$100 Laptop - Survey

[nickburns]

The hundred dollar laptops will be available shortly to the public.

The organization behind the project has launched the "give one, get one" scheme that will allow US residents to purchase two laptops for $399 (£19.

One laptop will be sent to the buyer whilst a child in the developing world will receive the second machine

The G1G1 scheme, as it is known, will offer the laptops for just two weeks, starting on the 12 November.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/6679431.stm

Do you plan on buying one? If so for just yourself or for the child of the developing country?

[RAV TUX]

The hundred dollar laptops will be available shortly to the public.

The organisation behind the project has launched the "give one, get one" scheme that will allow US residents to purchase two laptops for $399 (£19.

One laptop will be sent to the buyer whilst a child in the developing world will receive the second machine

The G1G1 scheme, as it is known, will offer the laptops for just two weeks, starting on the 12 November.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/6679431.stm

Do you plan on buying one?

Honestly, No.

[kerry_s]

i don't know, i see stuff like that and i think "scam!".

[Lord Illidan]

If they were available in Malta, yes, I might buy two of them.

[nickburns]

I don't think laptop in developing countries is a scam at all. I personally am going to do the 'buy one give one' and encourage other to do the same. I think it will help the global community.

[Lord Illidan]

i don't know, i see stuff like that and i think "scam!".
Scam, no it isn't. This OLPC project has been going on for years, and it's trying to bring new technology to a region that's trying to move out of 3rd World status.

[kerry_s]

Scam, no it isn't. This OLPC project has been going on for years, and it's trying to bring new technology to a region that's trying to move out of 3rd World status.

no i didn't mean the olpc project, i mean who ever is going to sell it, they say you pay for 2 but you get 1, how are you to know what they do with the other 1. olpc is not doing the selling.

never mind it does seem to come straight from the project-> http://xogiving.org/

[Lord Illidan]

no i didn't mean the olpc project, i mean who ever is going to sell it, they say you pay for 2 but you get 1, how are you to know what they do with the other 1. olpc is not doing the selling.

Oh, yes you have a point there. It's a question of trust, isn't it?

[nickburns]

XOGiving is doing the buy 1 give one. So I think it is a safe bet that the other laptop will be delivered to the 3 world country.

http://xogiving.org/

[K.Mandla]

I'm going to get one. Or two, I mean. Which will get me one. You know what I mean. :???:

[jrusso2]

If the laptops were $100 I would, but now they are close to $200. And thats too much for it.

[kerry_s]

to me it's a matter of numbers, there are none.
what third world country, where? yeah nigeria, scam capital of the world.
how many so far? there's estimates, but no actual.
then there's there price $100 is now $200, a 2 for 1 deal signifies a overstock, a need to dump excess stock, most likely the first production run paid for by sponsors, some one wants something back lets liquidate.

don't get me wrong, i've followed the project, read what ever i could find. it just don't add up.
production cost money
people cost money
advertising cost money
storage costs money
shipping costs money
donations only go so far and this is not a used item, it's not donated, it's a new unused item.

[LowSky]

the laptops remind me of those child laptop Vtech used to make... but with Wifi...

I like the ideqa but it has no hard drive, but ut soes have memory card slot... and comes with a fedora based linux distro... but theres no hard drive... im so confused?

[nickburns]

it has a flash drive (1 gig) soldered to the mother board. The O/S is 130 Mb and is on the drive. It also has a external sd slot for more memory.

[fabietto0102]

I think nobody should question the idea that this project is simply great and IMO the OLPC computer would be great for the poor children of the richer countries too. True, it doesn't cost 100$ anymore, but I am sure if more governments go into it the price will reduce soon. A pity it doesn't run (X)Ubuntu, though...

I feel disappointed the EU is always put aside on these projects: would the OLPC computer be available in EU, I might be more willing to buy one in EUR or GBP for charity, rather than buy it from the US..

[weatherman]

what could you do with one such computer?

[fabietto0102]

Weatherman,

quoted from FAQ of xogiving.org: "Laptop computers are both a window and a tool... a window into the world and a tool with which to think. Computers are a wonderful way for all children to learn through independent interaction and exploration. "

Linux, Ubuntu or whatever have plenty of educational software to learn so many subjects (go to Add/Remove Software and click on Education, you'll see...). Plus, using the internet, you get access to so much information, including wikipedia, where you can learn exactly what we learned in our modern schools of our rich countries.

See the FAQ section http://xogiving.org/faq.html , it's really worth to read it.

[kerry_s]

I think nobody should question the idea that this project is simply great and IMO the OLPC computer would be great for the poor children of the richer countries too. True, it doesn't cost 100$ anymore, but I am sure if more governments go into it the price will reduce soon. A pity it doesn't run (X)Ubuntu, though...

I feel disappointed the EU is always put aside on these projects: would the OLPC computer be available in EU, I might be more willing to buy one in EUR or GBP for charity, rather than buy it from the US..


why should goverments support it? when was last you saw a poor kid caring $200 dollors worth of anything. you give computers to kids in poor areas and they could get killed for something like that. governments would much rather put computers in class rooms, were there investment can be some what safe.
they say it benefits the poor, where's the proof?

[Lord Illidan]

what could you do with one such computer?

It's smaller than a laptop, so it's ultraportable. Also, it's a new platform for development.

[Lord Illidan]

why should goverments support it? when was last you saw a poor kid caring $200 dollors worth of anything. you give computers to kids in poor areas and they could get killed for something like that. governments would much rather put computers in class rooms, were there investment can be some what safe.
they say it benefits the poor, where's the proof?

Yes, it is going to be put in a classroom. Get those blinkers off your eyes. 3rd world countries DOES NOT equal Nigeria..and Nigeria does not equal the scam capital of the world.

