I read this chapter and thought the large scale initiatives were commendable. Give children in other counties and low income families access to computers and you open up the world of learning. Unfortunately, the quality of the netbook is poor. Netbook screens are very small, disk drives are minimal which limit the number of installed applications and the internet access speed is very slow. For an extra 100 to 200 dollars, students can have access to a small but better quality and fully functional mini laptop.
The intent of these small computers is to give students computers which can be used during lessons and then taken home to complete assignments. They are small and fit nicely on desks with other learning tools. In my opinion and personal experience, I do not believe they will have a long life span if they are allowed home. However, I did do some research and found a netbook that looks durable.
http://www.netbooknews.com/9084/handhelds-algiz-xrw-rugged-netbook-certified-for-durability/
This is good to know, Colleen. I have never worked with Netbooks and while they appear small, user-friendly, and easy to transition from one class to another, I wondered about the quality of them. Perhaps if used in the most basic form-- email, word processing, etc. then it may satisfy the needs of some, especially young students. But you are right, while it may cost less up front, in the long run, it'll probably end up costing more.
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