Portgual will offer inexpensive laptops to 150,000 educators and students: In an example of enlightened technology deployment, Portugal's goal isn't to subsidize laptop ownership with fuzzy ideas about how good things can result. Rather, they secured discounts from PC makers to sell these laptops -- and will offer loans to students without immediate resources -- to push Wi-Fi and computer ownership.
The government has already stated its aim of getting W-LAN access points installed in 50% of all businesses with nine or more employees and 50% of all households by 2005. Portugal has an internet penetration of around 57%, although only around 3% of the population has access to broadband services.
This is a way to bring everyone into the big tent with educational resources, information, entertainment, and entrepreneurial opportunities without taking people by the hand and giving them things they don't want and don't know how to use. [via TechDirt]