You Don't Need a New Laptop

thinkhuman.com

7 points·jamesgill··6 comments

I have considered for a while there should be a service for the impoverished to be able to request a linux machine by email, as especially for the young, the only cost effective "computers" anymore are phones, tvs and tablets that are too locked down to do anything with.

Mini PCs are available on Amazon for $180. On Craigslist near me I just saw a laptop for $45, and dozens in the $150-225 range.

These all seem like pretty cost effective options. It’s certainly much cheaper than when I was a kid.

Those mini PCs are pretty great, actually. They're not the fastest machines in the world (at that price point), but they're plenty fast enough for most people, and fast enough that I use a few as servers.

Also, if people are lucky enough to have an electronics recycler near them, I always recommend buying refurbished machines there. The prices are great and (at least with the one near me) they come with a warranty.

you overestimate the liquidity of someone in a very rural area.

They weren't any cheaper in the past, and this isn't an ongoing expense.

Save up, $10/month for 5 months, and get a used laptop that will likely last for years. If someone can't afford that, then it simply isn't a priority for them, which is fine.

The bigger issue for someone in a very rural area is getting internet access. That will be a bigger issue and expense than the computer. Over time, internet is likely a bigger expense for everyone than the computers they use to access it.

I like this idea. I have FreeGeek in my area, but there are some steps between asking and receiving one.

The real barrier I've discovered is perception: we've been convinced of the notion that, like cars and other things, we need the newest, fastest, shiniest computer available. People almost disdain 'used' computers.

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