[LUAU] Bill Gates mocks MIT's $100 laptop project... vs. Origami project

[Julian Yap]

Bill Gates recently mocked[1] the $100 laptop computer project for
developing countries being developed at the Massachusetts Institute of
Technology[2].

His argument: "The last thing you want to do for a shared use computer
is have it be something without a disk ... and with a tiny little
screen."

This came after he showed off a new "ultra-mobile computer" which runs
Microsoft Windows on a 7" touch screen.  This was nicknamed the 'Origami
Project' to some built up hype[3].

Please note that the first generation hardware specs for the $100 laptop
mention a 7" diagonal 4:3 aspect ratio TFT panel[4].  At least they
include a keyboard and not as an optional accessory.  Typing with thumbs
doesn't look like any fun at all[5].

Gates continues: "If you are going to go have people share the computer,
get a broadband connection and have somebody there who can help support
the user, geez, get a decent computer where you can actually read the
text and you're not sitting there cranking the thing while you're trying
to type."

Things aren't looking too good Mr Gates[6].

He's probably just angry there won't be a Microsoft tax on the
machines[7].

LINK:
1. http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060316/tc_nm/microsoft_gates_dc
2. http://laptop.org/
3. http://www.origamiproject.com
4. http://wiki.laptop.org/wiki/Hardware_specification
5.
http://news.yahoo.com/photos/ss/events/tc/080101microsoft/im:/060309/481/les11003091328;_ylt=Auc.rMxsKqrdTQhLh01Olo3lWMcF;_ylu=X3oDMTA5bGcyMWMzBHNlYwNzc25hdg--
6. http://www.redherring.com/Article.aspx?a=16129
7. http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20051128-5639.html