[Fsf-friends] Free Computers

[Ramanraj K]

Manilal K M wrote:

>Hello friend, 
>To sit and write and a code that you have given,  we need resources. We need a machine,  connectivity. 
>Where it will comes from. Those who do not have a PC and wishes to do such a job , what he will do? 
>What I meant by the word 'fund' is the things needed for sustainability. 
>Manilal 
>  
>
Personally, many years ago, when Sinclair Spectrum ZX81 32K and BBC 128K 
micros were being introduced, I was curious to know what these could do. 
 The British Council Library at Chennai, had these two, and allowed the 
members who requested, to use them freely for 20 minutes.  I used to 
queue, just to hit a few commands and see it run Basic, or play a game 
of Crosswords.  I have personally felt the pain of being without a 
machine, even though it was of no real use for me then. Not having a PC 
to do work is a serious problem.  I guess most developers would always 
miss a better machine, and only the scale varies.  For Charles Babbage, 
assembling the hardware itself was a major project, that never 
materialised during his life time.  We are fortunate to live in better 
times, but still many are without access to a PC [please don't confuse 
this with Plumbing Connection for water, which might also be missing], 
and those with a PC might be missing a more powerful machine.  

We could see this as state responsibility.  All public libraries could 
have as many computers as possible connected to the Internet all the 
time, and those interested could share and use them.   Free computers 
could be provided in kiosks, schools, public libraries, and wherever 
possible.  We just know that India could afford to lose more than 
Rs.3000 crores per annum for the past 10 years in counterfeit stamp 
papers and I am sure with these leaks plugged, we can afford to have 
Free Computers and other benefits.

As the Free Software philosophy reaches more quarters, a more equal 
public sharing of resources looks quite possible.