One Laptop Per Child sale starts

The One Laptop Per Child project's "Give One Get One" sale started yesterday. For a limited time, anyone can buy one of the rugged, open little laptops for your own use, provided that you also pay for a second machine that will be donated to a kid in the developing world.

Between November 12 and November 26, OLPC is offering a Give One Get One program in the United States and Canada. During this time, you can donate the revolutionary XO laptop to a child in a developing nation, and also receive one for the child in your life in recognition of your contribution.

Link

I write books. My latest is a YA science fiction novel called Homeland (it's the sequel to Little Brother). More books: Rapture of the Nerds (a novel, with Charlie Stross); With a Little Help (short stories); and The Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow (novella and nonfic). I speak all over the place and I tweet and tumble, too.

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mojodenbow

The new mayor of Birmingham wants OLPC models for children in the school system. http://www.al.com/news/birminghamnews/index.ssf?/base/news/1194945540247570.xml&coll=2

Loopy or brilliant?
GuidoDavid

I am very happy for this, I wish I could buy one and contribute to this effort.
This is an invaluable opportunity for children all around the world. When I think about what the Internet and computers have done for me, I just have can be grateful for the price drop of the machines and regretful for losing so much time until I was able to afford one.

This will improve the quality of life of many people around the world in the medium term and will give a voice to many that were silent. I bet that in five years the Blogosphere will be very different and much more diverse and fun. Sometimes the American-centrism is overwhelming.
stephan lawson

I just made a donation and I am anxious to give these machines a try. From the sound of it, they are just right for tinkering. Built in programming tools, simple oscilloscope, music sequencing….I wish my $2000 Thinkpad came with a sequencer, not to mention a pull cord to charge the battery!

Have all the hardware advances (disk space, speed, memory) really improved the computer user’s experience? I hope this will shake up the computer industry.
Jeff Soesbe

I did Give One, Get One as well. I hope it arrives soon, as I (i mean, the kids) are really interested in checking it out.

As soon as it gets in, I’m sure that I (i mean, the kids) will be taking it through its paces and I (i mean, the kids) will see how well it works for everyday use.

Perhaps even I can create some apps for me (I mean, the kids) to use.

Transparently,

- yeff
ianm

i really wish i had $400 to spare right now :/

For once, the price being in USD is an ADVANTAGE for us Canadians! ha
zzzebra

Re: #27 “haineux”:

“Two things you might wish to know about this “XO Computer”"

The details are at the official OLPC website with features, photos, and more. I’m sure the official information at the official site is quite informative for those who wish to take a gander.

“The keyboard is weensy, and not very pleasant for touch typing.”

IMO that shouldn’t be a problem for most people who somehow manage to use their hands with all manner of cell phone buttons on a daily basis.

“The screen is also weensy.”

But not as small as much of the screens available on the majority of the popular cell phones and PDA devices.

“The graphics system is NOT suitable for playing a first-person shooter”

That depends, what breed of FPS are we talking about here? FPS have been around for a long, long while. I’m sure there will be plenty of games, including FPS, which would play well on this CPU.

“Low power is very important for the XO, because many of the target children don’t have reliable electricity.”

Shouldn’t we all be trying to use less electricity? I would think more enviro friendly devices would be in the best interest of us all, regardless of where we’re at.

“Us “first world” geeks have electricity and wireless networking almost everywhere.”

But why should we have to depend on electricity? And what about the current value of the dollar today, tomorrow, and on down the road? What if we face another depression? What then? I’ve noticed a lot of new devices with hand crank and solar recharge options lately, devices which, IMO, we should all start adopting for the sake of us, each other, and our environment.

“the EEE is a better computer for the money.”

IMO, I respectfully disagree. The OLPC is better for the money for a number of reasons, including those mentioned on the official site.

“Also the EEE can run Windows, which is arguably a plus.”

I don’t see Windows as a plus at all. I use Linux and would rather see people introduced to the philosophy and reality of free and open (source).

“The OLPC initiative “XO” is not going to be your favorite laptop.”

