OLPC Says No Plans for Consumer Release 208
Gr88pe writes "The One Laptop Per Child product has clarified that they have not made a decision on whether or not to carry out a consumer release of the XO laptop, despite previous reports. From the article: 'OLPC told Ars Technica in a statement that the company has no plans for a consumer version of the laptop. "Contrary to recent reports, One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) is not planning a consumer version of its current XO laptop, designed for the poorest and most remote children in the world," said Nicholas Negroponte, OLPC chairman.' They are considering a number of plans, but have made no formal decision."
One of the more interesting ideas (Score:5, Interesting)
The part of it that would be of interest to me would be a system that would allow a westerner to just buy one of these for a child oversees.
That just seems dumb... (Score:4, Interesting)
If people demand it, the market should supply it.
I say we develop a "one child per laptop" organization. It's function would be to convince governments to develop laws mandating that you can only have a child if you have a laptop.
It's still a good funding idea... (Score:5, Interesting)
One idea I heard floating around was the to buy one for yourself, you would have to buy one towards the initiative. To me that sounds like a win win, they get more in contributions to the cause, people that want to play with one get the opportunity and production orders increase which usually drives down costs even more.
Good Decision (Score:4, Interesting)
(Bletsas acknowledges that some abuse is inevitable. "Will some parents sell their children's laptops on the gray market? Sure." ) source [linuxtoday.com]
Yes this is only initially, but if the children that these laptops are designed for are missing out because some random wants to play with it in his apartment along with his 2 pc's his other laptop, his pda and 3 game consoles something is seriously amiss, regardless of how much he pays for it.
Everybody knows (Score:4, Interesting)
If they don't *know* that this laptop would be a huge benefit to poor people in ALL countries, then they're either being threatened by the likes of Dell (hard to sell $500 POS desktops when you can get a durable $100 laptop) or are completely blind to the people who are right under their noses.
As long as I have a computer with an internet connection I will never be broke. I may be homeless, but I'll never be broke. But, I guess people don't care about the homeless people in say New York that could use a laptop to get started in developing web-sites to bring in some extra money (or even to find resources like food banks and shelters) to help them get back on their feet.
Too popular? (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:Why the hell not, (Score:5, Interesting)
A Question I didn't ask on the OLPC wiki.. (Score:3, Interesting)
If someone nice and rich out there really wants to buy these laptops for the first world, I think they can do it. Just don't go asking OLPC for 3 units "for my grandkids" for xmas next year.. cause that's not the way electronics manufacturers sell stuff.. they sell in bulk to retailers who add their markup, add postage and handling, etc.
Re:One of the more interesting ideas (Score:5, Interesting)
I would not mind buying two for children overseas - especially if the system of charitable contributions is set up so we end up with a "negative salestax" - but I do not want to miss out on one for myself either.
The screen may be a bit small compared to what I use on my desktop, but it's got a decent resolution and can be read outside. I want to be able to sit on the deck or in the garden and edit wiki pages, browse the web, listen to music or show stuff using the built-in camera.
The XO is also much more rugged than normal laptops. You can actually take it outside without worrying about it breaking because of dust or some raindrops. I want one
Re:It's still a good funding idea... (Score:3, Interesting)
This is similar to what the Freeplay Foundatation and C. Crane were doing with the Freeplay Lifeline Radios [ccrane.com]. Buy one for yourself, and one is donated to orphans in Rawanda.
Apparently this wasn't popular enough, because it looks like Freeplay and C. Crane have discontinued the program. The radios were probably too large and ugly for most American shortwave consumers, I suppose.
I've got a great idea.. (Score:4, Interesting)
Re:You want what you can't have (Score:1, Interesting)
Stupid? I would buy one... (Score:3, Interesting)
But here goes another story - what if I would decide to develop (here in Central Europe - why not?) software/services for this machines? I would like to get one for developement and stuff (those OS images for emulation are not suitable for Real World testing The Platform)?
For me not releasing it (even if it costs like 3x more) to general public is like creating a barrier - so kids in other countries will get this stuff. And me? Me not. I guess this laptop was intended to break the barriers - this situation - when it is not aviable for whole world creates a barrier.
Like come on - I would love to hack it and share what I did with other people.
Re:Chanel Conflict... (Score:3, Interesting)
What do you mean, "derivative?" All they need to do to is use a different color plastic for the case on the commercial version. That'll make it plenty "distinctive," and it's easy enough that they can sell them immediately!
I'm there. (Score:2, Interesting)
I am very serious when I say I'd consider doing that: sign up for a year or two, have them fly me there (or i'd even pay my own airfair if i end up feeling that strongly about the potential of the project. I'm not that wholly convinced at this point.) Maybe they also get me some kind of formal certifications (like TEFL or something OLPC realted) give partner or two to work with. A small peace corps-like living stipend that gives me (or so I've read) an income about equal to those I'm working with.
When I graduate in a year and a half doing that sort of work, overseas or domestic service work, is something I'm seriously considering, it beats getting a 9-5 office hell job while i figure out my degree is useless and head back to school for a masters in something specific but equally un-employable.
And, like you said, I end up with a computer at the end of it. I could (and will given the chance) get behind buying an OLPC for 3 or 4 hundred and sending 2 or 3 computers to the programs purchasing them. The program has stated that the costs is still at about $135 per unit, so perhaps having people interested could subsidize the cost so they could sell the laptops at their $100 price point before they actually get the hardware costs down that far. This seems a better solution then buying a laptop for a child in the 3rd world since that seems to not quite mesh with the program's stated goal of selling the laptops to nations wishing to purchase them.
Re:We have poor people in the West too (Score:3, Interesting)
Hi, I live below the poverty line according to my income. I'm typing this from a Powerbook in a (really fucking nice) 1200 sq ft apartment which I commute to work in a VW Jetta. I also pay for my own school (no student loans, paying out of pocket), I have $3000 in savings. I just got a promotion at where I work (movie theater!) but the pay raise hasn't come in yet. I've got Cable broadband, and it's fabulous. No handouts from my parents, doing this on my own. I had about $3000 in credit card debt at one point, but I've paid all but $300 of it off. Granted, I don't go out drinking every night or go eat out a lot, but my quality of life is far from what I thought I'd have to live like when I moved out.
They say America is the land of dreams. I used to think that was crap, but compared to third world countries where people aren't even aware that they have other options, I know that in my country (the US) I have a lot of upward mobility, and by expressing a desire to move up in life, people are giving me opportunities to do so. I doubt that's happening currently in the Sudan.
In two years I will go from making $12,000 a year to $22,000 this year to $45,000 a year, by being productive and focusing on what I need to do to move upward in life.
The "poverty line" is a crock of bullshit in my opinion. The number of truly homeless people who refuse to get help and move on from the past tragedies in their lives is quite small. If you're unable to make $10,000 a year (what I would consider the true poverty line to be) you are most likely severely mentally handicapped.
Its all about stopping Resale (Score:1, Interesting)
If this model is for sale to say people in developed countries, people will buy it, but also people will start selling them second hand on eBay etc. Now you have created a market for this and second hand dealers will be looking for more stock and do you know who they will go for first? Thats right, those poor people who's kids got a OLPC. One if some second hard dealer offers them a even a handful of dollars, poor are going to jump at that chance of short-term gain. Remember some of these people who have OLPC might have more immediate concerns about how to feed, clothe & house themselves.
So if they make this version available only through government programs they can ban resales of these. Anybody selling this model will be selling a product obtained illegally.
So I am pretty sure they will not sell this model. However I really hope they sell different 'consumer' model of these.
-AC