Why is the Third World Running Windows?
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@dustinb3403 said in Why is the Third World Running Windows?:
I get it, but also don't understand why anyone who donated hardware, would leave a bad decision like that for the final user to deal with as they very likely don't have the knowledge or capability to change what is installed easily.
Often it's people donating that aren't thinking at all about the end users, or just expect them to install what makes sense for them. People rarely know to where a computer is headed.
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@scottalanmiller said in Why is the Third World Running Windows?:
@matteo-nunziati said in Why is the Third World Running Windows?:
Also consider the second hand market. A lot of old stuff is resold (with relavant markups) to third world countries. Old stuff comes preconfigured with dismissed versions of win.
Yes, exactly. Often used computers are the solely available resource. So what the first world or second world resells, is what the options are.
I don't see this as an excuse for not putting linux or whatever on these machines instead though. Rather, the lack of good internet seems to be the main reason - or the cost involved by the reseller to put a different OS on it. Tossed in with the fact that it's likely those using it are already accustomed to Windows and won't know what to do with a linux OS or how to get apps, etc.
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@scottalanmiller said in Why is the Third World Running Windows?:
@bbigford said in Why is the Third World Running Windows?:
Why are they running outdated versions of Windows rather than something free... I have no idea on that.
Well, if you have a market where essentially no one knows what an OS is, or how to install one.... it's rather a leap to think that they could reasonably update. In the US everyone knows how to install an OS or their nephew does. But in much of the world, that would be an expensive, rare resource that you have no idea needs to be sought out.
Why is that? Why does the US know this (frankly - I completely disagree with you on this - sure, almost everyone knows a nephew who can do it - but that doesn't mean the people know they can or should do it - back to the other day - people are herd animals, and frankly they don't care).
Heck, just the other day I heard people whining about how many updates their Android phone has, and those updates barely impact their lives compared to Windows updates.
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@dustinb3403 I guess they do not think about it at all
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@scottalanmiller said in Why is the Third World Running Windows?:
@bbigford said in Why is the Third World Running Windows?:
Why are they running outdated versions of Windows rather than something free... I have no idea on that.
Well, if you have a market where essentially no one knows what an OS is, or how to install one.... it's rather a leap to think that they could reasonably update. In the US everyone knows how to install an OS or their nephew does. But in much of the world, that would be an expensive, rare resource that you have no idea needs to be sought out.
Sorry, I meant to add I get that Windows carries an expense and not everyone can honestly afford to run it up to date. What I meant is if they need a platform and the end user computing device is irrelevant for that access, they could run their favorite distro of Linux and have it both fully up to date and carry no cost.
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@bbigford said in Why is the Third World Running Windows?:
@scottalanmiller said in Why is the Third World Running Windows?:
@bbigford said in Why is the Third World Running Windows?:
Why are they running outdated versions of Windows rather than something free... I have no idea on that.
Well, if you have a market where essentially no one knows what an OS is, or how to install one.... it's rather a leap to think that they could reasonably update. In the US everyone knows how to install an OS or their nephew does. But in much of the world, that would be an expensive, rare resource that you have no idea needs to be sought out.
Sorry, I meant to add I get that Windows carries an expense and not everyone can honestly afford to run it up to date. What I meant is if they need a platform and then end user computing device is irrelevant for that access, they could run their favorite distro of Linux and have it both fully up to date and carry no cost.
Gotcha, makes sense.
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@dashrender said in Why is the Third World Running Windows?:
@scottalanmiller said in Why is the Third World Running Windows?:
@matteo-nunziati said in Why is the Third World Running Windows?:
Also consider the second hand market. A lot of old stuff is resold (with relavant markups) to third world countries. Old stuff comes preconfigured with dismissed versions of win.
Yes, exactly. Often used computers are the solely available resource. So what the first world or second world resells, is what the options are.