There are classrooms out there, the problem is that there aren't enough computers, cos computers are expensive, and they need a power source. With the OLPC computers, education becomes easier.

[ukripper]

I think it is a good idea but if I was in developing country I would want my kid to have the best!!!!!!!Well that's personal choice i guess.

[fabietto0102]

Lord Illidan,

Well said!

[Lord Illidan]

Here is a link about Linux being used in african classrooms : http://www.desktoplinux.com/news/NS3015125106.html

[kerry_s]

Yes, it is going to be put in a classroom. Get those blinkers off your eyes. 3rd world countries DOES NOT equal Nigeria..and Nigeria does not equal the scam capital of the world.

There are classrooms out there, the problem is that there aren't enough computers, cos computers are expensive, and they need a power source. With the OLPC computers, education becomes easier.

blinkers huh, is that what they call eye lids now a days.
don't kid yourself, business is business there in it for the money.
yes, computers are expensive and they do not make education easier, there is no easy road to education, money spent on teacher's is a better way to give education.

actually nigeria is where olpc is focusing.
ask anybody what the scam capital is.

sorry, if i seem heartless, but i've always been the guy who asked the tough questions. i try and look what is beyond the curtain, see what your not being told. you look at the current olpc structure and enron comes to mind, try and follow it, it looks like a shell company. if i was still in buisness, i would mark it as a bad investment.

[kerry_s]

Here is a link about Linux being used in african classrooms : http://www.desktoplinux.com/news/NS3015125106.html

has nothing to do with olpc.

[Lord Illidan]

blinkers huh, is that what they call eye lids now a days.
don't kid yourself, business is business there in it for the money.
yes, computers are expensive and they do not make education easier, there is no easy road to education, money spent on teacher's is a better way to give education.

actually nigeria is where olpc is focusing.
ask anybody what the scam capital is.

sorry, if i seem heartless, but i've always been the guy who asked the tough questions. i try and look what is beyond the curtain, see what your not being told. you look at the current olpc structure and enron comes to mind, try and follow it, it looks like a shell company. if i was still in buisness, i would mark it as a bad investment.

OLPC is a non profit organisation. I suggest you read more about it : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/XO-1_(laptop)

I know that the link I gave in a previous post has nothing to do with OLPC, but it's just to show that Linux can go a long way towards helping African students.

And it's not just for nigeria. I'm seeing Argentina, Brazil, Libya, and even USA.

Also look at this link : http://laptop.org/

[kerry_s]

yeah right, i got a laugh out of this one-> http://www.olpcnews.com/countries/nigeria/pornographic_image_child.html

i like the picture of the nice house and the people supposedly looking at porn on the xo with a kamasutra pic on the wall.

http://www.olpcnews.com/sales_talk/donors/importantgift_olpc_scam.html
http://simpact-india.blogspot.com/2006/06/olpc-technology-scam-of-century.html

i'm not the only 1, whos tried to track them.

[tombott]

If they do the offer in the UK I am up for one.
I think they are a cool looking bit of kit.
I wonder how Ubuntu would run on one....

[SuperDuck]

From the Wikipedia article:


...a pared-down version of Fedora Core Linux as the operating system, with students receiving root access...

I'm sure it makes sense to give the owner of the computer admin rights, but I hope they have a fast and easy way to reinstall the OS when somebody starts going crazy with 'rm'. :D

[weatherman]

well I get what people in the 3rd world are going to do with it, what I still don't quite understand is what people from western countries are going to do with one. So basically, why spend 400$ versus just donating 200$ do buy kids in the 3rd world an xo?

[tombott]

well I get what people in the 3rd world are going to do with it, what I still don't quite understand is what people from western countries are going to do with one. So basically, why spend 400$ versus just donating 200$ do buy kids in the 3rd world an xo?
I imagine they would use it too!
With the current $ > £ exchange rate it costs around £200
For £200 you get a seriously cool laptop, that is very eco friendly and ultra portable. You also get to know that somebody in the 3rd world also get the same thing!
This laptop would be just that ' a real laptop'
I can picture myself on the sofa pulling the draw string in the charger to give my OLPC a boost and posting on Ubuntuforums.org chatting in IRC and maybe even doing a spot of work!

[SuperDuck]

well I get what people in the 3rd world are going to do with it, what I still don't quite understand is what people from western countries are going to do with one. So basically, why spend 400$ versus just donating 200$ do buy kids in the 3rd world an xo?

It definitely has the potential for the smug factor of a Prius. :)

[bobbocanfly]

I'd love one of these things. The fun you would have hacking about in it, making stuff like web servers work. Would be brilliant. If they could get Apache going on one of them (Not sure if it even has the right specs but still) id definately get one, hook it up to my network and have it sitting in my cupboard as my test server.

[ukripper]

It really looks funky..there are USB ports on it so perhpas good for external HDD

[nickburns]

It has external flash port and usb. So either way will work.

I can't wait to show the ladies my new hand cranked laptop, I will be the coolest kid on the block.


I hope to "Give 1 Get 1" twice. So both my boys will be able to have one. I really like the vmware version they have on their site. (wiki.laptop.org), under the developer site. It has all kinds of good features, including teaching kids how to program in python.

[bigbrovar]

i think i is a noble idea that would help a lot of developing country bridge the digital divide..look at me u wont believe it but i started using computers only some 5 years ago..i know that if i had grown up using a computer i would have been a guru or something but i started late...the children would get a chance i never had..and would grown knowing computer as part of their early learning process..the result would be a boom in many poor developing countries... the future is even bright for linux cus these commputers would be loaded with linux os..which would further increase the number of users in the long term..as these children would grow up knowing a linux world..that alone is a good thing

[az]

well I get what people in the 3rd world are going to do with it, what I still don't quite understand is what people from western countries are going to do with one. So basically, why spend 400$ versus just donating 200$ do buy kids in the 3rd world an xo?

