A UK Government scheme to hand out recycled computers to unemployed people has collapsed. It is rather sad to see this as it is a good idea which appears to have been let down by a lack of coordination. It is ridiculous that in some areas including Sheffield “unemployed people receiving the computers had to pay a £1-a-minute help line for advice on how to use the technology, on top of £60 for the basic equipment”.
And apparently, “Suppliers have to buy new operating system licences before they can legally resell machines, but they were not able to qualify for favourable rates under Microsoft’s authorised reseller arrangements as the computers were being sold to individuals.” I would have thought a little government pressure on Microsoft could have changed this?
