How about starting a non-profit to run an affordable wireless ISP? I mean, we could provide PC's too, but the monthly fee is what's going to turn off people with fixed incomes. Obviously, it would have to be a fairly limited speed, with P2P stuff blocked. Maybe it could even be free like Google's or like some cities have.
<br><br>-mm<br><br><p><DEFANGED_div><DEFANGED_span class="gmail_quote">On 10/24/06, <b class="gmail_sendername">Bill Littlejohn</b> <<a href="mailto:billl@mtd-inc.com">billl@mtd-inc.com</a>> wrote:</DEFANGED_span><blockquote class="gmail_quote" DEFANGED_style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;">
Bill Creswell wrote:<br>><br>> Let's not forget whether there is a market. I used to have P2's and<br>> P3's around my house to give away, but find very few people who want a<br>> computer that do not have one.
<br>I think this is because people tend to associate the usefulness of the<br>computer with access to the internet. It is seen as a communication tool<br>first and foremost. People with the disposable income for an ISP tend to
<br>have a computer already (new or secondhand), and those that do not -<br>tend to not want one.<br>I would suggest that GRLUG pc's be 'advertised' first as educational and<br>fun, second as an 'easier and more secure' way to get on the internet.
<br>In my experience there are many kids 7-15 that are denied the computer<br>time they want because their family only has one flaky Windows pc, and<br>they don't want it pushed over the edge, or the parent understands how
<br>likely it is for their kid to get exposed to various nasties.<br>I think a full Edubuntu install would work for both the family that<br>wants the kids safer, and the ones who probably can't get internet<br>access, but it would depend on the presentation to drive interest.
<br>Bill<br><br><br><br>_______________________________________________<br>grlug mailing list<br><a href="mailto:grlug@grlug.org">grlug@grlug.org</a><br><a href="http://shinobu.grlug.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/grlug">http://shinobu.grlug.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/grlug
</a><br></blockquote></p><DEFANGED_div><br>