How would you change the OLPC XO?

Generally we reserve this feature for already-released consumer products, but with everyone now the proud owner of "the last gadget I'll ever need," we figure that we're forced to look in a new direction for devices to collectively critique. And with the hundred-dollar-and-change OLPC XO finally in full-scale production, what better candidate to help us stray from the traditional format? Keep in mind, though, as you're tearing the charitable unit apart, that it's not really meant for the readers and writers of Engadget (at least not yet), and therefore you're gonna look pretty silly suggesting Alienware-esque specs for a project whose goal is financial prudence. That being said, there are still a number of changes we can think of that would benefit the kiddies while still keeping the green plastic wonder under budget. Like, how about a keyboard with some tactility that one can actually touch type on? And while we love the philosophy behind open-source software, the sad truth is that you need to at least be familiar with Windows in the business world -- and with Microsoft offering $3 basic installs to developing countries, why not let these machines dual-boot? Finally -- and this one is for you conservative types over at the News Agency of Nigeria -- NickNeg and friends should probably stop wasting time with those ineffective filters and simply make the machines incapable of displaying flesh tones instead.

Well that's the best we could come up with; now how about you -- how would you change the OLPC XO?

[AlexP @ Jul 30th 2007 10:05AM]

I wouldn't double its price point after taking orders from several countries.

And I would've tested it in certain classroom of developing countries to make sure most students use it as intended.

[gt2378b @ Jul 30th 2007 12:14PM]

Why bother trying to overcome the adolescent sex drive? It's pointless - and doomed.

Besides, learning to overcome changing security to get to porn will create a very net & computer-savvy group of kids.

[OnimushaSoki @ Jul 30th 2007 12:42PM]

"Perhaps if it was in the form of a suppository..."
-Professor Farnsworth

[Jerry @ Jul 30th 2007 10:06AM]

How about making it look a lot less like ET trying to phone home...

[Pastry Chef @ Jul 30th 2007 10:21AM]

I disagree about making Windows available. The last thing we need is to strengthen Microsoft's dominance.

As for changes, I'd have put the CPU and RAM on sockets to make it easier to upgrade as technology advances and becomes less expensive. I'd have also tried to make replacing the display as easy as possible for upgrades and/or repairs.

I'm not sure if it's included, but I definitely include a terminal and a compiler.

[Mary @ Jul 30th 2007 11:18AM]

I completely agree with Pastry Chef in that Windows should NOT be put on this machine. Why pay for Windows when there are other free OS that are just as good, if not better in some ways.

[Carlton @ Jul 30th 2007 11:44AM]

I agree. And Windows isn't important for the "business world" as much as MS Office is. And if you can use Open Office, you can use MS Office, or at least be familiar enough with it to work your way around it. And you sure as hell bet that $3 doesn't include a business-sized install of MS Office.

Not to mention, the notion of "learning Windows" is just silly. If you have any PC, get familiar with email, a browser and the concept of "click to control" and learn typing, you shouldn't have any problem using something even remotely user friendly. The transition to working in a business with a Winbox should seriously take less than a day, if you have any PC familiarity. Likewise, converting over to OS X or something like Ubuntu, for business use, should take less than a day.

[Ian Bicking @ Jul 30th 2007 1:10PM]

he laptop includes a terminal and gives users full access to the
system. There's no compiler installed by default because compiling
is quite slow and the source code takes a lot of room. One of the
motivations for using Python is that at least the code in Python
(which is a large amount of the total code) will be accessible. The
system is a fairly standard Fedora Linux system, so you can install
extra packages if you want (like a compiler or any other RPM).

[Briancnorton @ Jul 30th 2007 4:19PM]

The OLPC isn't intended to be an "FU" to Microsoft, or erode it's OS dominance, it's supposed to give 3rd world children educational opportunities that they would not otherwise have. A $3 copy of windows will further that goal a lot more than propaganda and ideology.

[Steven @ Jul 31st 2007 7:55AM]

What's with the $3 install by Microsoft? We are fully behind the idea and really want to help, but that last 3 bucks is going to break us?? To give legitimacy to the government/agencies purchasing/distributing so they can say they "invested" in Microsoft for the children?

[Darius @ Sep 27th 2007 2:33AM]

Any Linux PC can Remote Desktop to a server hosting Windows for such education.
The XO is designed to be online all the time.
No need for local MS Windows for corporate type education.