If you read Nicholas Negroponte's book Being Digital, you will understand his vision of what media can be. Laptops today are severly overpowered for what we need them to do. It's a real waste. Perhaps if the XO becomes mainstream, we will see the appearance of forms of media that can work properly on a 433 MHz processor with 256 megs of ram.

If you think about it, computers are needing more and more ressources to accomplish the same tasks. If the software was really getting better, we would be able to do stuff with *less*, not more power.


I'd love one of these things. The fun you would have hacking about in it, making stuff like web servers work. Would be brilliant. If they could get Apache going on one of them (Not sure if it even has the right specs but still) id definately get one, hook it up to my network and have it sitting in my cupboard as my test server.

You can run apache on a 486 with 32 megs of ram. The XO should run apache just fine.



I hope to "Give 1 Get 1" twice. So both my boys will be able to have one. I really like the vmware version they have on their site. (wiki.laptop.org), under the developer site. It has all kinds of good features, including teaching kids how to program in python.

I hope to get two for each of my littel girls. My oldest can barely count to 100, but I know she will pick up Python faster than me.


the children would get a chance i never had..and would grown knowing computer as part of their early learning process..the result would be a boom in many poor developing countries...

Forget about computers per se, but they will have access to schoolling, textbooks, litterature at their fingertips. Something they could not have if they only had access to physical books.

[BDNiner]

I think this project is a great idea. people in this discussion raised some interesting points on both sides of the argument. I grew in Africa and the first computer i used in about '93 was one of the old school tape deck computers. you had to wait 15 mins for the cassette to load before you could use the computer. My school was lucking because a couple of our teachers who were Scottish got their former school in the UK to donate the computers to us.

Africa is the only countinent that is not on the worldwide broadband network because an investment in that kind of infrastructure is not viable since there are not a lot of computer users. i see this as the first real step in getting computers into the last market in the world. i hope everything works out for the group.

[ssam]

these are very nice laptops. i saw one at LUGRadio Live (http://www.lugradio.org/live/).

It is very impressive what linux people can do when they have full access to hardware information.
eg
the laptop can keep the screen on when it suspends, and can suspend and wake in just a few miliseconds. this means it can sleep between keystrokes while you type, and you don't even notice.

it has a dual mode screen, with a black and white mode that can be viewed in direct sunlight.

mesh networking (even with the computer off).

view source button on the keyboard. just about everything can be modified and restored.

versioning filesystem. old versions of documents are automatically kept.

[GeneralZod]

these are very nice laptops. i saw one at LUGRadio Live (http://www.lugradio.org/live/).


Yeah, they are really fascinating technology, both hardware and software-wise. Ivan Krstić, designer of the Bitfrost security architecture used in the device, gave a really interesting talk at Google. It's an hour long, but I found it well worth watching. You can find it here:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=_bvSWtujxSE

[fabietto0102]

Africa is the only countinent that is not on the worldwide broadband network because an investment in that kind of infrastructure is not viable since there are not a lot of computer users. i see this as the first real step in getting computers into the last market in the world. i hope everything works out for the group.


the future is even bright for linux cus these commputers would be loaded with linux os..which would further increase the number of users in the long term..as these children would grow up knowing a linux world..that alone is a good thing

Those are the 2 main points why this project must work. Someone rightly questioned "why do you call it 3rd world pc?!? Does it mean the XO is not good enough for the rich world?". Answer is: IT IS GOOD ENOUGH! The point is that the XO is a *CHILDREN* pc. If I had childern, I'd buy it, defenitely.

As per FYI, in Germany sometimes they sell a Volks-PC, a computer for the people. The purpose is not much different form the OLPC project...

[init1]

I'll get one. I think it's a cool project, and I would like to use the actually device.

[n3tfury]

i'd like to get one, but probably won't. i can't see using it for more than a couple of weeks and certainly wouldn't take it out in public ;P

[notwen]

I'm glad the project has finally made it, but man that thing is god awful ugly. That said, the specs are bearable and they should do their jobs in third-world countries. Unsure as to if I would buy one/donate one as I don't believe I'd use mine. =]

[az]

these are very nice laptops. i saw one at LUGRadio Live (http://www.lugradio.org/live/).


Did you find it slow?

[fabietto0102]

...That said, the specs are bearable and they should do their jobs in third-world countries.

That's so arrogant from you. As said, this is a pc for CHILDREN, not for ADULTS. Of course it's not good enough for adults, be they rich or poor!

[nickburns]

I downloaded the vmware version of this and played with my two boys on it last night for hours. It has a couple text editors, memory game, etoys, a python development program, rss reader, version of firefox, im/chat and other misc games. It also has music and art programs. The coolest piece for me was that it has a build in oscilloscope, for about a $1 you can plug leads into the microphone jack and view the voltages on the o-scope. It will also pick up sound from the built in microphone and show it on the o-scope. It is impressive the amount of stuff for that small of an OS.

If you want to try it the link is here (http://dev.laptop.org/pub/virtualbox/).

[notwen]

That's so arrogant from you. As said, this is a pc for CHILDREN, not for ADULTS. Of course it's not good enough for adults, be they rich or poor!

FYI, I guarantee a large number of users who buy one will likely wipe this OS and have their way with this piece of hardware to make it a couch surfing tool, maybe more. Please refrain from calling other users arrogant for simply sharing their opinion. =]

[nickburns]

You can boot up on a thumb drive and reload the BIOS and O/S in one step. It will be cool to clear an entire system in minutes.

