David Pogue Reviews the XO Laptop

Maximum Prophet writes "David Pogue, technology reviewer at the New York Times, has taken a first-hand look at the XO laptop, also known as the 'One Laptop Per Child' project, or the '$100 Laptop'. His reaction is very favorable, having tested it out via several criteria. And ultimately, he writes, the laptop is about more than just technology for the people. 'The biggest obstacle to the XO's success is not technology -- it's already a wonder -- but fear. Overseas ministers of education fear that changing the status quo might risk their jobs. Big-name computer makers fear that the XO will steal away an overlooked two-billion-person market. Critics fear that the poorest countries need food, malaria protection and clean water far more than computers. But the XO deserves to overcome those fears. Despite all the obstacles and doubters, O.L.P.C. has come up with a laptop that's tough and simple enough for hot, humid, dusty locales; cool enough to keep young minds engaged, both at school and at home; and open, flexible and collaborative enough to support a million different teaching and learning styles.'"

Yo, Editors:

[CompMD]

"Pogue" is the spelling.

Photoshop?

[wile_e_wonka]

The Linux operating system doesnt run Microsoft Office, Photoshop or any other standard Mac or Windows programs.

Wait--I got ripped off. My computer came with windows, but it didn't come standard with Microsoft Office or Photoshop!

In all seriousness, though, the OLPC comes with OpenOffice and Gimp, which seem like fine alternatives to me for a bunch of African kids getting the laptop for free.

Re:If OLPC was so good, it would be sold in US

[DragonWriter]

The fact that the OLPCs are not offered in US toy stores even before pushing them abroad makes me suspect that they are seriously underpowered machines without much available software and are not as fun and cool as the project leaders would have us think.

They aren't designed as toys. They are designed as educational tools to be used in an environment where they interact with others with similar hardware, school servers, etc., and to support centralized distribution of software and content by the agency purchasing them.

I also don't think you understand the marketing costs and risk associated with a mass retail marketing effort, particular of a product which is designed for the specific needs of a very different one than you are trying to market it to at retail.

Re:If OLPC was so good, it would be sold in US

[MathFox]

I'ld like to add that they need to produce millions of near identical computers to get the economy of scale to produce it at $150-200 cost. A run for the US toys stores would be too small. It is possible that some surplus will end up in regular "western" sales channels.

Re:A child?? I must have turn the logo the wrong w

[MagicM]

The skull and crossbones is the child. See the website [laptop.org].

Re:first tits!

[CheeseTroll]

How is any local tech industry going to manufacture clones for less? As Negroponte has pointed out, assembly costs for the XO are only ~$1 per machine. They'd need to import all the individual components, anyway.

Re:Can I flash the thing

[timeOday]

The XO weighs over 3 pounds and is worse in every techinical respect (processor, memory, hard disk space, drives, etc).

RTA!

• 6-24 hours(!!!) of run-time
• The XO's battery is good for 2000 charges and costs $10
• The XO has a 200 DPI daylight visible screen(!!!)
• It can run on a 1' square, $12 solar panel
• Spill-proof keyboard

Just like the article says, this laptop has many significant advantages - not just over your $350 Compaq, but over my $3000 Thinkpad. I would really like to get one of these for my 9 year old - and I have no doubt my wife and probably myself would be stealing it often!

Re:I for one...

[geekoid]

A well designed interface can still be used by 'YET STILL ILLITERATE' people.
In fact I can think of a method right now to help ILLITERATE people become literate.

But your right, these are for kids that do have a certain level of literacy.

Sell them as

[geekoid]

'1st start' computer for 100 bucks. Make them bright black, yellow, pink, or purple.

Once the kids friends realize how much power they will have, they all will want one. By the time the parents realize what's up it will be to late.

Re:If OLPC was so good, it would be sold in US

[localman]

Having had success installing late 80's era black and white Macintosh computers in South Africa, I'm going to say that you don't understand the issue. The needs are very different there and here. A rugged underpowered machine is much preferable to anything you can buy in the stores.

Cheers.

Re:Don't assume they'll be just be used for good

[Anonymous Coward]

You can go even further... the easy availability of food causes rapid growth of the population, and then the food supply is overtaxed and lots of people starve. It's best to make food hard to get... fewer people starve and the entire planet fares better.

see: http://64.233.169.104/search?q=cache:kBxlpeFsObYJ:media.anthropik.com/pdf/hopfenberg2001.pdf+foodpop&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=1&gl=us [64.233.169.104]

http://potluck.com/2001/01/the-unsustainability-and-origins-of-socioeconomic-increase/ [potluck.com]

Re:Don't assume they'll be just be used for good

[rockmuelle]

I'm not sure that the assumption that kids will be the primary users of these laptops is even valid.

I've done volunteer work in 3rd world nations and the one thing we really needed was realiable, weather-proof computers with wireless communication. The first thing I thought of when I played around with an OLPC was how great the platform was for remote areas. In these environments, the standard practice is to get hand-me-down laptops from 1st world countries. These tend to vary from barely working 386-based systems to more modern Mac and Windows machines with serious battery issues. Having a rugged, field-rechargable platform would simplify a number of applications - from simple logistics (keeping track of local resources and trade), to tracking human rights abuses (what I was doing), to the more nefarious military/rebel/drug-running uses (which is what I personally think most OLPCs will be appropriated for). I suspect adults will quickly become the primary users of XOs.

I haven't seen any serious discussion about this possible (probable) use of the OLPC and would like to see what other people think (esp. if you've worked in these areas before).

-Chris