[jerrt @ Jul 30th 2007 10:25AM]

more cowbell! [: i mean it sort of looks like an animal....

also, i think there should be other options to windows. i mean they can't call tech support anyways can they?

[Aaron @ Jul 31st 2007 3:16AM]

"I gotta fever, and the only cure is more cowbell!"

[Jeff Couch @ Jul 30th 2007 10:29AM]

have it create food since starvation is rampant and all...
"Mommy that's ok. We can eat tomorrow maybe. I'm going to go to ...do schoolwork... now. knock before you cone in."

[Tacticus @ Aug 2nd 2007 2:32AM]

Well done on not knowing a single thing about the world

This is not designed for the areas of the world starving.
It's designed for places like vietnam where food is available but it's the education system that needs to be upgraded more.

This is cheaper than 10 textbooks and easier to cart around.

[Joe Martin @ Jul 30th 2007 10:32AM]

I'd make it edible and solve world hunger at the same time.

Mmm...biscuit printed circuits...

[Gordon @ Jul 30th 2007 10:40AM]

Not sure if they have this, but what about solar cells? Not to power the whole unit of course, but at least some of the peripherals...

[Ryan @ Jul 30th 2007 11:57AM]

Useful solar panel are very pricey. This machine is already packed with enough high end components. The thing will accept power from almost anything DC so you should be able to rig your own.

[Jongscx @ Jul 30th 2007 3:52PM]

yeah... from all the scrap electrical components that are lying around in your village and your electrical knowledge that you got...

IMO, not very likely. however, it is possible for someone to come up with some very cheaply...

[Babau @ Jul 31st 2007 12:34AM]

Actually yes, that's exactly what people can do if they're sick of pulling the cord to power the unit. This guy's already done it:

http://www.williamkamkwamba.typepad.com/

[302kid @ Jul 31st 2007 12:08PM]

Actually the team is working with solar panels which have dropped in price significantly over the past year. And no, they aren't used to power the peripherals, but the laptop itself... remember the XO uses an order of magnitude less power than the most efficient computers on the market today

[Red Matt @ Jul 30th 2007 10:44AM]

* Why the tablet vs. clamshell/laptop form factor? You get a more complicated/expensive/fragile setup... and I've never seen the table layout as offering any huge benefit.

* Does it really need to look like a cheap toy? I understand its for children from poor countries, but the XO-1 looks like a cheap caricature of that mission - this is supposed to be a proper computer, why not make it look like one?

* Going off a previous post, it'd also be nice to have the NAND flash on a removable card. I don't know which format you'd use, but it'd provide an easy upgrade path "as needed."

Actually, Asus's Eee - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ASUS_Eee_PC - comes very close to what I'd look for (design/features/appearance/price). Remove some of the extra features/specs (4GB memory, external VGA, etc.) to bring it in like with the XO-1 price/feature requirements, and I'd call it a day.

[Ian Bicking @ Jul 30th 2007 1:11PM]

"Why the tablet vs. clamshell/laptop form factor? You get a more complicated/expensive/fragile setup..."

The only thing in the lower half of the laptop is the keyboard and touchpad, so the joint has relatively little electronics going through it.

"Does it really need to look like a cheap toy?"

It looks like a toy because it is for children. Because it is only distributed to children, if an adult has one of these it's because they stole it from a child. This is one of the ways to discourage theft.

"Going off a previous post, it'd also be nice to have the NAND flash on a removable card."

It has an SD slot for expanding the memory. It also can use USB drives.

The XO is far more durable than typical laptops, that Asus included. They have it surviving drops of over a meter, the keyboard is waterproof and when the laptop is closed it is water resistant, it can survive higher temperatures than most laptops, it can take a wider variety of power input, and they are trying to use non-toxic components whenever possible. So there's a lot of things this laptop does that normal laptops don't do.

[AlexP @ Jul 30th 2007 10:46AM]

Whenever you're on the move or out of the classroom, it offers plenty of benefits.

[Verbatim9 @ Jul 30th 2007 10:53AM]

You do realize that is almost certainly a fly-by-night scam, don't you? They're currently promising that you'll "get your money back" in three months if they don't deliver. A legit company typically doesn't charge your card until the item ships. Three months is much more than enough time to wait out any restrictions on transferring the money they've taken from customers around the world into an untraceable account.

