Coming on January 1st, 2006: http://www.OpenDepth.com "Criticize by creating." — Michelangelo _______________________________________________ DIGITALDIVIDE mailing list DIGITALDIVIDE@mailman.edc.org http://mailman.edc.org/mailman/listinfo/digitaldivide To unsubscribe, send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the body of the message.
