Message-ID: <199601031808.NAA26008@lifestat.net> Date: Wed, 3 Jan 1996 13:08:53 -0500 From: "Bruce L. Geisert" <mailto:bgeisert@LIFESTAT.NET> Subject: Computers for Africa To: Multiple recipients of list DEVEL-L <mailto:DEVEL-L@AMERICAN.EDU>
Posting from H-AFRICA:------------------------------
Date: Tue, 2 Jan 1996 15:01:48 -0500 From: Harold Marcus <mailto:ethiopia@hs1.hst.msu.edu> Subject: FYI: computers for africa (fwd)
Date: Tue, 02 Jan 96 From: louise leonard <mailto:LOULEON@nervm.nerdc.ufl.edu>
I found this intriguing announcement in the NYT or another newspaper that I read and I wonder if anyone knows more about it: "Free-lance financial journali st Brendan Murphy of New York is collecting TRS-80 portable computers (Models 100, 102 and 200) sold by Radio Shack in the 1980's. The computers will be sent to Mali where journalists will use them to file stories from remote areas. To donate a TRS-80 call Murphy at (212) 608-2150 or fax him at (212) 374-9763. The computers will be accepted by the nonprofit Center for Foreign Journalists in Reston, Va., which makes the donations tax-deductible."
This sounds like a fascinating and worthy project to me and I am passing on the information for comment.
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 2 Jan 1996 21:01:35 -0500 From: Harold Marcus <mailto:ethiopia@hs1.hst.msu.edu> Subject: Re: FYI: computers for africa (fwd)
>From HGM: Having used TRS-80s from 1982-1986, I was skeptical when
Louise Leonard send in her post. The TRS-80's CPU was not compatible with any other PC. I nonetheless sent her post through. I remain skeptical.Date: Tue, 2 Jan 1996 From: Gretchen Walsh <mailto:gwalsh@acs.bu.edu>
Possibly a fascinating idea, but one with a lot of problems. There are, for instance, many questions of the state of the equipment, the compatability with newer computers, and what is meant by "filing stories", since word processing is one thing, and sending copy over phone lines in another. There are newer models of computers which individuals and corporations might contribute. Philanthropy toward Africa should not simply be a way of getting rid of trash.
However, I'd like to get the citation to the article and read it before completely trashing the idea.
------------------------------
============================================================ Bruce L. Geisert, MIS Consultant P.O. Box 254 p/f) 1-540-937-3651 Amissville, VA 22002 mailto:bgeisert@lifestat.net