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• Room for everyone
  It?s unfortunate that you took an either/or approach to the issue of bringing computing technology to developing countries. Many of your criticisms of OLPC and other low-cost initiatives are valid ? they are being introduced into a weak ecosystem, and it will be a challenge to fill in the component parts of the value chain after the machine?s introduction.
  
  However, it?s a big world, whether you view it as a market opportunity, a target for philanthropy, or a collection of societies that are better left to their own devices. There?s room enough for everybody, and the high demand for computer usage in developing countries will likely be met by a wide variety of computing solutions.
  
  The simultaneous use of one modern, powerful PC by multiple users is one of many viable options for reducing the cost of computing ? a goal for many people in both developing and developed countries. Several companies have played with the idea, but larger multinationals have shied away from it, believing a multi-user system would cannibalize their individual-user PC sales and put further pressure on already slim margins.
  
  Ncomputing, Userful, and a few other companies have figured out that multi-user computers can be profitable while meeting a key user demand (i.e., lower per-seat costs). For those who are interested, Vital Wave Consulting (where I work) has produced a brief report on the business case for multi-user computers. Visit http://www.vitalwaveconsulting.com/publications-2.htm for details.

  July 24, 2007

  2 replies