Lost Mind Share?

"Over the past few years, various initiatives have been proposed to equip Third World countries -- especially those in Africa -- with cheap computers. Believers in the concept that computers will solve all the world's ills are behind much of this. . . .

" 'The fact that these people need electricity more than they need a laptop is only part of the problem,' he says. 'The real problem is lost mind share. The people are harmed because these sorts of schemes are sopping up mind-share time of the people who might be doing something actually useful.'

"To summarize, there are only so many hours in the day, and we should not be wasting them on this kind of naïve feel-good showboating. Let's face it: These high-tech gems are a laughable addition to a mud hut. . . ."
http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/Investing/Extra/The100DollarLaptop.aspx