I support the program as being part of a new paradigm regarding education AND the manufacture of laptops. The educational and personal benefits of being able to connect with other people via a mesh network and access the web to find the answers to problems and become connected to the world community, are self evident. We must remember that the efforts of the OLPC organization are NOT mutually exclusive to the help that these countries receive regarding their other needs.
As for the laptop itself. I do not expect the XO to be the laptop of my dreams, but rather the Model T of a new species of laptops; no hard drive; no ridiculous OS that requires 2 gigs of Ram to run effectively, rechargable in a variety of ways, mesh network, durable, sturdy, user friendly with built in camera, USB slots, SD slot, tablet hinges and choice of using b&w or color screen. And the truth is I haven't even listed half of the features which separate this so far from what we now call "laptops" I am not saying that the XO is better than our present laptops. I am saying that the XO reimagines what a laptop could be and how much a laptop should cost AND that this reimagining is VERY exciting! Don't belittle it because it isn't as "powerful" as a Vaio or even a triple e. Not too long ago our hard drives were cassettes. Windows 3.1 ran on my computer with a 20mb hard drive with lots of space for my other apps. If you must compare the XO, compare it with those computers of long ago, the Radio Shacks, the PHPs, The 286s or 386s. Basically, the question is "As the first of its kind, has the XO achieved its goals?" Obviously it has not achieved the price it wanted, but from what I have heard it has done remarkably well as a piece of hardware. The software is catching up. I can't wait to get mine and quite frankly I can't wait to see the XO of 2018.
By the way I have really appreciated the comments of deslock and hozelda. Thank you both.
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I support the program as being part of a new paradigm regarding education AND the manufacture of laptops. The educational and personal benefits of being able to connect with other people via a mesh network and access the web to find the answers to problems and become connected to the world community, are self evident. We must remember that the efforts of the OLPC organization are NOT mutually exclusive to the help that these countries receive regarding their other needs.
As for the laptop itself. I do not expect the XO to be the laptop of my dreams, but rather the Model T of a new species of laptops; no hard drive; no ridiculous OS that requires 2 gigs of Ram to run effectively, rechargable in a variety of ways, mesh network, durable, sturdy, user friendly with built in camera, USB slots, SD slot, tablet hinges and choice of using b&w or color screen. And the truth is I haven't even listed half of the features which separate this so far from what we now call "laptops" I am not saying that the XO is better than our present laptops. I am saying that the XO reimagines what a laptop could be and how much a laptop should cost AND that this reimagining is VERY exciting! Don't belittle it because it isn't as "powerful" as a Vaio or even a triple e. Not too long ago our hard drives were cassettes. Windows 3.1 ran on my computer with a 20mb hard drive with lots of space for my other apps. If you must compare the XO, compare it with those computers of long ago, the Radio Shacks, the PHPs, The 286s or 386s. Basically, the question is "As the first of its kind, has the XO achieved its goals?" Obviously it has not achieved the price it wanted, but from what I have heard it has done remarkably well as a piece of hardware. The software is catching up. I can't wait to get mine and quite frankly I can't wait to see the XO of 2018.
By the way I have really appreciated the comments of deslock and hozelda. Thank you both.