$100 Laptop for Kids in Developing Countries

Readers may recall from back in 2005 the announcement of a campaign to send $100 laptop computers to deprived children in developing countries around the world. The machines would be designed to have low electricity consumption, hand-generated power supply, built-in wireless networking and a screen for indoor and outdoor use.

Well, considerable progress on the initiative has been achieved with seven nations committing to purchase the boxes -- Uruguay, Argentina, Brazil, Pakistan, Thailand, Nigeria and Libya -- and two nations inquiring about purchase, Peru and Russia.

So, they raised the price to $175.

I reject the idea that this is price-gouging. Remember, it's for the children.