While I applaud the effort, there are a couple of things that have me confused. OK sure, this could help relief agencies offer PC access to the third world as a whole. But how do they figure that $250 is within the reach of most people from these poor regions without some other type of intervention?

The VIA pc-1 Empowered Connectivity Initiative is aimed at enabling the next 1 billion to get connected, as their 1st networked PC or their 1st IT experience through a community computing project, in areas where shared usage models are the only feasible way to enable the poor to benefit from Internet access.

With a particular focus on communication (email, VoIP, etc), education and information, the VIA pc-1 Initiative hopes to empower millions of people to improve their quality of life through technology, especially in emerging markets. Comprising a range of flexible systems – codenamed ‘Terra PC’ to reflect the global approach – based on VIA’s acclaimed power efficient processor platforms, the VIA pc-1 Initiative is a realistic and sustainable approach to bringing technology to the digital have-nots within a sustainable business framework.

VIA has launched numerous initiatives to enhance the technology experience and the quality of life, whether through product design innovation on the processor platform to ensure availability of the most appropriate new technologies or through collaboration with academic and commercial institutions aimed at driving the proliferation of innovative products and business models for the benefit of more users. Of those, the VIA pc-1 Initiative has a universal remit to make a difference to the lives of many more millions of people. [Read the rest]