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OLPC laptop destined for the U.S. for sure, if you go by e-mail list item from Walter Bender
April 28, 2007 | 4:03 pm
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By David Rothman
“OLPC added a new country this week: the USA. This move will engage a wider developer community, impacting and improving software and content. Please note that such a move into schools and learning in the USA is not necessarily a commercial machine.” – Walter Bender, an OLPC official, to an email list.
The TeleRead take: I don’t know if you can use the machine in the bathtub, but computing in the rain is no prob. “On a rainy day in Boston,” OLPC says, the organization’s Mary Lou Jepsen “decided to let the BBC film her testing the XO in a downpour. She worked with the laptop for an hour in the pouring rain while they filmed; both she and the laptop got drenched. XO worked fine; the crew were to be able to see the screen clearly outside—it was bright despite the rain.” Any Sony Reader users care to try this? Hey, my Palm TX isn’t built for computin’ in the rain, either.
Not necessarily a machine for adults: Keep in mind the size of the OLP laptop’s keyboad—designed for a child. But the basic technology is out there for Quanta, OLPC’s vendor, to use in similar hardware.
About the photo: Green seems to be the color being played up in OLPC’s PR. But isnt’ this red fun? Let’s hope it’s an option. Photo shows it being used as a tablet—great for e-book reading, when you combine this with the sharp screen.
Related: Don’t think OLPC laptops could end up in U.S. schools? Think again.
(Found via Bill Janssen’s post to the eBook Community list—different from the one to which Walter Bender posted.)
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Comments:
I really don’t understand why they are so reluctant to release a commercial version. People have expressed, often and vocally, that they would willingly pay for the machine, and that they would be willing to pay above market pricefor it should the extra revenue be used to subsidize the charitable arm of this project. WHY the huge reluctance? Why must the clamouring oublic be forced to reckon with clones or knockoffs when they want this machine, with the swivel screen and tablet format and little foot pedal power thing, and when they can have it for a price that, even at in inflated-to-subsidize level, is still quite affordable? I really, truly don’t get why the OLPC are so reluctant to sell the damn things. I would pay for one, happily, and know many other gadget lvoers who would too. These machines—durable, affordable, versatile, streamlined and open source—could revolutionize personal computing, everywhere. Why hold that back?
Joanna: Luckily it would appear that Quanta is free to do its own machines, including with keyboards suited for adults. So stay tuned. The big reason seems to be OLPC’s bizarre marketing approach: Establish a brand identity with the developing world in mind. But that’s still foolish since the project requires economies of scale, and people in the U.S., Australia, etc., could help supply the demand. At any rate, having back off on the issue of machines in the U.S., OLPC itself may well do the same so that eventually you can buy even “official” machines privately. Let’s hope so. David
This is a rip off!!!! I’ve paid for four (2 to home, 2 elsewhere) and BOTH broke. They do not answer email and do not give a phone number. I am NOT buying any more and recommend that noone else does, either. They are less-than reliable and there is zero/zip/no support, help or anything. If it breaks, tough.
Jim, there are third-party repair services for the OLPC machine, and based on my experience in Northern Virginia, the prices can be pretty cheap. Scroll down this page for a list of centers. Thanks. David