Don't expect to see your money again unless you take a trip to the Caymans and run into a wealthy scammer.

[Bob Atkinson @ Jul 30th 2007 10:58AM]

The Medicin Celebrity is a >>>SCAM

[Simon @ Jul 30th 2007 11:00AM]

Interchangeable faceplates? Everyone digs those!

[EricLMcCormick @ Jul 30th 2007 11:02AM]

Well bore you can say what you would add, you need to know what it comes with. So here it is;
CPU: 433 MHz AMD Geode LX-700 at 0.8 Watts, with integrated graphics controller
1200×900 7.5" diagonal LCD (200 dpi) that uses 0.1 to 1.0 Watts depending on mode. The two modes are:
Reflective (backlight off) monochrome mode for low-power use in sunlight. This mode provides very sharp images for high-quality text.
Backlit color mode, with an effective resolution that is asymmetrically reduced in complicated ways. See below for details.
256 MiB of Dual (DDR266) 133 MHz DRAM (in 2006 the specification called for only 128 MiB of RAM[25])
1024 KiB (1 MiB) flash ROM with open-source Open Firmware
1024 MB of SLC NAND flash memory (in 2006 the specifications called for only 512 MB of flash memory[26])
Internal SD card slot[27]
Wireless networking using an “Extended Range” 802.11b/g wireless chipset run at a low bitrate (2 Mbit/s) to minimize power consumption.
Marvell 8388 wireless chip, chosen due to its ability to autonomously forward packets in the mesh even if the CPU is powered off. An ARM processor is included.
Dual adjustable antennas for diversity reception.
Water-resistant membrane keyboard using a fairly conventional (QWERTY in the US International localization) layout. The multiplication and division symbols are included.
Dual five-key cursor-control pads; four directional keys plus Enter
Touchpad for mouse control and handwriting input
Built-in color camera, to the right of the display, VGA resolution (640×480)
Built-in stereo speakers
Built-in microphone
Audio based on the AC97 codec, with jacks for external stereo speakers and microphones, Line-out, and Mic-in
3 external USB 2.0 ports.
Power sources:
DC input, ±10–25 V
5-cell rechargeable NiMH battery pack, 22.8 watt-hour (82 kJ) capacity
External manual power options include a pull-string generator designed by Potenco

With all these items in and trying to cut down cost, it is hard to think what could be added but one thing that would be cool is internal GPS that could interface with Google Earth. Also since the networking is a mesh network, GPS stats could be shared to give physical dimensions of the network coverage. It could also be used as a low-tech low-jack for anyone that has there unit stolen. My guess is in low income areas (where a lot of these units will be), theft and selling units on the black market could be an issue.
Using a Li-Ion or other advanced battery would be nice. It would up the initial cost but NiMH batteries will not hold as much of a charge and they have a shorter life span so long term cost could be higher. Another source of energy could be obtained from the addition of solar cells to the back of the monitor. This too would up the price a bit but with new nanotechs and the reduced cost of production, this could be a good place to put the newer/cheaper solar cells. I'm sure though that the people making this device have already looked that these items and have weighed each of them carefully for its power/cost ratio, usefulness and impact to the environment so I'm guessing none of these ideas will ever be implemented... well maybe the GPS but I'm not sure.

[Ian Bicking @ Jul 30th 2007 1:09PM]

"Using a Li-Ion or other advanced battery would be nice. It would up the initial cost but NiMH batteries will not hold as much of a charge and they have a shorter life span so long term cost could be higher."

There's a safety concern with using Li-Ion, as they can be dangerous if they get too hot. This computer is intended for places where the laptops can get very hot. They are experimenting with a new kind of battery, LiFe, which is safer than Li-Ion and also lighter, while having a higher power density than NiMH.

"Another source of energy could be obtained from the addition of solar cells to the back of the monitor. This too would up the price a bit but with new nanotechs and the reduced cost of production, this could be a good place to put the newer/cheaper solar cells."

Solar is difficult, because you don't want to encourage kids to leave their laptops lying outside to get them charged back up. It's also not a very dense form of power, and doesn't work as well in areas that, for example, are often cloudy. Also in many locations power is not an issue, or at least power is frequently available. Even if the kids just have power for a couple hours a day, that can be enough to charge the laptops. In places where extra power is necessary a pull-string generator is being designed. The laptop can also accept a wide variety of voltages, so people can set up whatever kind of ad hoc energy generation they want.