Edit: {Need to start drinking after I post to forum, not before.}

[n3tfury]

It will cool to clear and entire system in minutes.

what?

[K.Mandla]

I think he meant, "It will be cool to clear an entire system in minutes."

[RAV TUX]

FYI, I guarantee a large number of users who buy one will likely wipe this OS and have their way with this piece of hardware to make it a couch surfing tool, maybe more. Please refrain from calling other users arrogant for simply sharing their opinion. =]

Installing JUXlala! (http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=de&u=http://www.jux-net.info/juxlala/&sa=X&oi=translate&resnum=1&ct=result&prev=/search%3Fq%3DJUXlala%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dicewease l-a%26rls%3Dorg.debian:en-US:unofficial) as the operating system would be cool for children, best custom OS for children I have seen.

[bmannering]

I think this is going to be great for the world and especially the children. I will definatly be purchasing two, it will be interesting carrying it around school sort of like an advertisment to get people interested or atleast exposed to the linux community.
My one concern is that we may be donating to give a child a laptop but what happens when some gang or band of no gooders comes and stealls them all and sells them to someone else.

[jasay]

I downloaded the vmware version of this and played with my two boys on it last night for hours. It has a couple text editors, memory game, etoys, a python development program, rss reader, version of firefox, im/chat and other misc games. It also has music and art programs. The coolest piece for me was that it has a build in oscilloscope, for about a $1 you can plug leads into the microphone jack and view the voltages on the o-scope. It will also pick up sound from the built in microphone and show it on the o-scope. It is impressive the amount of stuff for that small of an OS.

If you want to try it the link is here (http://dev.laptop.org/pub/virtualbox/).

Many thanks! Was just looking for a way to test it out.:)

[n3tfury]

Installing JUXlala! (http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=de&u=http://www.jux-net.info/juxlala/&sa=X&oi=translate&resnum=1&ct=result&prev=/search%3Fq%3DJUXlala%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dicewease l-a%26rls%3Dorg.debian:en-US:unofficial) as the operating system would be cool for children, best custom OS for children I have seen.

you should volunteer to clean up the grammar on that site.

[RAV TUX]

you should volunteer to clean up the grammar on that site.
I would but I don't speak German.

[az]

My one concern is that we may be donating to give a child a laptop but what happens when some gang or band of no gooders comes and stealls them all and sells them to someone else.

There would be no market for it. The design is unique enough to make it obvious it is a school device. I doubt anyone would want to steal it for other purposes.


You can boot up on a thumb drive and reload the BIOS and O/S in one step. It will be cool to clear an entire system in minutes.


I reckon the OS that ships would be optimized for the XO. It is said to boot instantly and perform very well. That's supposed to be because it does not perform redundant or unneeded tasks. I doubt that a stock linux distro would run very fast on it without optimizations as well.

[nickburns]

I think that it is a valuable lesson for all programmers / manufactures. Everything about this laptop has been designed and developed for efficiency and low overhead. How many programs are resource hogs, and have no regards for memory or CPU cycles. Hopefully this will have some influence on computer software and hardware in the future.

I plan on using this little guy as an approach to minimalism. Forget all the eye candy and weighty programs; I am happy with an RSS reader, Web browser and text editor.

[popch]

There would be no market for it. The design is unique enough to make it obvious it is a school device. I doubt anyone would want to steal it for other purposes..

You can sell one for the price of two, and the buyer will then own a device which obviously is a school device.

[Lexam]

With the ability to become become a tablet PC and have the black and white display, I would love to have one as an ebook reader. It would cost more than sony's but then I can check my email and edit documents on it as well. Worth $400 dollars? Maybe not on a selfish level, but knowing one would be going towards a needy child yes it's worth it.

[nickburns]

Update: Here is a great article on the laptop from yesterday...

here (http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/04/technology/circuits/04pogue.html)

[Celegorm]

I think I'm going to have to go for that give 1 get 1 deal. The more I look into it, the more I want to support the project, and the more I want to play around with one of the laptops (I really want a view source button!). My friend is planning on getting one too, so we could even take advantage of the mesh networking capabilities. I'm a little worried I'll have trouble with the keyboard, but if it's entirely unworkable, I suppose I could always give it away to a local kid who needs a computer.

[Lord Illidan]

This is the real crux :
And sure enough, the bloggers and the ignorant have already begun to spit on the XO laptop. “Dude, for $400, I can buy a real Windows laptop,” they say.
Clearly, the XO’s mission has sailed over these people’s heads like a 747.
The truth is, the XO laptop, now in final testing, is absolutely amazing, and in my limited tests, a total kid magnet. Both the hardware and the software exhibit breakthrough after breakthrough — some of them not available on any other laptop, for $400 or $4,000.

[darrenrxm]

Isn't it for sale in Canada? And why doesn't anyone mention that it only takes TWO WATTS to run this thing. My desktop takes at least 60 times as much energy to run. Doesn't anyone on this site care about energy savings?

[Lord Illidan]

We do...and that's pretty cool too. I wonder if I can import it here!

[nickburns]

The great thing about this only using 2watts, is that you can pick up a solar panel for this thing, 1 foot by 1 foot (30 cm x 30 cm) to power the entire laptop, ($12)

If you go to their web site you can see the other power sources too, like hand cranks, foot pedals and pull starts.

In black and white mode the screen runs on 0.2 watts.... amazing.

[n3tfury]

Update: Here is a great article on the laptop from yesterday...

here (http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/04/technology/circuits/04pogue.html)

nice thanks for that. peeps, do check out the video on the same page.

