On the level of these discussions...

[Jorge Soberon Mainero]

Regarding computers in Latin America I am afraid that I disagree with
Patricia Davila. CONABIO has received detailed information on the
infrastructure of 60 mexican museums and no one lacks 386 or 486s. Our
computerization efforts has lead to dozens of museums getting money to
acquire computer equipment. Besides, almost all university museums in
Mexico are now accesible by Internet. Some of the major institutions are
now well into workstations and GIS. PCs are now so cheap and widespread
that it is no longer possible to regard computerization as something
associated only to elite institutions. The most extreme example I know is
of one indian NGO in the colombian Choco that not only have a solar power
computer enclosed in Pelltier effect refrigerator, but it is also
solar-powered and has a satellite-link to Internet!