i wonder how much electricity these things cost to run. some older build pcs are terrible for efficiency 60% efficient power supplies and the like
By Emodan666 on 10 Jun 2013
Bank account
A lot of, especially younger and less well off, people on benefits don’t have a bank account.
They get their benefits paid into a Post Office account. That account is very basic and does not allow for setting up direct debit.
I just gave Simplifydigital a call and, after a silly long wait listening to what I honestly believe will probably have given me ear cancer hold music, finally got through. I was informed that none of their broadband packages are available without a direct debit being set up.
Can’t really see that helping too many of the less well off folk get online.
Also there are PCs with better specs available on Ebay for far less than the ‘offers’ on the site.
By synaptic_fire on 10 Jun 2013
Jobseeking
For the purposes of looking for a job or looking for online training, they sound like they are more than adequate.
If they just want to play games, they can pay the extra themselves, the charity shouldn’t be subsidising yet another addiction – although I suppose you could claim that they are supporting their Facebook addiction…
It should also give them a good start at getting used to using an office PC, if that isn’t something they already know, or keep their hand in.
As Emodan666 says, the worry is about the efficiency of such devices.
So, which reporter is the lucky blighter, who will get the sack, so that he can obtain one of these PCs for testing?
By big_D on 10 Jun 2013
@synaptic_fire
The government’s changes to ‘welfare’ (Universal Benefit’ I think it’s called) require jobseekers to have a Basic Bank Account of some kind I think.
By wittgenfrog on 10 Jun 2013
“Yet with tablets such as the Google Nexus 7 now costing as little as £159, it’s questionable whether those looking purely to browse the web and send emails would get a better experience with a tablet, than on an outdated PC. “
Depends on the site, if it’s not optimised for tablets and has issues then you could still get a better experience on an old desktop.
One thing that concerns me is where you also have to change the telephone provider for an ISP since some may not fully understand the implications, I hope they at least offer ones which doesn’t interfere with it such as a 3G dongle and adequate safeguards e.g. no charges if usage exceeded.
By tech3475 on 10 Jun 2013
Card Account
Here you go wittgenfrog.
http://www.postoffice.co.uk/post-office-card-accou
nt
That is the basic bank account that is made available to folk who for whatever reason can’t open any other type of account.
By synaptic_fire on 10 Jun 2013
Will this article help the poor get online?
Honestly, the article and the comments so far read like the “have’s” patronising the “have-not’s”. If this helps, then good. If it doesn’t, then no harm done. Comments along the lines of, “Are the power supplies efficient?” or “Can these sad people even get a bank account which does direct debit?” just shows how easy it is to ask questions rather than fix problems. This is an honest attempt. If you have better suggestions, send them in.
By Philip on 10 Jun 2013
@synaptic_fire
Computer says no, post office card accounts do not offer the facility of direct debits.
By Ulfarus on 10 Jun 2013
Deja vue
Hasn’t this been done before?
Still, better than simply throwing the old systems into landfill.
Concerned with the 18 month contract, though – I suspect this is the main weakness in the whole scheme.
By greemble on 10 Jun 2013
@Philip
Couldn’t agree more, that said, i’m not sure how it’ll help those on JSA or Income Support as those benefits are so pitiful that unless HM Gov steps in and pays the ISP charges then this, and schemes like it, are not going to make any difference whatsoever as someone on those benefits will never be in a position to commit to a 12 month contract and honour it.
By pentlands on 10 Jun 2013
@ Philip
i dont think you understood my concern about efficiency
if these things cost £1 a day to run surely that isnt a brilliant thing for people on a low income
in comparison a tablet would cost mere pence per day to run
By Emodan666 on 10 Jun 2013
also to go with my last comment people on benefits are usually on prepayment meters with have some of the most expensive unit costs per kw so yeah i stand by my worry that these things will cost more to run than they are worth
By Emodan666 on 10 Jun 2013
@Philip
Couldn’t agree more, that said, i’m not sure how it’ll help those on JSA or Income Support as those benefits are so pitiful that unless HM Gov steps in and pays the ISP charges then this, and schemes like it, are not going to make any difference whatsoever as someone on those benefits will never be in a position to commit to a 12 month contract and honour it.
By pentlands on 10 Jun 2013
@Philip
“Can these sad people even get a bank account which does direct debit?”
I’m hoping that you think it’s a sad affair that some people can’t get a bank account.
Not implying that I think they are a bunch of ‘sados’ for being in that position.
That certainly wasn’t my intent, nor is it my belief. If it read like that then I apologise.
Yes, I believe the cheap PC thing is a good Idea. Yes I think as it is it’s broken.
I also believe that if its flaws are pointed out, then there is a chance they can be addressed.
I don’t have an answer for for direct debit thing yet.
I may have an answer to other problems though, problems I am as yet unaware of even.
So people pointing out problems and not having solutions isn’t always a negative thing. Maybe someone will point out a flaw that I’m unaware of, but have an answer to.
And the haves and the have-nots, have a long history of helping each other.
Those with a clue help those who don’t have a clue.
Hope this helps.
By synaptic_fire on 11 Jun 2013
Genuine Concerns
I have to say I agree with Synaptic Fire and Emodan666 – I don’t see how raising genuine concerns is in anyway to be considered patronising. The way they were expressed didn’t come across that way at all. Not to me anyway.
Whether or not people will be capable of even accessing these schemes at all – and then whether they can afford to run them seems more like genuine concern than patronisation.
Frankly, the whole scheme seems something of a sop – to ‘be seen to be doing something’. 1GB RAM to run windows 7? Really? How much of user-friendly experience will that be on a half-knackered, decade old machine?
I can’t help wondering how much of this hardware was destined for landfill, or to be shipped to India to be striped to its constituent materials before this scheme was dreamt up.
Honestly, from what I’ve read, this scheme seems as much about back-door profiteering in the name of ‘good works’ than it does about actually helping people.
Being critical of bad ideas is probably of more use than blindly swallowing any old gumph that is given a ‘good’ label – or berating people for having the temerity to question the value of them.
By Mr_John_T on 11 Jun 2013
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