People are capable of deciding that for themselves. I’m quite certain it will be MY favorite laptop.
iburl

Can you choose it to NOT go to Nigeria?
mindysan33

We ordered one and are looking forward to getting it (hopefully in time for X-mas). I think all 3 of us will dig it (me, hubby, child).

Personally, I think this is a great initiative and think that Nicholas Negroponte is a great guy for dreaming this up. I wish more people who do charitable work would think outside the box in this way… Don’t know about his brother, though.

Mindysan
Scoutmaster

Two questions:

Who says a computer will help them in any conceivable way? Wouldn’t a book be a better learning tool or a qualified teacher or a school?

What’s stopping them or their parents from selling their laptops and buying necessities like clothing, food, medicine, shelter, or something they don’t need?
ianm

to #3 – SCOUTMASTER

I will let Nick Negroponte answer those questions himself, as he does very well in his TED talk.

Link: http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/view/id/41
Lone

#3

http://olpc.tv/
A lot could be said here, and I have tried, but the media on the site speaks for itself. You’ll just have to see for yourself.
As with anything, its not the final solution to the worlds problems. Sure, some laptops may end going in the wrong direction and become cash for other needs. Many will not and will reach people who are hungry for exposure to education, information, and the outside world.
Jun-Dai

@SCOUTMASTER

Books are not interactive – you can only learn what they tell you; laptops on the other hand require figuring out, and that is it’s principal educational value in this case.

Good teachers are more important than laptops, but they are in short supply, expensive, and getting them to children and providing them with adequate materials is no small task. In any case, this won’t stop people from trying to improve education in traditional ways, and in terms of expense it’s a comparatively minor effort.
marksimpkins

re #29 I realise that the team working on this is small and that actually running a project like this is in fact difficult and time consuming (thus taking time from the main aims of the project?)

I am just stating that, sadly, the post is not quite correct. Not anyone can get one, or at least not anyone can easily get one.

I most definitely do not want to cause a fuss in a way which makes things even harder for them, I want this project to succeed in its stated aims, what I can see is some other areas where it could also succeed. Or at least some research into this area could be useful.

I expect that I will try and sort out with a friend in the states on ordering one and hope that some of the other initiatives also work.

All the best to the OLPC team.
jcostello117

Someone needs to clue the retards of africa that they shouldn’t carry their computers on their. heads.
marksimpkins

sadly it isn’t ‘anybody’ just anybody in the US or Canada. I would buy one in a second if I could from here in the UK. I want to see these put in front of kids here as much as in developing countries.

I want to see how kids here, used to their Nintendo’s and PS2/PS3 etc react if given such a tool for play and learning.
Simon Greenwood

@7: seconded, and I know we’re not alone here. Perhaps we should start a petition.
michael05

i waited so long for the release of the oplc. it’s sad that they are only shipping is to north america and not to europe. i will try to get it via friends in the us, too.

btw: their shopping cart interface shows and calculates shipping options for worldwide countries.
devophill

I saw a commercial with Masi Oka tonight on TV! It’s as if things I read about on the internet are real or something…
Aaron

@7: It’s a bit of a hassle, but you can look at a way to order an XO in the UK (or anywhere, really) here.

Basically, it involves setting up a mail forwarding service with UPS, which they charge 10$+International Postage for. But it will get you your “Give one-Get one” laptop anywhere in the world.

Aaron
Aaron

Oh, and theoretically there’s another way: A group order. If you order 100 laptops, something like 60 go to you, so if you get 60 people in your area (or withing international postage range, I guess.) together, maybe using Fundable, then that would be a way to get them too. (And probably cheaper, I guess.)

