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Lane Fox to sell £98 PCs to the have-nots

By Barry Collins

Posted on 17 Jan 2011 at 08:17

Britain's "digital champion" Martha Lane Fox is launching a new scheme to sell sub-£100 PCs to people without broadband connections.

The scheme, aimed at the nine million Britons who are yet to go online, will offer a refurbished PC for an initial outlay of only £98. The Linux-based systems will include a flat-screen monitor, telephone support and warranty.

The initiative is part of Lane Fox's Race Online 2012 campaign, which aims to have every Briton online by the end of this parliament (which, somewhat contradictorily, is in 2015).

"Motivation and inspiration are still two of the biggest barriers [to using the internet], but clearly perception of price is another big deal for people," said Lane Fox in an interview with the Financial Times. "A good price point is certainly part of what helps people get online."

“We have an opportunity here in the UK to make sure we are achieving internet skills and usage as high as TV usage. We should be using our old computers and refurbishing them to close the gap in this country."

The pilot scheme will be launched this week, with a full nationwide rollout planned for later this year.

The PCs will be available from 60 centres across the country.

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User comments

Unconnected comment

I can picture the scene of the champ calling on my mother-in-law (bless her non-cotton socks) to tell her that she is the last person in the UK who is not on-line, "A computer? Very nice dear! Put in the corner with the unused mobile phone, smoke alarm, Freeview box ..."

By QbixQbix on 17 Jan 2011

When will she understand

Some people just don't give a toss. I wonder what percentage of the 9million are reasonably affluent (i.e. have to earn their own Sky subscription) so could well afford a PC but have no inclination to use a computer. Quite high, I suspect.
Silly person, go out into the real world and meet real people.

By 959ARN on 17 Jan 2011

How times change

The last government would have given 'em away to workshy layabouts who would have promptly put them on eBay or sold them at Cash Converters for money to buy cheap larger and fags.

Truly we are in a new era.

By Lacrobat on 17 Jan 2011

They're refurbed PC's running Linux

I know it's in the article, but now I understand why Lastminute failed to thrive. Why can't we produce a British entrepreneur who understands technology.

PS Don't anybody mention Sinclair!

By milliganp on 17 Jan 2011

Linux will do all they need to do - browse the web, pay bills and interact with the state electronically.

As already commented, not everyone wants to use computers or spend all day browsing the internet. I know a number of people that fall into that category, as it happens mostly retired teachers. They also don't use have high TV usage.

By chapelgarth on 17 Jan 2011

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