The laptop library works in the same way as a regular library: instead of borrowing a book, customers can borrow a laptop for a week by visiting TechMarkit’s Rosebank Mall store. A R500 refundable deposit is required with completion of the lending form, and that’s it. If the laptop is returned to the store on the stipulated date, the R500 deposit is refunded.
“It’s certainly not a money-making operation. In fact if anything, we will probably lose money,” said TechMarkit CEO David Hirsch. “I’m sure out of every 20 or so we lend out, one won’t come back.
It will be interesting to see how this goes. They are using refurbished laptops so I'd imagine these are laptops that have got old and are no longer in regular use, but could still be used for this sort of use. It may be a good project too, to accept donations of old working laptops. As it's not actually making any profit, it would not be sustainable as a standalone service, but it is saving usable laptops from becoming e-waste, and could fulfil a useful purpose for many.
Maybe other tech providers could also start up similar initiatives elsewhere in the country as a community service. After all, libraries themselves are community services.
See
South Africa's first laptop library launched - TechCentral
TechMarkit has launched a laptop library to provide computers to South Africans, free of charge.
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