The access problem would be primarily one of paying for internet connection. Reliable but obsolete computers, at least around here, can be had almost for the price to haul them off. If you aren't looking for gaming graphics or high speed, almost anything will work for basic school-type stuff and internet access. In theory, Windows XP Home ($100 new) will run on something as slow as 300 MHZ. If you can find an older operating system laying around (I've got three or four disks myself), even better.

It should also be remembered that you can get a complete brand new desktop unit that will run pretty much any normal software for less than $600. And places like Circuit City will finance ANYBODY. Note that the operating system is included.

My first machine, a setup to allow me to do freelance patent drafting, was based on a PC-AT, which cost me, set up with all the RAM and cards, $12,000. The AT alone, basic, was $4,000 back then. I managed to finance it with a bank, and was paying for that damn box for YEARS. This was 1985 dollars, too.

As someone who has had to scrape money up for things in the past, I remain convinced that anyone who wants a computer bad enough can manage to get one. But as I said, I don't think that's the real bottleneck.

Again, the real cost issue IMO is the rest of the software (A complete Microsoft Office suite runs $150 for students, but I don't know what else might be needed) and paying for internet access. Rural kids would probably be stuck with dialup, although you'd be surprised how far out in the country some high-speed accesses run. It would be great if internet access companies had special deals for people with low incomes like some phone companies do.

Microsoft supplies free new software licenses to schools for donated computers with old Windows systems on them.