Free School Computers Withdrawn

The story of ZapMe and schools like Plainfield shows the ripple effects of the dot-com downturn that extend far beyond Silicon Valley and Alley. To its founders, ZapMe had a noble vision defeated by a handful of naysaying activists opposed to any commercialism in schools and ready to jump to conclusions about the company's use of data about the students' computer use. While schools were still eager to sign up, Mr. Mortensen said, the bad publicity worried potential advertisers "about having an association of their brand with our brand."
http://www.nytimes.com/2000/11/02/te...gy/02COMP.html