[notwen]

Aye, they have made it very useful for those w/ limited resources. I'm glad to see the finished product turned out so well. Lets hope the sales do good. =]

[Sawta]

I'm really excited about this laptop and am seriously considering the "give 1, get 1" thing, not only so I can donate to the project, but I am interested in seeing how a 200$ laptop would work. With an external HD, I could imagine getting ubuntu or some smaller distro onto it like puppy or D.S.L.

The only part that I'm fairly concerned about is the size of the keyboard. "The membrane-sealed, spillproof keyboard is too small for touch-typing by an adult." Even then, perhaps there would be a way to make that work (if there's some kind of usb slot). If not, I might be reduced to using a pen if my fingers are too large.

One of the large selling points for me (technologically speaking) was the simple fact that the battery life on the XO is doubled(?) in comparison to normal laptops. I'm not exactly thrilled by the camera, but the tablet feature definitely sounds promising.

If anything, I would enjoy using this for some basic web surfing and some confused looks on my campus.:)

[az]

I'm really excited about this laptop and am seriously considering the "give 1, get 1" thing, not only so I can donate to the project, but I am interested in seeing how a 200$ laptop would work. With an external HD, I could imagine getting ubuntu or some smaller distro onto it like puppy or D.S.L.

DSL would fit into that footprint without an external drive. You could probably get Xubuntu into there, as well. But what needs would not be met by the built-in OS?




If anything, I would enjoy using this for some basic web surfing and some confused looks on my campus.:)

I plan on using it for data-recovery, among other things:
http://ubuntu-rescue-remix.org/node/17

[Daishiman]

The real deal-breaker for me, which convinced me that this device is a revolution in the paradigm of personal computing and education, is in the pilot program reports:

http://http://wiki.laptop.org/go/OLPC_Peru/Arahuay

http://http://wiki.laptop.org/go/OLPC_Thailand/Ban_Samkha/trial-200705

The first one is incredibly insightful. I saw a prototype last weekend at the annual LUG convention. Believe the hype.

[bigyoy]

its a great deal but ive got far too many work laptops lying around. got no room!

[popch]

The real deal-breaker for me, which convinced me that this device is a revolution in the paradigm of personal computing and education, is in the pilot program reports:

http://http://wiki.laptop.org/go/OLPC_Peru/Arahuay

http://http://wiki.laptop.org/go/OLPC_Thailand/Ban_Samkha/trial-200705

The first one is incredibly insightful. I saw a prototype last weekend at the annual LUG convention. Believe the hype.

The two links are broken (duplicate http)

[BOBSONATOR]

if these things looked more attractive, i might pick one up,

the mesh network seems awsome!!

[fdrake]

don't get me wrong but what can an laptop do for kids that don't have even electricity? I love the idea of a cheap and affordable laptop for the poor countries but this kind of project doesn't make a lot of sense. I was born in a poor country and to get electricity (never mind internet) all the time was a big deal. A computer without internet is just useless because computers are meant to be connected.
Another concern that I have is how can we be sure that each country will give the laptop for just $100 without charging extra money for themselves (don't forget we are dealing with poor countries and in there the institutions are easly corrupted), and this is nothing new.

[Ireclan]

I think all the funds that went in to this program would have been spent better on any number of things. People can't eat a laptop. People can't use a laptop to cure illness. They can't use the laptop for shelter. They can't use the laptop for electricity. What CAN they do with this laptop? Sell it. If the goal of this project was to improve education, they could have done other things to improve it that would have had a whole lot more impact.

[Frak]

don't get me wrong but what can an laptop do for kids that don't have even electricity? I love the idea of a cheap and affordable laptop for the poor countries but this kind of project doesn't make a lot of sense. I was born in a poor country and to get electricity (never mind internet) all the time was a big deal. A computer without internet is just useless because computers are meant to be connected.
Another concern that I have is how can we be sure that each country will give the laptop for just $100 without charging extra money for themselves (don't forget we are dealing with poor countries and in there the institutions are easly corrupted), and this is nothing new.
There is power in Africa. Its aimed at the more developed parts that have some form of some industry, housing, government, defined territory, utility systems, etc. Not a kid hunting down lions and gazelle.

[fdrake]

There is power in Africa. Its aimed at the more developed parts that have some form of some industry, housing, government, defined territory, utility systems, etc. Not a kid hunting down lions and gazelle.

i have to disagree with you because it's not everywhere like that. I remember this artcle about high school students studying at the airport for their final exams because they don't have light at home. But i cannot remember the country. Anyway I am not just talking about Africa but in general.

I found it . It's in guinea (Fuel for thought in Guinea). Very interesting article (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/6990034.stm).

[nickburns]

I have heard and understand the argument of putting this money into food / shelter / water. I somewhat agree, but only a little. How much do we keep feeding the hungry and sheltering the poor before we give them skills / tools and eduction to dig themselves out? Millions of dollars go to aid each year, but isn't teaching them basic computer skills and typing and how the internet works more likely to help them feed themselves for the next 50 years a better idea?

I'm sure that there will be people selling these things for food, but I really think the vast majority of the recipients will have great benefit from this project.

[Frak]

I have heard and understand the argument of putting this money into food / shelter / water. I somewhat agree, but only a little. How much do we keep feeding the hungry and sheltering the poor before we give them skills / tools and eduction to dig themselves out? Millions of dollars go to aid each year, but isn't teaching them basic computer skills and typing and how the internet works more likely to help them feed themselves for the next 50 years a better idea?

I'm sure that there will be people selling these things for food, but I really think the vast majority of the recipients will have great benefit from this project.
Give a man a fish, feed him for a day. Teach him how to fish, feed him for a lifetime.

[popch]

don't get me wrong but what can an laptop do for kids that don't have even electricity? I love the idea of a cheap and affordable laptop for the poor countries but this kind of project doesn't make a lot of sense..

