OLPC to get speedier hardware upgrades?

While OLPC test machines are circulating around, and orders are reportedly adding up in vast quantities, it looks like the green machine could be receiving a few hardware upgrades. According to Vulnerable Minds, the One Laptop Per Child panel at Shmooncon announced that the machine would now sport a 433MHz AMD Geode LS-500 processor (up from 366MHz), 256MB of system RAM (up from 128MB), and a 1GB NAND drive (up from 512MB). The CPU is of the .13-micron variety and only draws 0.08-watts, and it'll also sport the obligatory 7.5-inch sunlight capable display, 1,200 x 900 monochrome / 692 x 520 color resolutions, 802.11b/g, and interestingly, the draft version of "802.11s ESS mesh networking" will also be supported. The trio of USB ports, stereo speakers, VGA webcam, SD card slot, and microphone all remained unchanged, but if you (or your respective government) have any outstanding orders, we sure hope you're lobbying for the newly upgraded machines.

[Kev50027 @ Mar 25th 2007 9:19PM]

What kind of battery life does that thing have, and why aren't they selling these to concumers for 2x the price.

[kingofwale @ Mar 25th 2007 9:47PM]

>What kind of battery life does that thing have, and why aren't they selling these to concumers for 2x the price.


I think it has one of those self-charging them through hand-cranking, which is pretty cool.

I wonder how long it will take to see those on eBay, step into some of the poor third world family: what's more important, 1 year worth of food, or a laptop.

[Bman21212 @ Mar 25th 2007 10:15PM]

They can be remotely disabled if sold.

Education is how you break the cycle of hunger and suffering. Using old outdated shabby textbook won't help. The laptop is one of the only sources to look outside their life, and learn.

[I LOVE THE CAPS LOCK KEY @ Mar 25th 2007 9:57PM]

Where can I buy one? NOW!

[BloodFalcon @ Mar 25th 2007 10:17PM]

They are upgrading the OLPC's so the children living in poverty will be able to play CRYSIS.

[Eagle @ Mar 25th 2007 10:31PM]

You Should be able to buy one and give one to a child somewhere for twice the price.

[3rdsun @ Mar 25th 2007 11:10PM]

i bet the price gets upgraded also

[Kngtmare @ Mar 25th 2007 11:19PM]

What operating system will these notebooks be running. You can not buy a computer now without Vista which sucks. I want a choice not of my operating system, not forced to buy one with vista and then have to upgrade the memory just for the computer to run the way it should. Vista seems to be a good operating system but to many requirements.

[Ben Dash @ Mar 25th 2007 11:38PM]

It runs Linux.

[wayan @ Mar 26th 2007 12:09AM]

The OLPC XO will be cranking out the good life with swank battery life: http://www.olpcnews.com/hardware/power_supply/olpc_xo_battery_life.html

.

[bobartig @ Mar 26th 2007 12:11AM]

I still want one, and I'll still pay 2x whatever they end up going for when they're done. I'd put up the money today if that was an option.

[Taylor @ Mar 26th 2007 3:15AM]

Why do they put such frivolous things as a webcam and microphone in there when it would be way better off with more disk space and RAM? Not to mention a display that's pining for the early 90s.

[garver @ Mar 26th 2007 5:25PM]

But can it play doom?