I don't see this as an excuse for not putting linux or whatever on these machines instead though. Rather, the lack of good internet seems to be the main reason - or the cost involved by the reseller to put a different OS on it. Tossed in with the fact that it's likely those using it are already accustomed to Windows and won't know what to do with a linux OS or how to get apps, etc.
But they are only accustomed to it BECAUSE it's what is on there. It's a Catch-22.
But Fedora or Ubuntu would make far more sense because the apps are easier to get and generally free. That very reason should be driving adoption.
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@dashrender said in Why is the Third World Running Windows?:
@scottalanmiller said in Why is the Third World Running Windows?:
@bbigford said in Why is the Third World Running Windows?:
Why are they running outdated versions of Windows rather than something free... I have no idea on that.
Well, if you have a market where essentially no one knows what an OS is, or how to install one.... it's rather a leap to think that they could reasonably update. In the US everyone knows how to install an OS or their nephew does. But in much of the world, that would be an expensive, rare resource that you have no idea needs to be sought out.
Why is that? Why does the US know this.
Education and exposure. We are taught this stuff in the US, info is everywhere.
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@scottalanmiller
Nicaragua does not use part of the technology that exists to protect the environment,"supposedly" since our country is lagging behind in technological matters, however, studies are being carried out on climate change in the country. -
@karlita said in Why is the Third World Running Windows?:
@scottalanmiller
Nicaragua does not use part of the technology that exists to protect the environment,"supposedly" since our country is lagging behind in technological matters, however, studies are being carried out on climate change in the country.That's something I'd love to help address. Using old technology, and Windows based AMD/Intel machines means that Nicaragua uses way more power than it should and has to have more tech waste flowing through the country. Newer, more power efficient, and smaller systems would do wonders for increasing technological capabilities while reducing the ecological impact.
One of the key reasons that the US and other countries dump old systems onto the Nicaragua market is because they are too environmentally impactful to run in the US, so we replace them and send the ones bad for the environment outside of the country.
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@scottalanmiller said in Why is the Third World Running Windows?:
@karlita said in Why is the Third World Running Windows?:
@scottalanmiller
Nicaragua does not use part of the technology that exists to protect the environment,"supposedly" since our country is lagging behind in technological matters, however, studies are being carried out on climate change in the country.That's something I'd love to help address. Using old technology, and Windows based AMD/Intel machines means that Nicaragua uses way more power than it should and has to have more tech waste flowing through the country. Newer, more power efficient, and smaller systems would do wonders for increasing technological capabilities while reducing the ecological impact.
One of the key reasons that the US and other countries dump old systems onto the Nicaragua market is because they are too environmentally impactful to run in the US, so we replace them and send the ones bad for the environment outside of the country.
While I don't disagree with that reasoning - it's literally the first time I've actually heard someone say it.
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@dashrender said in Why is the Third World Running Windows?:
@scottalanmiller said in Why is the Third World Running Windows?:
@karlita said in Why is the Third World Running Windows?:
@scottalanmiller
Nicaragua does not use part of the technology that exists to protect the environment,"supposedly" since our country is lagging behind in technological matters, however, studies are being carried out on climate change in the country.That's something I'd love to help address. Using old technology, and Windows based AMD/Intel machines means that Nicaragua uses way more power than it should and has to have more tech waste flowing through the country. Newer, more power efficient, and smaller systems would do wonders for increasing technological capabilities while reducing the ecological impact.
One of the key reasons that the US and other countries dump old systems onto the Nicaragua market is because they are too environmentally impactful to run in the US, so we replace them and send the ones bad for the environment outside of the country.
While I don't disagree with that reasoning - it's literally the first time I've actually heard someone say it.
It's not so thoughtful, it's a series of decisions made in isolation. Companies retire equipment because it is too expensive to keep running. Then it goes to recyclers. They then can't resell in the US because it's too expensive to maintain. So then it goes to the third world.
No one says "ha, we'll dump this on poor, unsuspecting countries", it's just each step in the process evaluates the gear, decides it is too expensive to operate (mostly due to efficiency) and eventually it naturally flows to the third world where they aren't in a position to turn it down.
