$100 laptop project launches 2007

The laptop could one day cost as little as $100
The first batch of computers built for the One Laptop Per Child project could reach users by July this year.
The scheme is hoping to put low-cost computers into the hands of people in developing countries.

Ultimately the project's backers hope the machines could sell for as little as $100 (£55).

The first countries to sign up to buying the machine include Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Nigeria, Libya, Pakistan and Thailand.

The so-called XO machine is being pioneered by Nicholas Negroponte, who launched the project at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Media Lab in 2004.

Test machines are expected to reach children in February as the project builds towards a more formal launch.

Wireless networking

Mr Negroponte told the Associated Press news agency that three more African countries might sign on in the next two weeks.

The laptop is powered by a 366-megahertz processor from Advanced Micro Devices and has built-in wireless networking.


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It has no hard disk drive and instead uses 512 MB of flash memory, and has two USB ports to which more storage could be attached.

"I have to laugh when people refer to XO as a weak or crippled machine and how kids should get a "real' one"," Mr Negroponte told AP.

"Trust me, I will give up my real one very soon and use only XO. It will be far better, in many new and important ways."

The computer runs on a cut-down version of the open source Linux operating system and has been designed to work differently to a Microsoft Windows or Apple machine from a usability perspective.

Instead of information being stored along the organising principle of folders and a desktop, users of the XO machine are encouraged to work on an electronic journal, a log of everything the user has done on the laptop.

The machine comes with a web browser, word processor and RSS reader, for accessing the web feeds that so many sites now offer.

"In fact, one of the saddest but most common conditions in elementary school computer labs (when they exist in the developing world), is the children are being trained to use Word, Excel and PowerPoint," Mr Negroponte said.

"I consider that criminal, because children should be making things, communicating, exploring, sharing, not running office automation tools."

The new user interface, known as Sugar, has been praised by some of the observers of the One Laptop Per Child project.

It doesn't feel like Linux. It doesn't feel like Windows. It doesn't feel like Apple," said Wayan Vota, who launched the OLPCNews.com blog and is also director of Geekcorps, an organisation that facilitates technology volunteers in developing countries.

"I'm just impressed they built a new (user interface) that is different and hopefully better than anything we have today," he said.

But he added: "Granted, I'm not a child. I don't know if it's going to be intuitive to children."

Trial versions of the operating system in development can be downloaded to be tested out by technically-minded computer users around the world.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/6224183.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/6246989.stm
http://www.laptop.org/
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What do some of you make of this project?

I think that there maybe compatibility issues some of these sites that are educative the software on these laptops may have a problem in accessing them. For example the BBC needs Real Player or Windows Media player to access some media files. They are not going to write a whole new script for this laptop. They would be better of if companies like Dell could donate to schools.


One laptop per child maybe they could have worded it better? My sister would certainly not allow her children to have own their own personal computers yet that they can get online with. They do use the computer at home and the oldest seems to be addicted to talking on MSN mostly, doing a web blog and not much homework at all. Not all homes are going to be set up to benefit from this either. I don't know maybe they would be better having a computer in school instead?

There are internet cafes in most parts of these lesser developed countries already if not all.

Obviously some people are going to have no need for it all.

What do you make of this good idea or bad idea?

I dont see China on this list. Millions of Chinese young people are just as deserving of this. Could it be that China or Taiwan are in negotiations in producing these laptop at $100 saying that the asking price to small for them. Fuel and production priority. The world needs their PS3 or PS4 before a child gets their laptop for learning. And besides China has far more pressing matters for Africa as we speak.