The government of Luis Ignacio (Lula) da Silva announced a new addition to the Computadores para todos (Computers for Everyone) program, announcing this week a financed purchase plan for Linux-based notebook computers (see Globo On Line - Laptop popular vai sair em até 24 vezes de R$ 80).   For those readers who don't read Portuguese, the article describes a program in which end-users can buy a Linux-based notebook in 24 payments of 80 reals, or about 24 x $40, about US$960. 

While not exactly priced at the OLPC target of US$100, it represents a new benchmark in a market where about 40% of the price of a PC comes from taxes (presumably discounted with Computadores para todos) and where the minimum wage is approximately US$200/month.

It is also encouraging to see Brazil's continuing commitment to FLOSS a a time when Redmond is shaking its (dull?) legal sabres at industry.  As readers might imagine, Microsoft is not exactly thrilled with the whole Computadores para todos campaign and has launched numerous broadsides in the press against it, as well as not-so-veiled legal threats.

A key challenge for the low-cost ubiquitous computer aquisition program in Brazil is signing up PC vendors to supply the goods and banks to finance the purchases.

To learn more about this program and about open source IT in education in Brazil, see my article (in English) "Escola de Linux e Linux na escola ".