Intel vs OLPC! Is it right?

[Turboaaa2001]

I believe that people have the right to access technology to better (or worsen) their lives.

I believe the above statement, and with this belief I have been following the One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) since 2004. I was (and still am) very pleased to see that someone is taking the initiative to try and share technology with the rest of the world with a similar passion.
For more info on OLPC go to www.laptop.org

The laptops have Linux:guitar: , use very little power, and are made for kids in third-war-nations. They even want kids in these places to take apart the laptops to find out how they work and to learn how to repair them. They even include extra screws for goodness sakes. They also want to put a sticker on them saying
"Warranty Void If Sticker Is Not Removed"


The OLPC is a non-profit organization that has nothing to gain except sharing technology (and Linux) with the world. Intel along with others are looking to take that from them by harvesting what they see as a multi-billion customer market:eek:. I will give it to Intel that this is a good business maneuver, but it will hurt us in the long run.

Intel has produced a notebook to "combat" the one that OLPC created. Several nations are testing both and trying to find out which they want. Of course competition is good for the end-user no matter if it's non-profit organizations or businesses. But a huge industry leader against a small group of volunteers is like having Master Chief fight daxter :lol:(you know, that stupid rodent from the Jack and Daxter games)

What I want to know from the community is if you think it's fair. I sure don't [-X

I do need to mention some facts and "rules" for this thread:

1. OLPC uses an AMD GEO CPU instead of Intel.

2. Intel is not alone, several companies are doing this as well. Even AMD had a product line, but now due to the OLPC using their chips they have cut back.

3. Rule: Try to not bias your opinions based on brand loyalty *cough*(AMD ROCKS)*wheez* . If you love Intel chips don't let that get in the way *cough*(Intel's line RIGHT NOW is better)*wheeze*

4. Lets have some fun with this and try to post on the poll.

[TheIdiotThatIsMe]

Honestly, I dont like either of them for one simple reason. I believe at least one of them should have aimed for a 13in. screen. If kids are to use these tools all the time, they need something slightly larger so their eyes can relax more when trying to use them. We may be bringing them information and technology, but we're going to be killing their eyesight if they're to use them often. Usability must be a nightmare on that small of a screen. It makes me wonder if any adults have used these machines for say.. 2 hours a day, every day for a few weeks, and maybe see that such a small screen may not have been a good idea. I understand that the aim is to be cheap, but I would settle for a lesser processor than intel's 900Mhz (500 would be fine with Xubuntu).

I prefer OLPC's vision over Intel's reasons of course. Just practicality is what I'm worried about on both models.

[brim4brim]

Well Intel probably wouldn't have done it if they had Intel processors in them.

Maybe OLPC should have offered a choice of processors instead of locking it to AMD.

[runningwithscissors]

I don't care about either of them as I don't think little brats need free laptops.

[steven8]

I don't care about either of them as I don't think little brats need free laptops.

Just sad. . .

[laxmanb]

Governments should spend money actually building good schools and providing good facilities like water & electricity, but that doesn't have the pizzazz of subsidised laptops for children...

[awakatanka]

OPLC is better in harder situations it stronger and it can get a bit wet, it's readable in the sun, its more of a survival laptop. Where intel laptop looks good but can break easly in those conditions. And i think they sell it under the costprice just to annoy OPLC.

[Circus-Killer]

I don't care about either of them as I don't think little brats need free laptops.

well, its not americans who are getting the free laptops, so you dont need to worry about the brats. the only people who are going to receive the laptops are under-priveledged kids. and if that still doesnt make sense, then i wish poverty on all your families generations to follow.

dont mean to be mean, but i just hate this "i gotta be a **** to look cool" thing. if you cannot see the good in helping third-world countries, i have no time for you.

[runningwithscissors]

well, its not americans who are getting the free laptops, so you dont need to worry about the brats. the only people who are going to receive the laptops are under-priveledged kids. and if that still doesnt make sense, then i wish poverty on all your families generations to follow.

dont mean to be mean, but i just hate this "i gotta be a **** to look cool" thing. if you cannot see the good in helping third-world countries, i have no time for you.
Here's a bit of information for you. I am a middle-class fellow from a third-world country whose education was subsidised. So, it's not about me not willing to help third-world countries. If you think poor children in third-world countries would actually be gracious and can grasp the value of a free laptop, you're mistaken. Here is what I wrote elsewhere about the OLPC:

Also, I think that the OLPC project is just a big joke. Helping children learn through computers and proliferation of free software would have been better achieved by organisations having tie ups with local school organisations (something like an elementary school computing infrastructure deployment program with el cheapo servers and terminals).
That would have been more manageable and effective than flogging off a bunch of underpowered laptops to governments who would be expected to deliver it to little brats who would treat the free computer as a ******* toy.

