Yeah, but that isn't the purpose of these. They tried that with OLPC and it was a good design but there were much more helpful ways to spend money to help third world children and it didn't really work out for a variety of reasons. These are, at best like the Raspberry Pi, intended for poor and middle-class western kids, to give them a 'hackable' platform that encouraged learning about how computers work (like the Commodore 64s and BBC Micros of old). Ideally, they would be distributed to public school students. Cheap is important, but not if it means you forgo the 'hackable'-ness.

But also my advice was really more intended for those here, who would be buying something like this to mess around with for DIY stuff.

That's one of the best educational products I've seen, since the OLPC project.

Tags for this video have been changed from 'olpc, laptop, computer, game, 1992' to 'olpc, laptop, computer, game, 1993, id, software, doom, quake' - edited by Zonbie

megadeth666: you send them $400 as a "donation", which buys 2. They send one to a developing nation, and send you one, mostly for PR and geekery, though some people give them to their kids. The XO is not designed to be a first world consumer gadget, but does have some interesting tech innovations, what olpc fanboys call "clock stopping hot technology".

Tags for this video have been changed from 'XO, reuters, international, wireless, computer, third world, children' to 'XO, OLPC, reuters, international, wireless, computer, third world, children' - edited by kronosposeidon

I feel your pain. I've taught web design courses in computer labs where everyone is in front of a computer; I just had to resign myself to the fact that I would lose some of them at any given time. I tried to make my classes interesting enough that they would want to pay attention.

Regardless, I think the OLPC project will open far more doors than it will cause frustration for teachers. In fact, it will likely push teachers to learn more to stay ahead of the kids!

*requeue

Okay, so if it does not solve EVERY problem, then it must be a bad solution for an education problem?

Look, if this does nothing more then save lots of money on textbooks it's still a good program.

These machines are not being bought with food aid money (which does not have a good track record by the way) this is coming out of education funding of local governments with the understanding that it displaces textbooks, which cost more. Stop with the "send them X instead" crap, they are going to spend this money on education, this is a new option, which would not exist without olpc, and which will SAVE them money.

You can take or leave Negroponte's polemic, I don't care, but please explain to me any way that giving children access to more information at a lower cost is detrimental to their education or their country.

All the world saving shit is just icing on the cake, it's worth the investment weather Negroponte is right or not.

It's hard for me to believe that anyone would trashtalk this fantastic project. It has the potential to fundamentally change people's lives. From what I understand, the program includes providing wireless internet access with the laptops, and their mesh network allows them to transfer data via other laptops even if they are out of direct range.

For those who want to have one, or contribute, there is a "Give One, Get One" promotion happening until the end of this month, in which you buy two and donate one or both. All of this is being done not for profit.

The laptop uses a Linux operating system with lots of useful software built in. That's another thing that is great, it's entirely open source, so their development is open-ended and expandable.

And what has been happening so far with these machines, apparently, is that kids with no prior access to computers are taking to them like fish to water within minutes, and suddenly have an entire Internet-full of knowledge at their fingertips. That can completely change their lives -- and imagine what might start happening when these groups of kids start collaborating together.

For those who want to understand the philosophy of the project, I've just submitted a video of Nicholas Negroponte introducing the OLPC project at TED Talks. He is the founder of the project, and former chairman of the MIT Media Lab.

These machines are "given away" from the students perspective, but they are bought by departments of education, they are, among other things, a text book substitute. Educational systems in the third world stand to save lots of money just by replacing paper textbooks, and the kids have the option of learning far beyond what a few grammar school text books can teach them.

I am happy to watch this happen, the intent is grass roots empowerment through blanket saturation of the educational system with cost saving, and education enabling technology. there will be glitches, there are always glitches, that does not mean that this is a stupid idea.

As for theft, you have to be an uber-geek to get these things to run any app that anybody but a child would want to use. The only reason to have them on the black market is because they are cool, which is why olpc should sell a modified (clearly not stolen) system to geeks for $300, and use the money to offset the cost to students.

Comment hidden because you are ignoring dag. (show it anyway)

Your comment, grahamslam- shows that you didn't watch the video- or at least weren't paying attention.

The kids that receive these laptops are doing all kinds of legitimate things with them. Not only that, but localized versions of Wikipedia will be pre-installed on many of them: http://wikimediafoundation.org/wiki/Press_releases/One_Laptop_Per_Child_Includes_Wikipedia_on_$100_Laptops.

I'd say the wealth of knowledge availabe just from that would make the laptops worth it.

The reason why sending your old desktop or laptop will not work for these people is because the electricity supply for many of the target countries is unreliable. (hence the handcrank on the OLPC).

Your crappy, jaded hipster attitude does yourself - nor the world, any service grahamslam.

If you think an underpowered system like this can't make real changes for kids growing up - you should read this article about another underpowered system - the ZX Sinclair. A crappy little box that boostrapped many of the great British programmers of today.

Unfortunately, most of the starving people don't have access to the internet to complain about the insignificant problems of the ugly people. But with this OLPC program, perhaps that will change.

Nice sift, I've always thought the OLPC project was a great idea.

Also, the official site is here.

One of the great ideas they've been kicking around for a while is "Buy one, sponsor two", as in, sell the laptop at $300 per to people in the US. The extra $200 would go to buying two laptops, which wouuld be given to the children.

Heh, I surely hope that the OLPC takes off, it's a great concept.

'cause I'm sure there's nothing underprivileged kids want more than to go on a virtual killing spree (!)

For those who don't know what OLPC is, go here. (also in Winkler1's post, see related OS video below)