[bombastinator @ Aug 5th 2007 1:50AM]

it's not about the adding, it's about the subtracting.

There's this saying about how an Elephant is a mouse designed by committee.

This thing has waaay too much stuff in it.

Camera/microphone? Why? this helps classwork how?

"Adjustable antennas" for the wifi? yeah like that does anything at all. Total white elephant there. put them inside. effectively the same range, cheaper, and more sturdy.

3 usb ports? Like these kids can afford even one peripheral. How about 1 port. If you want more get a hub. only a small fraction of users will likely ever connect anything to it anyway.

convertable flip screen. Great idea. Make it more expensive and fragile at the same time! That's exactly what a 7 year old needs.

[Josh @ Jul 30th 2007 11:02AM]

What would I change about it? Scrap it. And every other "Laptops for Kids in 3rd-World Countries" program.

Then take the money and use it for things 3rd-world kids ACTUALLY need: sanitation, hospitals, schools (with teachers, not laptops), electricity, and food.

Oh, and try to give it to the PEOPLE, instead of the governments of tyrants, warlords, and dictators.

[Jeff Couch @ Jul 30th 2007 11:17AM]

"Oh, and try to give it to the PEOPLE, instead of the governments of tyrants, warlords, and dictators."

If i saw some War Monger in Africa using one of these, i'm afraid i would laugh too hard and he'd have me killed.

[Sreedhar @ Jul 30th 2007 12:16PM]

Josh,
There are homeless even in America. Why don't you stop using your pc/laptop and do something about it? OLPC is a tool like anything else. And if nobody uses tools, you cannot provide sanitation, hospitals, electricty...
If these things are going to be useless, market will scrap them. This is not a zero sum game. Laptops or food. Laptops may lead to food and vice versa.

[Briancnorton @ Jul 31st 2007 3:27PM]

Uh, it's the governments buying most of them FOR the people.

[strider_mt2k @ Jul 30th 2007 11:09AM]

"You can get a used laptop cheaper"

Will the next idiot to say that kindly ship yourself over to the 3rd world country in question to SUPPORT all these "used laptops"?

Unless you can get hundreds of the same one and assure the good folks paying for them that the used drives and batteries will hold up it's a foolish thing to say.

These are NEW items that are CONSISTENT in build and build quality all running the same OS and software.
Those points go a LONG LONG way when you consider that they will be used in some situations a very long way from any support.

Tweak the design, even make it Windows-able if need be, but the concept is a sound one.

(I'd put Ubuntu on 'em personally. It's impressive as hell on modest machines!)

[Jeff Couch @ Jul 30th 2007 11:09AM]

except most people think that will turn out to be non-existent.

[tyler @ Jul 30th 2007 11:34AM]

Doom playing on this computer cracked me up! One Doom Laptop Per Child!

[Whiplash @ Jul 30th 2007 11:34AM]

The real problem with this thing is not the hardware, it's the software. I downloaded the OS image to play with and it's complete crap. A machine like this has got to have a coherent, unified UI, and this one does not. It's basically a bunch of open source apps thrown together, and it just looks and acts like a confused mess to me.

[o.kruetzmann @ Jul 30th 2007 11:35AM]

Put a battery in it.

[Bosco @ Jul 30th 2007 11:35AM]

I'd put Mac OS X on them, like Steve Jobs offered. Also, I would add two defibulator paddles to it. You never know when you'll need a defibulator! And they could double as controls for Little Brickout.

[CeeJay @ Jul 30th 2007 11:38AM]

I'd lose the green and give it a reflective mirror-like or white surface on the outside to help keep it cool in the hot sun.

The screen panel I would make black on the inside to reduce the amount of light reflected back to the users eyes .. less light overall means larger pupils , and a screen that seems brighter (because its surroundings are darker)

I'd make the keyboard white with big black letters because thats easier to see at nighttime, and I'd make the keys with special functions like ALT CTRL TAB ..etc a different color to signify that they are different from the rest. I would probably do the same to the F-keys in yet another color.