This particular project does take into account that the power supply may be unreliable or absent. You can use the computer with a hand driven generator or with solar panels. It consumes very little electricity.

These are very well documented fact. You can use the internet to find them.

[BOBSONATOR]

Not a kid hunting down lions and gazelle.

this made me laugh very much

[thx11381974]

The hundred dollar laptops will be available shortly to the public.

The organization behind the project has launched the "give one, get one" scheme that will allow US residents to purchase two laptops for $399 (£19.

One laptop will be sent to the buyer whilst a child in the developing world will receive the second machine

The G1G1 scheme, as it is known, will offer the laptops for just two weeks, starting on the 12 November.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/6679431.stm

Do you plan on buying one? If so for just yourself or for the child of the developing country?

I don't get it you can get a real laptop at Walmart $300 If you got the manufacturer to short the hd,cd burner,and M$ OS you probably get price down to $200. The resulting machine would be way faster and have much nicer display.

Any one who wants a real One Laptop per Child machine should look on Ebay Africa. That's where they'll be a week after their passed out in the schools. I mean how is it going to work giving a kid a $200 computer when his dad makes 13 cents a day?

[popch]

I don't get it you can get a real laptop at Walmart $300 If you got the manufacturer to short the hd,cd burner,and M$ OS you probably get price down to $200. The resulting machine would be way faster and have much nicer display.

Any one who wants a real One Laptop per Child machine should look on Ebay Africa. That's where they'll be a week after their passed out in the schools. I mean how is it going to work giving a kid a $200 computer when his dad makes 13 cents a day?

The OLPC has been specifically designed for use by schoolchildren in sometimes demanding environments. It is rugged, small, does not contain any moving parts, uses very little power, is easily repaired and does not weigh much. Also, since the kind of hardware built into the device is predictable, the demands on hardware drivers are much less severe than would be the case on 'normal' low-cost laptops.

The people you refer to are poor, not stupid. They realize very well that a better education is absolutely necessary for the future earning of their children, and thus have a direct impact on the family income.

Some of those computers will find their ways into black markets, without a doubt. More will contribute to young folks with better education. Will you stop one to prevent the other?

[GeneralZod]

It's worth noting that in all of the field tests so far undertaken[1], the kids and the parents simply would not let the laptops out of their sight - they were hugely attached to them. And, kids being kids, anyone who came to a school where everyone had a laptop suddenly without their laptop would probably have a tough time. And,as noted in some of the OLPC FAQs, the laptop itself looks like a kids laptop, so they are a) less appealing to adults in the first place and b) very conspicuous: an adult walking around with one of these would have a lot of explaining to do.

In a nutshell, the social pressures are arranged so that, IMO, both selling and buying one of these laptops is very undesirable.

Also, all these "lol ebay" comments are missing some of the logistics, here: what do you think the postage for one of these things from Africa to, say, the US are? How will you transfer the funds? The place in question may not have any kind of e-commerce. How are you going to guarantee that the seller will honour the deal when the money is sent? Seems like a huge gamble to me. Also, eBay themselves are involved in the project, and I'd imagine this was a strategic decision: it would not surprise me in the least to see them brought onboard largely because they are in a position to monitor for and ban such auctions.

[1] - http://wiki.laptop.org/go/Educators, including:

http://wiki.laptop.org/go/OLPC_Nigeria
http://wiki.laptop.org/go/OLPC_Thailand/Ban_Samkha/trial-200705
http://wiki.laptop.org/go/OLPC_Uruguay

[Kowalski_GT-R]

I think that it is a valuable lesson for all programmers / manufactures. Everything about this laptop has been designed and developed for efficiency and low overhead. How many programs are resource hogs, and have no regards for memory or CPU cycles. Hopefully this will have some influence on computer software and hardware in the future.



ditto,

Andre

[popch]

kids being kids, anyone who came to a school where everyone had a laptop suddenly without their laptop would probably have a tough time. (...) an adult walking around with one of these would have a lot of explaining to do.(...) How are you going to guarantee that the seller will honour the deal when the money is sent?

Unfortunately, the very existence of the G1G1 prorgram (get one, give one) might contribute to a black market.

- Kids can explain their missing laptops with robbery and theft, which may or may not be true
- adults can indeed walk around with the product because of G1G1
- Because of G1G1, some of the legally acquired laptops will find their ways into eBay etc. For any prospective buyer it would be quite impossible to tell the origin of the laptop.

Unless, of course, the G1G1 laptop was different from the one for the child.

The other logistic and financial questions can be solved. They always are.

[GeneralZod]

Unfortunately, the very existence of the G1G1 prorgram (get one, give one) might contribute to a black market.


Ah, yes - the G1 G1 does throw a spanner in the works (as far as I can tell, the G1 G1 laptop is the same as the standard one). Hmmm.

I wonder if this (http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20070329-olpc-xo-manufacturer-to-sell-budget-portables-in-developed-countries.html) is still going forward, and how much it will cost and just how "similar" to the standard XO-1 it will be? If they are available for less than the price of individually importing via eBay (and less risk), it could knock the feet out from under the black market.

I still wonder whether eBay themselves will be clamping down on sales of the XO-1 originating in developing countries.

[Enverex]

Not really considering it's not $100 as claimed, it's $400...

[popch]

Not really considering it's not $100 as claimed, it's $400...

No, it's 200 apiece. 400 is for two computers.

[Sisophon2001]

I don't expect to see the same offer here, but yes, I would buy 1+1, just because I am interested in software, in Linux and in the project. But I don't expect to have much use for it. It is configured for kids, with kids software on ram and no hard disk. Perhaps I could set it up as a inernet computer, but I will always have something better, so it would only be a toy.

