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The One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) program is moving ahead with orders from Nigeria, and strong interest in the machines from Uruguay, Nigeria, Pakistan, Argentina, Brazil, Thailand, and Libya. The computers are destined to be the possessions of the kids, not the schools so the kids will have an incentive to take care of them.
The specs for this small laptop are impressive, the first models, the OLPC XO-1 will have:
- 700 Mhz AMD x86 processor (They went to Intel first, but Intel dropped the ball by not responding fast enough. AMD ended up with the contract.)
- 256 M Ram
- 1G flash memory provides instant on and very long battery life. Your typical hard drive sucks a lot of power.
- 3 USB Ports
- Inbuilt Video
- Wifi mesh network (kids can collaborate, text message etc.)
- Rugged (survives drops that would kill an ordinary computer. No hard drive to crash.)
- Stereo sound with 2 audio output jacks
- Dual mode display for indoor and outdoor viewing (sunlight readable)
- Highest resolution in dots per inch than any laptop they know of
- Extreme low power: 2W Nominal. (A well-nourished person can generate 15-20W with the “pencil-yellow hand crankâ€. They’ve got it so you can get 10 minutes of use out of 1 minute of cranking.)
- Adjustable ear antennae give it 2-3x range for picking up wifi.
- Sugar user interface (you should check this out, very abstract looking)
- Wide range of alternative power inputs
- “Greenest laptop by factor of ten†(1/2 size, 1/2 weight, 1/3 part count, RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances Directive) compliant, no Hg, Cd, Pb, etc.)
- Fedora Linux, Windows XP ready (which is convenient as Microsoft just announced that they’d be selling versions of the Windows OS for $3 in select developing countries.)
First thoughts are that the amount of memory seems tiny and 1Gig storage... even tinier, but the OS is very efficient and I can remember being impressed by a lot less not so long ago.
Other benefits: no bloatware (that heinous stuff that you never want that ships on your brand new laptop and takes up space/processor power), no capslock (becaUSE WHO USES...darnit...stupid capslock), AND peer to peer everything (woohoo!)
A friend of mine who ran a program that brought computers and laptops to the Detroit Public Schools pointed out that tech support may be the Achilles heel of the project. Not much has been said of the OLPC tech support. In areas where there is little or no communications infrastructure this could be a concern.
Much thanks to Catherine Laine at AIDG for this info, there is much more at the AIDG Blog.
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written by Stephen Lomax, June 13, 2007
The OLPC (One Laptop Per Child) programme is a good idea, but there are many teething problems to address. The good news is that it will expose more kids to computers. OLPC will help children in developing countries around the world. But it will also change the world of laptops forever. The marketpace will benefit, and I?m sure that every home in the developed world will have one. What is becoming clear is that the OLPC is a not the solution but a starting point for development. This project needs to be handled in a sensitive way. Different needs and cultures must be addressed properly. Only then will the OLPC project be a success. Right now is an exciting time for technology, particularly mobile technology covering laptops, mobile phones and PDAs. Also the web and they way they all work with the web. I get my laptops and peripherals from Portable Universe and I can thoroughly recommend them. The best thing for people to do is to talk to them, let them know what your needs are (both current and future) and they will come up with the best laptop for you. I also get blank DVDs there for my backup.
http://www.portableuniverse.co.uk
http://www.portableuniverse.co.uk
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written by jrad, July 06, 2007
i will agree that the project is not without flaws, namely due to the plastic being used. however, if it is indeed a stepping stone, you can't do much about upgrades anyway. the average user doesn't really know anything about upgrades as it is. usually, it's handed off to someone more knowledgeable, friend or professional. as for becoming obsolete, that's not the big issue either. you're looking at kids who have never used anything like it. discontent and unrest from a population uneducated in this kind of technology will still take a long time. it's like the post itself says "I can remember being impressed by a lot less not so long ago."
there is, of course, still the issue of taking it apart. not out of necessity or thoughts of upgrades, but people are inquisitive. even some adults are likely to get into computer-smashing action to see what's in there, what's making it tick.
however, you can't address the problems completely without educating the users, and the users can hardly be educated without exposure.