I'd also put two small xbox-like analog "joysticks" on each side of the keyboard so they can be used like on an xbox controller. One stick could be configured to be the mouse and the other could control scrolling (in all directions - not just up and down)

I might also give the keys different textures so a visually-impaired person would have an easier time finding the right key by touch - It could also help abled people type faster.

I'd give the keyboard section small feet on the back , like a regular keyboard has so you can raise the keyboard and make it more comfortable to write on - It would also let cool air flow beneath the OLPC , which would help cool it down.

I'd also lose the odd X o representations of people in the UI and go for something easier to understand , maybe something like these international signs :
http://english.unitecnology.ac.nz/resources/units/signs_symbols/international.html
I would also supplement these with text underneath their icons like all other OS' uses.

I wouldn't install Windows , but would ship the XO dualboot-ready and with VirtualBox already installed so you could easily add another OS either as a dualboot OS or as a virtual machine.

[citizen024 @ Jul 30th 2007 11:39AM]

actually, they have been around for quite a while.
and they have recieved some positive media attention. read about them in the paper yesterday.

im pretty shure theyl deliver. i ordered 2.

[DueyB @ Jul 30th 2007 11:42AM]

There is very little I think that needs to be changed on the XO itself. NicNeg and company have done a very good job of developing a computer that is inexpensive, tough, and flexible. More software for the platform they have developed is about the only thing I could suggest for the XO itself. I would also start to look at some of the other opportunities that open up once these things get into the hands of kids.

Now that there is a wireless network setup, what about a simple, inexpensive USB VoIP phone. While the XO does come with a microphone and a camera, bandwidth is going to restrict video calls and feedback between the microphone and the speaker is going to make it poor for VoIP calls. A simple handset might make more sense than pushing cellphones into the developing world.

I remember NicNeg mentioned at one point that the screen of the XO is probably going to be the brightest source of light in most homes that get a unit. I would look at using the XO as a portable power source by developing USB-powered LED lights that could run off of the XO battery. They would probably light the home more effectively than the screen in case the child wanted to be retro and actually read a book.

Keep in mind that this is still an experiment. At least they are trying something new to get the developing world off of perpetual hand outs. You might not agree with their methods, but you've got to give them credit for trying.

[Ryan @ Jul 30th 2007 12:07PM]

I would actually go the opposite direction. Many developing countries have cell phone service, but little land lines and internet. Some way of turning the headphone-microphone into a modem interface that can be used with any cell phone might be useful for syncing email at least. The mesh network is great, but you're counting on a lot of infrastructure and a line of mesh machines that are turned on that's probably not viable. Hopefully it will be possible to turn some of the laptops into pure outdoor repeaters.

[Evan Brom @ Jul 30th 2007 11:50AM]

I would make it water proof vs just resistant. When you combine kids electronics and in some cases leaky shanty's / schools waterproofing it could be quite useful. Some anti theft device as in a poor country I can see theses going missing quickly. And a TV out so the whole family can see what a PC is.

[ypod @ Jul 30th 2007 11:51AM]

How about attaching a carbon filtered drinking straw, cos your health's more important than your Myspace page...

[JCD @ Jul 30th 2007 11:52AM]

They could build in Microsoft tech support software. That way those kids are prepared for their future jobs, since you can't call MS without getting referred to India or Pakistan or wherever.

[jakep_82 @ Jul 30th 2007 11:58AM]

It's already been posted, but the specs for this machine are as follows;

AMD Geode running at 433MHz
256MB RAM
1GB of flash storage

So how is dual booting Windows supposed work? I don't think Windows could fit all by itself on 1GB and the user experience would be horrible due to the speed of the machine and lack of RAM. Linux really shines on low end hardware like this.

[idk @ Jul 30th 2007 12:01PM]

Add an 8800m-GTX & 3GHz Core2Duo ... uhm, does this comment not fit in?

[AdamY @ Jul 30th 2007 12:07PM]

I'm with Fake Steve Jobs on this one.

I'd quit trying to shove cheap ass hardware down the throats of the African continent and try and build an infrastructure that they could actually plug those XO's up too...

That's okay though, this will ease the collective Western consciousness that we're doing something while not actually fixing the real problems...

Good press for Negroponte though, I'm sure he'll get plenty of awards for this.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/gregg-easterbrook/greatest-living-american-_b_56665.html

Results matter.