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@scottalanmiller said in Why is the Third World Running Windows?:
@dashrender said in Why is the Third World Running Windows?:
@scottalanmiller said in Why is the Third World Running Windows?:
@karlita said in Why is the Third World Running Windows?:
@scottalanmiller
Nicaragua does not use part of the technology that exists to protect the environment,"supposedly" since our country is lagging behind in technological matters, however, studies are being carried out on climate change in the country.That's something I'd love to help address. Using old technology, and Windows based AMD/Intel machines means that Nicaragua uses way more power than it should and has to have more tech waste flowing through the country. Newer, more power efficient, and smaller systems would do wonders for increasing technological capabilities while reducing the ecological impact.
One of the key reasons that the US and other countries dump old systems onto the Nicaragua market is because they are too environmentally impactful to run in the US, so we replace them and send the ones bad for the environment outside of the country.
While I don't disagree with that reasoning - it's literally the first time I've actually heard someone say it.
It's not so thoughtful, it's a series of decisions made in isolation. Companies retire equipment because it is too expensive to keep running. Then it goes to recyclers. They then can't resell in the US because it's too expensive to maintain. So then it goes to the third world.
No one says "ha, we'll dump this on poor, unsuspecting countries", it's just each step in the process evaluates the gear, decides it is too expensive to operate (mostly due to efficiency) and eventually it naturally flows to the third world where they aren't in a position to turn it down.
Wouldn't the price still have to be so reduced that those other places would even buy them, that the price would also be low enough that it could stay in lower power costs places like the US?
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@dashrender said in Why is the Third World Running Windows?:
@scottalanmiller said in Why is the Third World Running Windows?:
@dashrender said in Why is the Third World Running Windows?:
@scottalanmiller said in Why is the Third World Running Windows?:
@karlita said in Why is the Third World Running Windows?:
@scottalanmiller
Nicaragua does not use part of the technology that exists to protect the environment,"supposedly" since our country is lagging behind in technological matters, however, studies are being carried out on climate change in the country.That's something I'd love to help address. Using old technology, and Windows based AMD/Intel machines means that Nicaragua uses way more power than it should and has to have more tech waste flowing through the country. Newer, more power efficient, and smaller systems would do wonders for increasing technological capabilities while reducing the ecological impact.
One of the key reasons that the US and other countries dump old systems onto the Nicaragua market is because they are too environmentally impactful to run in the US, so we replace them and send the ones bad for the environment outside of the country.
While I don't disagree with that reasoning - it's literally the first time I've actually heard someone say it.
It's not so thoughtful, it's a series of decisions made in isolation. Companies retire equipment because it is too expensive to keep running. Then it goes to recyclers. They then can't resell in the US because it's too expensive to maintain. So then it goes to the third world.
No one says "ha, we'll dump this on poor, unsuspecting countries", it's just each step in the process evaluates the gear, decides it is too expensive to operate (mostly due to efficiency) and eventually it naturally flows to the third world where they aren't in a position to turn it down.
Wouldn't the price still have to be so reduced that those other places would even buy them, that the price would also be low enough that it could stay in lower power costs places like the US?
Often they are shipped out for free. And at free, it's not worth running in the US.
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@scottalanmiller said in Why is the Third World Running Windows?:
@dashrender said in Why is the Third World Running Windows?:
@scottalanmiller said in Why is the Third World Running Windows?:
@dashrender said in Why is the Third World Running Windows?:
@scottalanmiller said in Why is the Third World Running Windows?:
@karlita said in Why is the Third World Running Windows?:
@scottalanmiller
Nicaragua does not use part of the technology that exists to protect the environment,"supposedly" since our country is lagging behind in technological matters, however, studies are being carried out on climate change in the country.That's something I'd love to help address. Using old technology, and Windows based AMD/Intel machines means that Nicaragua uses way more power than it should and has to have more tech waste flowing through the country. Newer, more power efficient, and smaller systems would do wonders for increasing technological capabilities while reducing the ecological impact.
