OLPC's XO Generation 1.5 Laptop handled, speed tested - on video!
By Joseph L. Flatley 
posted Sep 9th 2009 12:14PM
posted Sep 9th 2009 12:14PM
The lucky kids at the OLPC Learning Club DC got paid a visit by a man sporting a beefed up XO 1.5 laptop recently and was kind enough to put on a little show for the group. Featuring a VIA C7-M 1GHz variable speed processor, the update to the classic XO machine promises full screen video playback, faster eToys and scratch animation, more storage for a larger offline library, better image capture and remixing, and an all-around better Java experience. In an admittedly unscientific (but still pretty sweet) side by side comparison, the XO 1.5 (left) was able to boot up and launch eToys (a real memory hog) before the XO 1.0 had booted up all the way -- this despite the fact that the 1.5 was started a little later, and that the 1.0 is overclocked to 500MHz. We're looking forward to seeing more red hot XO 1.5 action as the release date grows nigh -- in the meantime, the video below will have to tide us over. Enjoy!
As someone who's worked in the ICTD space before, I really hope that the OLPC does enable the kind of improvements in education that it seeks to - and hopefully leading to subsequent improvements in the economy and quality of life of the places that really need it the most.
But also, as someone who's worked in ICTD, I hope that people who are very excited about the possibilities of the OLPC remember that it can only be one part of a general solution. There are no magic bullets, and any investment in the OLPC should not detract from attention, energy, and resources otherwise committed to other causes and projects - such as providing basic living needs and health services that these same regions need.
...other speech about the obvious.
The "an" is implied. :)P
*shrug* Had to say it :P.
The OLPC is awesome and this is awesome news; I just get a little annoyed when people treat this like a tech toy.
Agreed. I get annoyed when people say "this is stupid, we need to give those kids a Windows PC so they can learn what the rest of the world uses." Not only is the "standard" OS constantly changing but it's really irrelevant. It's not about giving them something to put on their CV to land a secretary job, it's about giving them a tool to aid in their early education.
I'd love to snag one of these for my 5-year-old nephew.
OLPC is just another way to sell crap to poor countries. At least it is a bit better rather to sell rusty tanks and missiles to third world countries.
This is Apple's big news? Impressive!
It's more interesting than the ipod announcements.
Yes it iz imprezive! OLPC wil change da world moar than Appl will!
@Above poster: Maybe if you were using Apple Safari, you'd see the little red lines beneath your post indicating that the education system failed you, leaving you unable to string together a sentence in English.
I though this thing had curled up and died long ago.
Doesn't look like any poor kids are getting it and doesn't look like anyone gives a fuck about it.
Kurian: OLPC iz alive & well, kthxbai! It iz da bomb diggity! Soon all childrn will uze OLPC
The weak customer chooses the understandable rack.
I really believe that this 'wide screen' fad is on the way out. Super narrow screen is the future. It's nice to see a video that shamelessly embraces this.
It's about time they brought the concept back...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xerox_Alto
You sure you have your XO's labeled correctly? I see on the left the one section trackpad which is standard on the 1.5 and the 3 section trackpad which was included in the 1.0 XO on the right.
Since the trackpad sucked, OLPC removed it and replaced it with a standard Synaptics I believe.
Um, CR@P. Sorry, on my previous comment, the XO 1.5 is on the right with the 1 section pad and the 1.0 with the 3 section pad on the left.
Wow, and I thought these guys were completely irrelevant now...
... oh wait, just checked, yup, they still are completely irrelevant. So, who's going to tell them?
Portrait mode video? Maybe this was recorded with the new iPod nano camera xD.