I am unconvinced of the usefulness of the whole idea. I build schools in remote areas of the world for a living, and the last thing these disadvantaged schools need are computers. I would start a roof, benches and teachers.

Still they may be useful in semi-urban areas close to cities where facilities are better. I do not expect the project to suceed, but I still hope that they learn from their mistakes, and find ways to continue that will deliver real benefits to the education of disadvantaged rural communities.

Garvan

[Enverex]

No, it's 200 apiece. 400 is for two computers.

No, you pay $400 and get one laptop. To me that is $400 for one laptop.

[t0p]

Dang, the negativity of some of the replies in this thread is sooo depressing </me sighs>. Look, to us on this forum, these laptops are gonna be pretty crappy. They won't have the sleek lines and appearance of the laptops we would normally buy for ourselves - they're robust, functional and comparitively basic machines. The buy one get one programme is a gimmick, a way of helping finance the project. I'm not saying I wouldn't like one - if it was available in the UK, I'd pay for a couple - but the one I received would be a feelgood kind of item, not a computer that I'd actually use. So seriously, who the hell's gonna want to buy one off ebay?

And anyway, this notion that loads of these conniving, calculating, poverty-stricken peasants are gonna run off and sell the laptops that they're given, is... it's mean. The folk who'll be given these computers - what you're suggesting is insulting to them. The parents of these kids really value education. They send their kids to school, when they could really do with the youngsters' help with working in the fields or wherever to earn more money. They know how important and precious education is. And the laptops will be part of that education. If these folk are so cynical and money-grabbing as some of you are suggesting, why would they be sending their children to school at all?

I think that some of you are making the mistake of judging these people by your own standards. Just cos you would deprive your own children of an education just to make a quick buck, don't mean everyone else is the same.

[MoebusNet]

It seems to me that we are imitating the blind men who tried to describe an elephant. One said "It's like a rope and smells like crap" (the tail). One said "It's like a long hose and smells like peanuts" (the trunk). One said "Nonsense! It is like a wall and feels like leather" (the torso). One said "It is like a tree, round and tall" (the leg). And they were all right!

When a family or an individual is starving, the first thing you must do is eat. Everything must follow that or there is no tomorrow.

If one of these computers winds up in that kind of situation, it will either be neglected, ruined or possibly sold. With any luck it will wind up with someone who will use it as intended. If enough of these computers find a situation that can educate someone and generate a demand for more computers and more educated persons to use them, that will be about all we can expect.

It seems to me the best possible outcome is for all of us to buy these not for ourselves but for _our_ children. That way the G1G1 concept will deliver computers to underdeveloped countries and hopefully wind up being used. If _anyone_ uses these computers, it is better than a lack of them. Hopefully, the more of them that are sold, the lower the production and sales costs will be.

[thx11381974]

The OLPC has been specifically designed for use by schoolchildren in sometimes demanding environments. It is rugged, small, does not contain any moving parts, uses very little power, is easily repaired and does not weigh much. Also, since the kind of hardware built into the device is predictable, the demands on hardware drivers are much less severe than would be the case on 'normal' low-cost laptops.

The people you refer to are poor, not stupid. They realize very well that a better education is absolutely necessary for the future earning of their children, and thus have a direct impact on the family income.

Some of those computers will find their ways into black markets, without a doubt. More will contribute to young folks with better education. Will you stop one to prevent the other?

True It has a lot of cool features.

The people I refer to are not just poor their desperate! Your right their not stupid the 13 cents a day I wrote about was not an attempt at a joke. I recently I saw a news story on a 13 year old in the Sudan i think it was who was sold into slavery by her family for 14 us dollars. So if desperately poor people will sell their children why wouldn't they sell their child's laptop? I've been poor enough that I've had to sell possessions to pay bills but never so poor I couldn't buy food or shoes. If I made 4 bucks a month I'd sell that thing so fast it would make your head spin. Then I'd use the box it came in to fix the hole in the roof.

[popch]

So if desperately poor people will sell their children why wouldn't they sell their child's laptop.

I think we are speaking of two different markets here. Take Maslow's pyramid. For those who are challenged to even meet the most basic needs of survival, a computer for the child at school or even sending any children to school at all would not be a luxury but a blatant waste. For the 'simply poor' ones a computer at school can make a huge difference. Would you deny a computer to a 'simply poor' child because there are people who are still worse off?

Besides, those computers are not gifts of the rich world to the poor nations. The whole point is that governments are supposed to buy them for their schools. Some, anyway.

[thx11381974]

I think we are speaking of two different markets here.

Not true.
The design of this laptop is clearly for kids without electric. People without electric are desperately poor. kids that are poor but have power would be much better served by a striped down laptop like I described. Maybe running Edubuntu. It could be call a useful laptop for every child.

I don't want to be against the OLPC project, But I think this program will fail.
Hope I'm wrong

[Celegorm]

Unfortunately, the very existence of the G1G1 prorgram (get one, give one) might contribute to a black market.

- Kids can explain their missing laptops with robbery and theft, which may or may not be true
- adults can indeed walk around with the product because of G1G1
- Because of G1G1, some of the legally acquired laptops will find their ways into eBay etc. For any prospective buyer it would be quite impossible to tell the origin of the laptop.

The give one get one program is only being offered in North America, which isn't going to make it any less of a social taboo for an adult to walk around with one in the countries in which they are primarily being distributed to. Also, even in North America there is going to be plenty of social pressure for adults not to use these just because they look like kid's toys. There are much less embarassing alternatives to the XO, such as the Eee PC (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ASUS_Eee_PC). So, while I'm sure there will be a market for these computers for audiences other than the one they were intended for, it isn't going to be very big.