But this is just “read it somewhere on an OLPC site” information, so I don’t know much about the hassle involved.
frowelishnu

I couldn’t get to the ordering page from the website so I tried the phone number on the bottom of the page.
I was helped by a very friendly rep who took my order over the phone.
Best part was being instantly greeted by a human being who didn’t have to transfer me. (I think I’ll cross-post on consumerist.)
Love this idea, I hope anyone who is financially able seriously considers this.
anatsuno

I, too, really want one. /useless addition
shanealeslie

I ordered mine half an hour after they want on sale.
I don’t normally give to charities, but this one really struck a cord with me. After finding out that each system would be loaded up with wikis and development environments to teach the user how to create new apps I was sold. I’ve ordered one, and when my daughter is old enough to use it I’m going to pass it on to her – with all of the customized educational content that I plan to make.
sabik

@Scoutmaster (#3)

Who says a computer will help them in any conceivable way? Wouldn’t a book be a better learning tool or a qualified teacher or a school?

The computer doubles as a shelf of books, an exercise/sketch book, calculator, local telephone system, camera, sound recorder, night-light and rudimentary oscilloscope, among other things.

Yes, a book is a good learning tool – but its functionality is included in the XO.
haineux

ZZZEBRA, I am delighted to hear that you’ve made up your mind already.

My note was intended for people who weren’t familiar with the XO, however. Some of them might be under the misconception that it is a general purpose laptop at a super-bargain price point.

I want them to understand that it’s not intended for the typical first-world consumer market, and that the ASUS EEE is indeed a much better fit for that market, because the EEE has faster processors.

Cory Doctorow’s original article doesn’t make that point clear, so that’s what I was trying to do.

After all, it’s not going to do the OLPC foundation any good if a zillion people purchase the XO, then hate it, and try to return it. (Nevermind the well-intentioned but under-informed buyers.)
entrepreMuse

This is great! I met one of the people involved with the initiative last year. She said they were still working on ways to get the price to the developing countries to $100.

The challenges she discussed such as battery time and dust proof casing were very interesting. Those of us in the US take for granted our easy access to the Internet, power, and dust-free environments.

These laptops are a fabulous idea and I’m so glad they are finally shipping them out!
Landowner

I’m no expert, but that girl clearly has no idea how to use that computer.
BQAggie87

I did not find the answer this on the website.

What is the network connection?

Wifi? Or only the T-Mobile Hot Spot?

thanks,
BQAggie87

D’oh found it with a little more clicking.

It connects to other computers as well as builtin wireless
zzzebra

RE: “#35 posted by haineux”:

“My note was intended for people who weren’t familiar with the XO, however.”

I found that much to be quite obvious upon my first read of above mentioned post. Which is why I clearly pointed out that those who are curious about it can find a wealth of information at the official site, including specs, features, and more.

“Some of them might be under the misconception that it is a general purpose laptop at a super-bargain price point.”

And yet, on boingboing you can find a video of Doom being played on this same laptop. The same laptop that some have said isn’t good enough for first person shooters. I’m sure geeks will find a number of original uses for this laptop, outside any real or perceived limitations brought forth by the OS originally shipped with it.

“I want them to understand that it’s not intended for the typical first-world consumer market, and that the ASUS EEE is indeed a much better fit for that market, because the EEE has faster processors.”

It’s odd that, no matter the product, no matter the source, no matter the medium, everywhere I’ve ever seen a product being shipped with Linux, there’s always someone who comes out against it and recommends or mentions somehow… Windows.

Clearly, I and many others don’t want a system running Windows or anything Microsoft related. I like free and open multimedia/document formats. I don’t want to be told what office or multimedia player I have to use because said stream content or format is closed. I don’t want to feel dependent on an OS because of something like DirectX for gaming, when people can and should, IMO, develop for ALL platforms.

The OLPC is a breath of fresh air. Finally, a laptop being offered that does not come preloaded with Windows. Tell me, how many computer stores can you walk into and choose laptops for sale without Windows (or MacOS) pre-loaded? Walk into a dozen of them and ask about their Linux preloaded systems and watch the sales reps eyebrows do a dance, or stand back as they begin to do a few uncomfortable scratching motions in random locations. I am aware of laptops being sold with Linux, but none that have received this amount of publicity. How many television commercials have you seen for Linux vs. Windows or MacOS? Where is the marketing?

Future generations can and should be raised without buying into a closed computing experience. A big thank you to those who have made the OLPC possible.

