Microsoft never bribed anyone

OLPC is Linux based and deeply so. Open source is key, as your story says. But to suggest that Microsoft has bribed anybody, really or metaphorically, is a mistake. To be "Open" means to be open to all operating systems. I have encouraged Microsoft to make Windows for the XO computers. I think Linux will win on its own merrits, not by OLPC being proprietary. Needless to say, no funding, sponsoship or money has changed hands.

Nicholas Negroponte

Subject: WiMAX inapplicable to developing economies - report

They are wrong on this completely.

1) how can one consider voice services a competition to data sevices ???

2) especially in the so-called developing countries are usually state-owned or state-supported land-line monopolies. This means causing sky-high prices for even dial-up access, not to mention DSL

3) mobile networks are NOT intended primarily for data. Therefore data services by cellular networks are significanly more expensive and with worse parameters to WiMax.

I can say this as here, in Slovakia the whole WiMax project took off NOT because of pure infrastructure (70% homes has land line and 80% people mobile), but because of draconian prices for DSL dictated by local land-line monopoly.

$25 for 1GB aDSL plan is not acceptable. Especially in a country where average monthly pay is $500(after taxes).

As such $15 3GB(or $25 10GB) Wimax plan is pretty successfull... Hell, even $15 1GB EDGE plan has some 50+k!! subscribers (compared to 200k DSL lines) mostly as a home internet connection even in urban areas where land-line/DSL IS available.

And I can tell PC penetration is NOT an issue since $400. To buy a PC is not a problem compared to $40 monthly as an Internet fee...

Cheers

mino

Subject: Kansas

Toto, “I have a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore.” -- L. Frank Baum

Hope all are safe!

Toby

Subject: As usual JUST talk from Intel

As usual Intel is talking B.S. again with 32 nano chips. They are good at hype but bad at delivering a quality, mature process, as history has confirmed time and time again.

Randy

Subject: bung

I had carrot over you crawls and was milded by it all. It is probably the due to bad influence by the croc. They think they have the market cornered.

I hear the croc is bringing out a new product line. From the road map specs, it all sounds very impressive. They should give DAAMIT a run for their money.

I think fenders will be very pleased with the offering, but the the fembots won't be such an easy sell.

TG

Subject: Kim found dead

This is a sad story but I have to wonder what those folks were thinking driving off in to the winter wilderness ALONE with two young children. I also wonder about the decision to walk for help in such an isolated area? With no disrespect for Kim, this should be an example for others to learn from of what NOT to do.

Randy

Subject: Voles and Punters

To the american guy that couldn't understand about "punters" and "Voles"

(from http://everything2.com/index.pl?node_id=309930&lastnode_id=0 )

-- Punter: London slang meaning a client or customer. Originally referred to betting on horses or in card games: the punt, or pound, was your stake money.

(from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Inquirer#Nicknames_and_terminology )

-- The Vole - Microsoft

Someone shouldn't be allowed to access internet if he/she can't use a search engine properly, namely google or such.

Keep your journalism, I just plain love the INQ and I'm no american nor european ;)

Greetings from Mexico

raskolnikov

Subject: wifi paranoid

And a week or so after the anonymous one's incessantly silly letter:

"Cell phones don't raise cancer risk: study"

http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireStory?id=2704498&page=1

Of course, asking The Inq to only print verifiable truth in its pages would make for substantially less amusement. Keep up the awesome Inq'ness. But tell "anonymous" to stop eating lead paint chips.

Sincerely, James White