FYI: Cranking up the Laptop

http://laptop.media.mit.edu/

One Laptop per Child, a non-profit group started by faculty at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to design, manufacture and distribute inexpensive (about $100.00) hand-crankable Linux-based laptops for children around the world. The computers would be made by Taiwan based Quanta Computer Inc. and would initially produce 5-15 million units to be sold to governments in China, India, Brazil, Argentina, Egypt, Nigeria and Thailand and given free to children in those countries. When that phase is completed, other countries would be included.
The units are so energy efficient that hand-cranking alone would generate enough power for operation, and mesh networking will give many systems Internet access from one connection.

In my opinion this is a wonderful way to bring children from the entire world together, and I hope that schools in developed nations will interact with the countries who have been given this opportunity. This is a tremendous project and I wish them great success.