[Frak]

I don't get it you can get a real laptop at Walmart $300 If you got the manufacturer to short the hd,cd burner,and M$ OS you probably get price down to $200. The resulting machine would be way faster and have much nicer display.

Any one who wants a real One Laptop per Child machine should look on Ebay Africa. That's where they'll be a week after their passed out in the schools. I mean how is it going to work giving a kid a $200 computer when his dad makes 13 cents a day?
The point is to help developing nations, not to worry about how it performs, how to get it for a lower price, or how stupid people are too "pay such a high price".

Help people, not just yourself.

[thx11381974]

The point is to help developing nations, not to worry about how it performs, how to get it for a lower price, or how stupid people are too "pay such a high price".

Help people, not just yourself.

I don't think any one here is stupid or selfish especially the people working on the OLPC project. Your point though is exactly whats wrong with OLPC.
If there were a famine in Columbia we send them wheat & rice NOT truffles and caviar. Price and performance are everything the cost of a single one of these computers could pay a teacher for what months?years?

The idea of OLPC seems to be if we can get these machines into hands of very poor children they'll learn how to use modern technology and leapfrog their countries out of poverty. If this idea is really so workable lets take it a step further after all American student don't get laptops. Lets start the One Rocket Ship Per Family or ORSPF project where we give every family in the third world it's own space shuttle. This way they can learn to live and work in space thus leapfrogging their countries into being space fairing nations.

[Frak]

I don't think any one here is stupid or selfish especially the people working on the OLPC project. Your point though is exactly whats wrong with OLPC.
If there were a famine in Columbia we send them wheat & rice NOT truffles and caviar. Price and performance are everything the cost of a single one of these computers could pay a teacher for what months?years?

The idea of OLPC seems to be if we can get these machines into hands of very poor children they'll learn how to use modern technology and leapfrog their countries out of poverty. If this idea is really so workable lets take it a step further after all American student don't get laptops. Lets start the One Rocket Ship Per Family or ORSPF project where we give every family in the third world it's own space shuttle. This way they can learn to live and work in space thus leapfrogging their countries into being space fairing nations.
We are NOT giving it to them to say "here you go, use it", we are giving it to them saying "learn and thrive", because, as I said above.

"Give a Man a fish, feed Him for a day; Teach the Man to fish, feed him for a lifetime"

Also, the rocket thing, there is a difference. Laptops at school in the USA, not needed.

[thx11381974]

Laptops at school in the USA, not needed.

Why?

[Frak]

Why?
Our students are priveliged enough to be able to attend an educational institution for absolutely no cost. Nearly all the materials are provided, at no cost, for tools of education. Africa does not have this, and cannot afford to reproduce books constantly or keep up with the latest, but a computer can accomplish this need.

A computer can have access to an unlimited amount of information at no cost. It's buy once, for a decade, with no need to be replaced to keep up with new information.

If you think about it, we have it lucky.

[popch]

We are NOT giving it to them to say "here you go, use it", we are giving it to them saying "learn and thrive"

Actually, 'we' are not giving it to them. Period.

The project consisted of designing a laptop which is both cheap and usable in a wide range of environments. Part two has been completed. Part one (the 'cheap' part) is still to materialize. However, they're not that far off target in value adjusted dollars. Also, the price will drop once mass production has been achieved.

Performance per se is not an issue. By the standards of only ten years ago, the XO would have been a very fast machine. No one will deny that ten years ago PCs were an important part of our office environments. True, we did not have wobbly windows and desktops on the sides of cubes and such, but I myself could perform powerful calulations and write complex and large documents even without wobbly windows.

The goal is that governments and other 'local' organisations can buy them for their local schools. I can see nothing wrong with governments building and gearing up schools.

The only exception - where those laptops are given away - appears to be the G1G1 program where computers will be given to children.

[thx11381974]

Our students are priveliged enough to be able to attend an educational institution for absolutely no cost. Nearly all the materials are provided, at no cost, for tools of education. Africa does not have this, and cannot afford to reproduce books constantly or keep up with the latest, but a computer can accomplish this need.

A computer can have access to an unlimited amount of information at no cost. It's buy once, for a decade, with no need to be replaced to keep up with new information.

If you think about it, we have it lucky.

In education the US ranks very low when compared to other industrial nations often last or near last. Our prosperity from comes from a complete inbrace of capitalism and very strong work ethic. Not from having well functioning school system. The reason Europeans often stereotype us as ignorant red necks has lot to do with fact we are so poorly educated. Other than success in teaching reading, writing, and VERY basic math. our educational system has achieved nothing.

No I have to say the opposite is true. The US school system could benefit greatly from every student getting issued a laptop a real one that is. Its some thing we can afford to do and should do. In the third world on the other hand where almost no one can read or write. The basic things have to be achieved first. They require little more than pencil, paper,and good teacher. In fact something like a laptops will likely make things worse in poor country's.Because the computers are so incredibly expensive nations buying them will likely only give them to more affluent students from the socially acceptable classes. As education budgets are exhausted purchasing laptops for wealthy racially pure(aka likely to succeed) students.Children of the underclasses that don't get them will likely lose access to any education at all.
This is why India rejected OLPC.

[nickburns]

The laptop is finally in production and rolling off the assembly line.

http://www.news.com/8301-10784_3-9812297-7.html

The Buy-One-Give-One is this monday.

[handy]

Here is some info' regarding the $100- laptop:

http://www.squeakland.org/about/people/bio.jsp?id=1

http://waveplace.com/

http://waveplace.com/resources/tutorials/

http://www.squeakland.org/about/intro/

http://www.squeakland.org/about/people/bio.jsp?id=4

http://www.squeakland.org/news/press/