so yeah, my biggest beef with the thing is the plastic thing. however, this is the "greenest laptop by a factor of ten." it's not by any means the perfect laptop. it is educational, affordable, and much more sensitive to the environment than any laptop you're going to buy in the US... which the average user still wouldn't recycle anyway. this is far from an ill-conceived project and safe even by US standards.
there is, of course, still the issue of taking it apart. not out of necessity or thoughts of upgrades, but people are inquisitive. even some adults are likely to get into computer-smashing action to see what's in there, what's making it tick.
however, you can't address the problems completely without educating the users, and the users can hardly be educated without exposure.
so yeah, my biggest beef with the thing is the plastic thing. however, this is the "greenest laptop by a factor of ten." it's not by any means the perfect laptop. it is educational, affordable, and much more sensitive to the environment than any laptop you're going to buy in the US... which the average user still wouldn't recycle anyway. this is far from an ill-conceived project and safe even by US standards.
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written by battery site, October 13, 2007
Right now is an exciting time for technology, particularly mobile technology covering laptops, mobile phones and PDAs. Also the web and they way they all work with the web. I get my laptops and peripherals from Portable Universe and I can thoroughly recommend them. The best thing for people to do is to talk to them, let them know what your needs are (both current and future) and they will come up with the best laptop for you. I also get blank DVDs there for my backup.
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written by German, November 26, 2007
I can’t afford one for my 6 years daughter for $400 but I have been saving for her Christmas gif and I’m got $100, I’m from a development country but living, totally legal with god and official documents in USA.
THAT WILL BE POSSIBLE THAT I GET ONE FOR $100 AS A CHRISTMAS GIF FOR MY SOFIA FOR $100 ???????????
IF SOMEONE KNOWS HOW PLEASE LET ME KNOW.
Thanks
German
THAT WILL BE POSSIBLE THAT I GET ONE FOR $100 AS A CHRISTMAS GIF FOR MY SOFIA FOR $100 ???????????
IF SOMEONE KNOWS HOW PLEASE LET ME KNOW.
Thanks
German
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written by lory, January 30, 2008
I tested this camera for a client. I didn’t have the light running for more than 15 minutes. The battery lasted approximately 6 hours before recharging. The LCD, however, had a few dead pixels - never saw this before. Tried returning for exchange and had to put up quite a fight. Anyone else
seen this? http://www.batteryfast.com
seen this? http://www.batteryfast.com
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written by lory, February 04, 2008
Verizon is about the only place you can get the authentic RIM product and matching door. Most other sites are out of stock and even when they are in stock they have the black battery door which looks like crap. http://www.batteryfast.co.uk
I tested this camera for a client. I didn’t have the light running for more than 15 minutes. The battery lasted approximately 6 hours before recharging. The LCD, however, had a few dead pixels - never saw this before. Tried returning for exchange and had to put up quite a fight. Anyone else seen this?
I tested this camera for a client. I didn’t have the light running for more than 15 minutes. The battery lasted approximately 6 hours before recharging. The LCD, however, had a few dead pixels - never saw this before. Tried returning for exchange and had to put up quite a fight. Anyone else seen this?
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written by Artificial Christmas tree, March 13, 2008
This should be made available in other countries aswell. It's a pretty good choice for kids all over. You don't need big expensive computer for teaching your kid the basics for operating a computer.
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written by dell battery, November 14, 2008
never saw this before. Tried returning for exchange and had to put up quite a fight.
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written by laptop battery, November 28, 2008
a feature in which editors and reporters are helping find the best news and views on the Web for the convenience of our readers.
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written by zach, December 10, 2008
This thing may be green, but it's also brown, as in a piece of shit. You shouldn't sacrifice quality for your computer to be qualified as a green machine. Here's an alternative to use top of the line hardware while being beneficial to the environment:
http://www.poweredgreen.com
http://www.poweredgreen.com
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written by Pink Dell Laptops, July 29, 2010
Hey it looks like a great little laptop. I hope they really succeed as I believe the project is important.
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written by replica tag heuer watches, November 04, 2011
I like this website, and I can benefit a lot from it
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Call me cynical, but, despite seeing the educational value of this, this "greener" laptop may only be greener by some small degree.
One laptop per child only feels like a healthy option if the laptop will be a useful hand-me-down to the child's little siblings, future children, grandchildren, etc.