News The Humane Reader: a $20 PC

http://www.bit-tech.net/news/2010/07/19/humane-reader-a-20usd-pc/1

 

Better idea than this new item: Recycle old Thin clients, replace the embedded OS with DSL and add wikipedia/e-books.

Less waste as you are not producing a new item.

- Check out loading DSL onto a Compaq Evo T20 thin client via google - something I intend to do soon

 

Confusis, check out Computer Aid they do what you suggested

 

Thats the way it should be - recycle our old unwanted/outdated stuff rather that make new systems for the developing nations. Why manufacture (at the cost of new materials, mining, pollution) new products when we are struggling to cope with the E-waste or huge corps/everyday users? Most of the PC's that companies throw out are still in working order and should be passed on not dumped.

I sort of do this here, accept older pc's, refurb them and then pass them onto local families that need them, only the cost of my labour and any replacement parts is passed on (usually under NZ$50 for a P4/Celeron system). I also accept their older PC's to recycle and refurb older PC's. Enabling families with school children to have at the least Windows XP on an internet capable PC. Just doing my part

 

The only problem with that, is that it's not as low-power as this...thing (In honesty I'm not sure what to class it as), and you still need an external monitor on top of that

 

Rather than recycle, we (my family) always gave our old computers to family, friends or to charity.

 

I did think that but how much energy is used producing a new system?

My T20 uses ~10w. Probably the only extra cost would be a VGA->TV convertor (if required) , and a USB KB (cheaper/same cost as a ps2 keyboard, and generally when companies throw out systems they throw the whole lot, KB, mouse, Monitor, etc)

OT - I think the Humane website has crashed :/ Was trying to d/l the system design/source codes

 

how about something similar with a small projector display so that you dont need the tv, just a dark room

 

Really amazing use for a atmega328

 

that IS recycling.

 

no it's reusing

 

It really is, I can barely make a calculator out of an AVR