In addition:

“Laptop With a Mission Widens Its Audience” with a video from David Pogue reviewing the laptop
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/04/technology/circuits/04pogue.html

See above in the article’s video where they show the code (contents) of programs easily. Can you do the same with Windows?

I used bold in this post while I tipped my hat with a giggle and a grin.
Otter

@15: duh, she’s compiling.
Landowner

she’s compiling.

Oh, is that how you do it? I was beginning to think she was an AOL user trying to get online.
crayonbeam

Who says a computer will help them in any conceivable way? Wouldn’t a book be a better learning tool or a qualified teacher or a school?

There are other companies that donate books and money for teachers. That doesn’t mean there isn’t room for other companies to exist. And in fact this company, which wishes to stay in existance, has done just a wee bit of research to determine that their product actually has an eager market.

What’s stopping them or their parents from selling their laptops and buying necessities like clothing, food, medicine, shelter, or something they don’t need?

Nothing. Why should there be something? There is nothing stopping you from doing the same with your possesions. Do you think other people are dumber than you with decisions?

It cracks me up when people whine about other people using money to buy “something they don’t need.” Look around your place and tell me you own nothing you don’t NEED. Life is not merely about needs.

This is a beautiful project. And sexy laptops too.
haineux

Two things you might wish to know about this “XO Computer”

1) The keyboard is weensy, and not very pleasant for touch typing. It’s intended for kids, and it’s intended to be at least somewhat waterproof. I am pretty sure one can plug in a real keyboard. The screen is also weensy.

The graphics system is NOT suitable for playing a first-person shooter, and the CPU is a 500 MHz “x86 compatible” GEODE processor. Chances are, even a real Intel 500 MHz CPU would be a lot faster. But the GEODE runs on appx 1 watt of power. Low power is very important for the XO, because many of the target children don’t have reliable electricity.

Indeed, almost all the innovation of the XO is to make it run at very low power levels, and make it share networking capabilities via 802.11s “mesh” networking. Us “first world” geeks have electricity and wireless networking almost everywhere.

2) Comparing this computer (which costs $400 because you are donating one) to the Asus EEE (which costs $400 for one), the EEE is a better computer for the money. Faster processor, bigger screen, etc. Also the EEE can run Windows, which is arguably a plus.

The OLPC initiative “XO” is not going to be your favorite laptop. If you want a cheap laptop, and don’t care about kids in Africa, get an ASUS or a secondhand Mac or IBM portable. You’ll like it a lot better.

I’m donating and getting one because:
1) I am pals with Mary Lou Jepsen and several of the other people on the team, so I feel strong motivation to support “my people.”
2) Getting one will be the simplest way to build and test software for it, and I dearly want to ship some “games” that teach stuff.
3) Even without reasons 1 or 2, the idea behind sending computers to poor children is fascinating enough that I’m willing to contribute to this “noble experiment” and see what happens.
Jordan M

Interesting, I wonder where else I can apply this “Buy 2, get -1 free” philosophy…
haineux

MARKSIMPKINS The OLPC foundation employs like 6 people in their office, total. Almost everyone else is either an advisor, or is constantly flying to Asia to deal with manufacturing issues.

I’m actually surprised they actually decided to make the “buy 2 get 1″ offer available on a public website instead of just their trusted shareware contributors, because selling computers is a HUGE hassle. I bet they just plain don’t have enough staff to handle world-wide shipment hassles.

(Why US only? The cruel reality is that the US buys half the consumer-priced computers in the world. Usually, the entire European Union and Japan vie for the #2 market spot. Luckily, the EU is making it much easier to sell/ship/manage, so Europe is getting better treatment from the computer companies. (And I bet you say “oh really? when?” and I hardly blame you.))

As people have said, you can either find a friend in the US to re-mail it to you, pay the US Post Office for the same privilege, or get a group order together and email the OLPC foundation and make a proposition. They might do it for what you consider a reasonably small number of units.

Best of luck. By all means, set up a list of people who DEFINITELY WOULD buy 2 to get one in your country. It’ll save the OLPC trouble if they decide they CAN do another few countries in their next round of offerings, if nothing else.