Also, I don't know how much of a profit hit they are taking on the initial cost of the computers. If they aren't doing so, it makes the project simply a risk free venture to sell a bunch of stuff to a buyer with guaranteed funds while garnering kudos for the 'humanitarian sensibilities' of its sponsors, and removes them from any responsibility to actually achieve the goal of distributing the machines to the intended targets of the project.

[steven8]

well, its not americans who are getting the free laptops, so you dont need to worry about the brats. the only people who are going to receive the laptops are under-priveledged kids. and if that still doesnt make sense, then i wish poverty on all your families generations to follow.

dont mean to be mean, but i just hate this "i gotta be a **** to look cool" thing. if you cannot see the good in helping third-world countries, i have no time for you.

Yep!

[LightB]

Honestly I don't know all the logistics of this project so it's hard for me to form an opinion, but if they are trying to bring information to people who would otherwise have little hope of getting it and they actually receive it, it's a good thing. By that I mean OLPC.

Intel joining the mix is even more confusing, but we can just assume it's purely financial interest since it's in response to the OLPC stuff using AMD. And they are an enterprise after all. But does that necessarily mean nothing good can come of it for others? I don't know. Do you?

[Circus-Killer]

Here's a bit of information for you. I am a middle-class fellow from a third-world country whose education was subsidised. So, it's not about me not willing to help third-world countries. If you think poor children in third-world countries would actually be gracious and can grasp the value of a free laptop, you're mistaken. Here is what I wrote elsewhere about the OLPC:

here's some information right back at yah. i too am from a third-world country. in fact, you dont get more third-world than our townships. now although there are a few kids who would not be grateful in this project, most would. you are trying to justify being selfish, for which their is no justification. its because of people like you that the rich get richer, and the poor get poorer.

you're middle class, so its easy for you to say this ****. but just think for one moment want it is like to live in a south african township. parents dying of aids. no hope of education or employment. you would welcome the free laptop and would use it to your advantage. now im not saying that is where i come from. i come from a middle-class bckground as well, but i guess seeing human injustice from a closer point of view has given me the ability to empathise.

as i said, there are those who wont be grateful. there will be those who abuse those donations. same as when you give a beggar 10 bucks, you dont KNOW if he will spend it on booze or if he will spend it wisely on food. but i'de rather give the oke 10 bucks knowing i tried to make a difference than living with the fact that im a selfish person.

[Carrots171]

Governments should spend money actually building good schools and providing good facilities like water & electricity, but that doesn't have the pizzazz of subsidised laptops for children...

In many countries, school have basic infrastructure like water and electricity supplies but lack computers. Of course, computers shouldn't have as high a priority as necessities like water, electricity, textbooks, etc, but they are important in this day and age.

[runningwithscissors]

you are trying to justify being selfish, for which their is no justification. its because of people like you that the rich get richer, and the poor get poorer.
Wow. I am just expressing a realistic view of the world. And I don't know how you conclude that my attitude causes the rich to get richer. I am, in fact, a person with very socialistic tendencies.


you're middle class, so its easy for you to say this ****. but just think for one moment want it is like to live in a south african township. parents dying of aids. no hope of education or employment. you would welcome the free laptop and would use it to your advantage. now im not saying that is where i come from. i come from a middle-class bckground as well, but i guess seeing human injustice from a closer point of view has given me the ability to empathise.In the example you point out, a free computer would be the last thing that a child in extreme poverty needs. This project is not aimed at children living in poverty, but schoolgoing children, even those from middle-class backgrounds. My main gripe is that I am simply not convinced that a computer is an essential tool for learning, and that third-world governments are hardly the most trustworthy middle men in seeing the project reach it's goals. In short, I think it is unworkable, and I am not convinced about the humanitarian sensibilities of it's sponsors.

