Google is donating $5.3 million worth of Chromebooks to refugees [for internet access]

mashable ^ | 01/25/2016 | Megan SPecia

[BenLurkin]

The grant, which the company announced in a statement on Monday, will support the launch of Project Reconnect, a program from NetHope to equip nonprofits working with refugees in Germany with Chromebooks, and allow access to educational programs, information about the asylum process, and ways to connect with family members.

"Chromebooks have proven to be a good fit for education purposes. They can be easily set up to run education or language learning apps," Jacquelline Fuller, director of Google.org, wrote in a blog post. "They're automatically kept up to date with the latest features, apps and virus protection. And they can be configured and managed by a central administrator (in this case the nonprofits) to offer relevant programs, content and materials depending on the situation."

In addition to providing educational programs, Google said the Chromebooks could be configured to feature information about the asylum application process on a pre-installed homepage. Nonprofits interested in applying for the grant can do so on NetHope's website; distribution of the first round of computers will begin on March 1.

[PLMerite]

I don’t think this is very well thought out...

[digger48]

[Fhios]

++1

My first thought was: Are they getting a pound of C4 too?

[Viking2002]

Google's shareholders wouldn't give a shiznit if it would crack the planet in half, as long as it isn't their daughters getting raped and the price of their stocks don't drop.

[Chode]

i was thinking more along the lines of wasting of their money

[Moonman62]

Now these are computers that need to have a backdoor for the NSA.

[Viking2002]

Building the Chromebooks was where the money got wasted. The tax deduction they'll take for their 'altruistic' donation is where the shareholders get their payoff. And a warm fuzzie for feeding a wild animal.

[Chode]

but of course... what WAS i thinking???

[Organic Panic]

Oh yeah. Educational courses. And after they finish their “beginning German” course, they can burn down their housing because internet is too slow for their pornography. Nothing beats a good porno after studying jihad all day.

[caver]

Good point!