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The US$ 100 laptop project begins production

Posted Jul 25, 2007 at 08:55PM by Isaac C. Listed in: Laptops & Notebooks, Laptop News Tags: waterproof, OLPC, Nigeria, Solar Energy, BBC, United Nations

After much hullabaloo and criticism for the One Laptop Per Child Project, production has finally started and the earliest batch should be ready by this October.

For those unfamiliar with the OLPC, it's a non-profit organization set out to revolutionize the standards and methods of education for children the world over. It particularly targets regions that can't afford the luxuries of a decent education. The project is just about what it's named after: to provide a laptop for each child. The laptop, dubbed XO, currently costs US$ 176 but is aimed to be sold for the initial goal of US $100.

Let's look at what it actually offers for the US$ 100:

It's tough, set to survive in harsh conditions. It's case is waterproof and guess how they test it? They put the laptops in ovens at 50 degrees.
It can be manually powered. That's right, it can be powered through solar energy, by a foot-pump or even by pull-string. You don't have a lot of sockets available in Nigeria.
It has 1GB of memory using open-source software. You can't use it to make your office presentations, but think how many books you can fit in there.
It has WiFi and a camera.

That's pretty good, and kids would certainly benefit from it greatly. The idea has been widely criticized, much for the goal that seems like an idealist's dream and for the seeming impossibility of such an undertaking. However, the dream has been realized and even Kofi Annan, ex-secretary general of the United Nations, commends the laptop as an "expression of global solidarity."

[Via BBC News] Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Digg It!

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11 Comments

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by GamerGuyDude - 2007-07-25

» Really exciting!

Sure it costs a lot of money initially, but think about the savings when you can get textbooks to every child for a fraction of the cost. Not to mention the training for the biggest technological advancement of the 20/21st centruy.

Re: omg (Unregistered) - 2007-07-26

» to the guy who just posted about barakku

You are probably the most ignorant person ever. barraku was making a logical statement. You even called barraku a 'noob' how old are you? I don't think you are old enough to make judgement.

Re: barraku you suck (Unregistered) - 2007-07-26

» RE OMG

OMG - First of all noob-I AM AFRICAN- we are not all spear chuckers- second NOOB you replied to the wrong comment- third- even if I was two he is a ***** face saddlebags wanker and so are you- africa needs cheezits and condoms- cheezits bc theylast- comments bc our people all have aids- like you- if you dont have it btw GET IT noob you will like it

by mohaas05 (Unregistered) - 2007-07-26

» ...

what do people in africa need computers for? Don't they need more important things like food and medical treatment?

Re: PsPoPPer (Unregistered) - 2007-07-26

» hahahahah

yea I agree, in the New York Times they said that parents caught their kids looking up porn on the laptops!

Re: Cameron300ZXTT (Unregistered) - 2007-07-26

» Cool Idea

What better way to ease pain and suffering than free porn and pop-ups?

This is seriously a good idea, however I think you gotta check your list of priorities every once in a while.

by Awais (Unregistered) - 2007-07-26

» cool!!!!!!!

this is really cool and really nice for poor people in nigeria to provide them with a laptop.

by ikemike (Unregistered) - 2007-07-26

» ....

Nice idea but laptops? why not food...... or mabey a good school? ... or a psp?

Re: Advertising -

Re: barakku (Unregistered) - 2007-07-26

» because

Because food lasts for a meal, but since Africa if rife with poverty, they'll just run out and be hungry; nothing will change. Give them education--skills they need to increase productivity, get jobs, build the economy...then the country (or even the continent) will be better off in the long run.

Re: old guy (Unregistered) - 2007-07-26

» @ barakku

I agree and someitmes when ppl have food it don't last and in certain parts of Africa it is in a civil war which if necessary the rebels will sack nearby villages for food and other things

Re: barrakku you suck (Unregistered) - 2007-07-26

» barakku bc

Barrakku- are you racist? stupid? both? You think there are all kinds of jobs in Africa just waiting for the scholors to take them? Skills they need to increase productivity? STFU NOOB Africa needs food and we need to lose weight- let go of your your big mac you fat Noob and FITFO (fork it the ***** over NOOB)to some african starving kid- get aids- use google ***** tits saddle bags ***** face noob

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