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• Paul Disu-Lord – January 2 2008

  I have changed my mind about OLPC because of its ineffective marketing strategy. Rather than continue to add constructive critizisms I believe that helping to further the cause of education would be a better way to spend my time.
  
  OLPC org has to adapt to harsh business realities. Selling in Nigeria, Africa is not your everyday event, just ask Simens Ag. The new Federal Government may yet to say NO to 1M orders but chasing the tail of a 2 headed snake is not a winners' game. My NO to olpc is not about the cool educational tool but its marketing which a poor effort compared to the talents on the production team.
  
  It is a shame that I have had to defend my negative comments about OLPC even though I think education and technology are the only ways to change our planet. To the development team, my profound apologies. I admire the thinking behind it but the delivery has been shown weak. Africa may say poor to everyone but you are putting an executive tool into the hands of poor people and asking for trouble.
  
  The markets love trouble which can translate into win-win for all. But How? Here is an example. The associated costs of training the teachers (a huge number on strike over salary arrears) and asking people to do additional work without proper compensation is all part of the social system that must be brought to the forefront. Who has a big cheque book? All are win-win partnerships.
  
  There are many more USPs that will help olpc eat Intel's lunch in Africa and the rest of the third world. The carriers: in a country where over 60% live below the poverty line, 256 kilobits per second (kbps)costs about $900 a month on top of $1500 for equipment equals qu'ils mangent de la brioche (let them eat cake). How do we educate the policymakers? Pls note the we.