The High Price of Computer Systems
Back to Economic Driving Forces
Description
This page is being edited by Piotr Ptasinski
---
Although prices of computer systems are falling, the price is still high, especially for people in developing countries. The price of a computer system will depend on prices of hardware and software
A basic working computer system is already expensive in hardware components. Added with the high cost of mainstream operating systems and other commercial software used widely, they create a huge barrier for people to get access to computers for themselves and/or their children. Learning from this condition, the project aims to break the barrier by creating an ultra-low-cost system.
To start with, they think of creative ways to bring the cost of the laptop down. An example of this is to use a cheaper version of display (with a portable DVD player display) and using the open source software including a Linux operating system and all other open source applications.
Enablers
The monopoly and domination of Microsoft
High price of components, mainly monitors
Intellectual property / patents
Inhibitor
Open source sotfware
Advanced technology / miniutarization
Declining prices of components
Move of production to low-costs countries
Low trade barriers and taxes
Paradigm
- Open source concept has sprung up in reaction towards Microsoft’s domination and monopoly. These days many aspects of computing software will have an open-source version available for free on the Internet. Although some have surpassed the performance of commercial products, most of these open-source systems are normally not as reliable as their commercial counterparts.
Expert
- Richard Stallman, GNU Project pioneer
Timing
Web Resource
[Microsoft] [GNU Project] [Unix]