[smoker]

the OLPC project is a fantastic project. the fact that each kid will be given one means also, the knowledge of the whole internet is at hand, and they can study whenever they want, at school, and at home. they are using and learning with linux, imagine the amount of future open source development talent that will be available after a few short years!

time will tell how successful the project will be, but i wish it every success.
http://laptop.org/en/vision/progress/index.shtml

oh, and intel, well, they're just miffed cause they were beaten by amd, sour grapes...

[Roberticus]

Why wouldn't it be right? We are living in a capitalistic world?
The more players in the game, the more the competition. The more competition, the better products.

So I voted Yes.

[Turboaaa2001]

Why wouldn't it be right? We are living in a capitalistic world?
The more players in the game, the more the competition. The more competition, the better products.

So I voted Yes.

Let me first say something about this quote. Competition between companies is always good news because it pushes lower prices and better features to the consumer. However, I'm not talking Intel vs VIA. It's the idea that an industry giant such as Intel is competing with an organization that will receive very little in return.](*,)

Of course this is not something new so I'm not shocked over i:roll:t. Thankfully OLPC saw something like this coming and created a very robust product with several new patents (such as the screen).

I also want to mention that the screen size is perfect. These kids are not going to write a 10 page paper on it, they are playing learning games and poking around the net. With the screen size that small,:wink: its less likely to break, weighs less, will give you a better picture because the hardware does not have to paint a large image, and it uses less power.


... but just think for one moment want it is like to live in a south african township. parents dying of aids. no hope of education or employment. you would welcome the free laptop and would use it to your advantage.


Is a laptop what they really need if they need water, food, medicine? You bet, as long as you have internet!!!

Imagine this:

Mommy comes home from the field and has a really bad rash. It gets worse and she has a fever. The "medicine doctor" can't do anything so you go to webmd.com and find that a simple herb that your village has not worked with will begin the healing process.[-o<

Then Daddy comes home the next day and says hunting was not good and the harvest was poor. You then look online to find out the best way of growing your crop, then find different ways of extending your supply. Not only that but you come across a simple recipe that uses very little but tastes better than anything you had before. Now people are bringing you their foods to be made into great dishes. Now your the town hero.\\:D/

The next day you look at some news that a new civil war has broken out and your village is in the middle. Your people start to prepare for invasions and some start to move, preventing deaths.=D>

Back to reality:

Some of that was an exaggeration but the point is clear. And because they can be charged by a hand crank there is no reason not to give them the laptops.

[a12ctic]

Intel cares nothing about the consumer, it cares about stealing market share from the up and rising amd. I think they should burn away and rot like 3dfx did.

[kuja]

A little competition never hurt anybody ... besides, when there is no competition the monopoly can do whatever they want. Sure, things look good now, but without competition will things improve later? History shows that when a monopoly is involved things tend to get worse ... I'm not sure how well that applies to something of the "humanitarian effort" sort of thing, but if that's truely what it is, having two groups helping instead of only one can only improve things ;)

[a12ctic]

Yeah, but right now intel is the monopoly with amd sitting at about 25% and with the unfair cuts that intel constantly throws towards amd it isn't easy for them to pull out of that hole.

[igknighted]

Intel is trying to make a profit, while OLPC is not... seems like OLPC already has a leg up there. I see competition only driving down prices and increasing the quality of the laptops. Voted yes.

[Darth Trix]

I'm from a third world country.
And OLPC are a monumental waste of money.

[Turboaaa2001]

I'm from a third world country.
And OLPC are a monumental waste of money.

Then you would rather have Intel use their funds for advancing technology? If so then that would solve the problem with Intel vs OLPC...

BTW what country are you from anyway??? Even here in the US kids having such a notebook as the one that OLPC has would be great. If every child had one then there would be no need to steal them from kids, no reason not to have a link outside your community, and better opportunities.

Just to focus on the US for a little, if kids could start seeing past their local corner gang and see that opportunity is not far away. The biggest problem I see is the lack of knowledge of what exists. Kids and families could see government and non-profit organizations offerings to help. A poor family in one city may not know there is a group that helps people like them in the city next door and not know how to contact them.

Are there other things we could be doing to help? Yes, of course. But these are geeks (I'm a geek to, but not a nerd) that are using their talents to solve a problem, though not the most important right now, that needs to be addressed.

I wouldn't expect a computer geek to plow the fields knowing how to do it.
(unless they look it up on google, oops I just proved my point again)):P