One of the key reasons that the US and other countries dump old systems onto the Nicaragua market is because they are too environmentally impactful to run in the US, so we replace them and send the ones bad for the environment outside of the country.
While I don't disagree with that reasoning - it's literally the first time I've actually heard someone say it.
It's not so thoughtful, it's a series of decisions made in isolation. Companies retire equipment because it is too expensive to keep running. Then it goes to recyclers. They then can't resell in the US because it's too expensive to maintain. So then it goes to the third world.
No one says "ha, we'll dump this on poor, unsuspecting countries", it's just each step in the process evaluates the gear, decides it is too expensive to operate (mostly due to efficiency) and eventually it naturally flows to the third world where they aren't in a position to turn it down.
Wouldn't the price still have to be so reduced that those other places would even buy them, that the price would also be low enough that it could stay in lower power costs places like the US?
Often they are shipped out for free. And at free, it's not worth running in the US.
really? to whom? My dad was acquiring old computers and giving them away to seniors in upstate NY for a while.
I can't believe they couldn't find takers for the old stuff here in the US.
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This is interesting but not something I have had to deal with yet in any capacity. If I ever do, what devices are better and more environmental friendly for users who need such things?
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@dashrender said in Why is the Third World Running Windows?:
@scottalanmiller said in Why is the Third World Running Windows?:
@dashrender said in Why is the Third World Running Windows?:
@scottalanmiller said in Why is the Third World Running Windows?:
@dashrender said in Why is the Third World Running Windows?:
@scottalanmiller said in Why is the Third World Running Windows?:
@karlita said in Why is the Third World Running Windows?:
@scottalanmiller
Nicaragua does not use part of the technology that exists to protect the environment,"supposedly" since our country is lagging behind in technological matters, however, studies are being carried out on climate change in the country.That's something I'd love to help address. Using old technology, and Windows based AMD/Intel machines means that Nicaragua uses way more power than it should and has to have more tech waste flowing through the country. Newer, more power efficient, and smaller systems would do wonders for increasing technological capabilities while reducing the ecological impact.
One of the key reasons that the US and other countries dump old systems onto the Nicaragua market is because they are too environmentally impactful to run in the US, so we replace them and send the ones bad for the environment outside of the country.
While I don't disagree with that reasoning - it's literally the first time I've actually heard someone say it.
It's not so thoughtful, it's a series of decisions made in isolation. Companies retire equipment because it is too expensive to keep running. Then it goes to recyclers. They then can't resell in the US because it's too expensive to maintain. So then it goes to the third world.
No one says "ha, we'll dump this on poor, unsuspecting countries", it's just each step in the process evaluates the gear, decides it is too expensive to operate (mostly due to efficiency) and eventually it naturally flows to the third world where they aren't in a position to turn it down.
Wouldn't the price still have to be so reduced that those other places would even buy them, that the price would also be low enough that it could stay in lower power costs places like the US?
Often they are shipped out for free. And at free, it's not worth running in the US.
really? to whom? My dad was acquiring old computers and giving them away to seniors in upstate NY for a while.
I can't believe they couldn't find takers for the old stuff here in the US.
Often cheaper to buy something practical than to use impractical free stuff. Even if they find takers, it screws them in most cases.
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@jmoore said in Why is the Third World Running Windows?:
This is interesting but not something I have had to deal with yet in any capacity. If I ever do, what devices are better and more environmental friendly for users who need such things?
I've been looking into an ARM based Linux desktop design for there. Low power like a phone or tablet. With Linux and non-GPU use desktops, you can get super efficient.
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@scottalanmiller Ok yeah that makes sense. I want to start looking into this too, even if only because I'm curious. Should be useful at some point.
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7 years ago, when I visiting developing country, pretty much any one living in an urban area had a cellphone, and I would imagine smartphones will have mostly taken over now.
I suppose businesses might use Windows desktops though
