This may not apply to all, but the best place to look is the Sunday
advertisements. This past week I saw new fast computers with monitors and
CD_RW for $299 from big store chains (I'm in the Philadelphia area). No,
it's not $100, but I was amazed at how low the price is getting.

RB

 

  _____  

From: technology-bounces at nifl.gov [mailto:technology-bounces at nifl.gov] On
Behalf Of Tina_Luffman at yc.edu
Sent: Wednesday, December 14, 2005 11:26 AM
To: The Technology and Literacy Discussion List
Subject: Re: [Technology] Helping adult learners buy inexpensivehome
computers

 

Hi NIFL,

 

I also asked my husband last night and he said that another way for students
to save money is to buy computers with Linux since it saves the $100+
operating system fee for Windows. He has heard of groups buying up laptops
and desktop computers with Linux operating systems to send to third world
countries. Some computers are even made with hand cranks for power
generation. In Cottonwood, AZ where I live there is actually a non-profit
business that recycles computers that people donate and then gives them away
to those who can't afford a computer.

 

Another idea--my daughter's friend just came home from two years in Morocco
with the Peace Corps, and her question is this: What is the greater global
concern, the technology gap or the literacy gap? What good are computers if
the people cannot read in their own language? I do believe that computers
are great tools for learning how to read in their own language. Any other
input?

 

Tina





Tina Luffman
Coordinator, Developmental Education
Verde Valley Campus
928-634-6544
tina_luffman at yc.edu

 

-----technology-bounces at nifl.gov wrote: -----

To: The Technology and Literacy Discussion List <technology at nifl.gov>
From: Tina_Luffman at yc.edu
Sent by: technology-bounces at nifl.gov
Date: 12/13/2005 01:25PM
Subject: Re: [Technology] Helping adult learners buy inexpensive home
computers


Hi David and all, 

Another good possibility is to have students watch for schools to hold
auctions. I know that the school district where my husband works and the
college where I work often hold auctions and sell used computers that are
still quite usable for a really low price, like < $100. 

Tina 



Tina Luffman 
Coordinator, Developmental Education 
Verde Valley Campus 
928-634-6544 
tina_luffman at yc.edu 




David Rosen <djrosen at comcast.net> 
Sent by: technology-bounces at nifl.gov 

12/13/2005 05:51 AM 


Please respond to 
The Technology and Literacy Discussion List <technology at nifl.gov> 


To 

technology at nifl.gov 


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Subject 

[Technology] Helping adult learners buy inexpensive home computers 

 


  

 




Technology colleagues, 

What are the best choices for a really inexpensive new home computer   
which has Internet access capability? 

It could be a desktop or laptop.  It would be for a very low-income   
adult learner who has little or no experience using computers.  It   
would be used in many ways, but would would need to be able to access   
the Web for distance learning instruction sites, including wireless   
access. 

One example is a $300 computer, described in my July posting here 

                http://wiki.literacytent.org/index.php/Cheap_Computers 

The M.I.T. laptop (under $100) might be another -- someday -- but I   
am looking for currently available models.  Can anyone point us to   
one for under $300? 

I am raising this in the context of helping adult learners in North   
America to buy a home computer, so I am also interested in hearing   
about your experiences in helping learners do this.  What do you find   
works and what doesn't?  Are there ways that students help each other   
to buy a computer?  Do you, as a teacher, help students to figure out   
how to buy a computer?  To you cover this in class? (Should you?) Do   
you have lessons on this you could share? 

Here's a Web resource, on E-square (an electronic square for adult   
learners in the Boston area) which is designed for adult students   
exploring buying a home computer:  "How to Buy and Use a Computer" 
                
                http://www.sabes.org/technology/buycomputer/ 

David J. Rosen 
djrosen at comcast.net 

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