I totally disagree with providing laptops to children of third world countries. And there are a multitude of reasons why this is a fatal and flawed ideology.

Instead, these machines should be provided to the dirt poor children living in AMERICA who are entitled to benefit from OUR technology first, but can’t even buy bread to eat, like third world children.

As for the children of third world countries, they need to be taught the English Language, Christianity, Democracy and how to use tools and weapons to overthrow their corrupted governments that keep them dirt poor.

Hmm, maybe they can use those free laptops to bash in the heads of their suppressors. Perhaps use the hand winding electric generators for recharging the laptop battery as an electrical torturing device.

First, DatabaseBen, it's called helping the least among us. You should recognize that as a CHRISTIAN belief. Yes, there are poor here in the USA, more than there should be in one of the richest nations on this Earth, but they still have tremendous resources at their disposal by comparison, not the least of which being our public education system. Some countries require payment for all children that attend school. No money after eking out food and rent, then no education for you. Don't believe me? Then spend some time helping some refugee children that have legally immigrated to this country. You will quickly learn just how lucky we are here in the USA and how grateful they are to be here too.

Second, no one has crowned the English language as the world's *official* universal language, that's why OLPC is multi-lingual. Even Windows is multi-lingual. Yes, many people in other parts of the world learn to speak English, because they currently find it to be useful. How many languages other than English have you taken the time to learn or master?

Third, they are likely to already be Christian, but if they are Muslim (or Hindu, or Buddhist, etc, etc), that's OK too. You should get out more...it's a big world out there.

Knowledge is power. The OLPC is intended to help more knowledge reach these children. Democracy requires knowledge to grow and thrive. See the connection now? There is also the old saw of teaching a person to fish, instead of just giving them a fish. The OLPC is a (modest) learning tool.

I have one as well. It arrived just before I left on my Christmas holiday, so I took it with me. I purposely pulled it out in some public areas during my travels (hotel lobby to use their free wi-fi, coffee shop, etc). The eyes of the middle-school age kids that spotted it got as big as saucers. Several adults wanted to know where they could buy one. No one I talked to had heard of OLPC, but they would buy one now! It also fits inside a standard room safe. Try that with a regular laptop!

It is clearly designed with the intent of networking with a school server. It is also readily apparent that users will be able to download new activities (.xo files) from the school server or the Internet. One can easily imagine the repository of contributed activities growing with time.

One of the included applications is a Python scripting lab for teaching programming. Beats the heck out of starting off with Basic, as I did back in the late '70s.

The provided wi-fi mapping and mesh network neighborhood capability is very cool. I haven't had the opportunity to actually try the mesh networking with other XO laptops, but both the web browser and word processor are supposed to support collaboration within an active mesh.

Personally, I would like to disable the Sugar interface from launching at startup and make it an option when I want to use it, then use a standard, light-weight X11 window manager the rest of the time. I've started working through the layers of Xinit scripting, but I haven't isolated it yet (must be really buried).

Running more than one or two apps. at a time on a 400 MHz processor bogs it down? Oh please, what a silly complaint! It would be just as slow on a similarly equipped desktop PC. I know, as my first Linux box was an old 233 MHz PC that had been retired from running Win95. I run 64-bit Ubuntu using an AMD 64 4000+ nowadays.

My only complaint thus far is I can't touch type on the keyboard. However, I also understand it was designed for smaller hands that may not have that skill yet, as was aptly demonstrated by one of the kids that looked it over during my trip.

*heh* I have one of these, and I think it's a pretty nifty little device. The SUGAR interface takes a little getting used to (especially if you're used to a more traditional modern platform), but for its designated role as inexpensive technology to enhance learning, it does an admirable job.

And who says it isn't sexy? I happen to like bright green!

Some of you guys are so ignorant! like sjc001 said... this is going to kids in developing nations. this is NOT a business or gaming computer. they are trying to get the kids used to technology at a young age that way they can build upon that knowledge and in the future more likely to dig deeper into technology and better their countries.

The laptop is quite impressive! Built-in wireless (including mesh networking), no traditional hard drive (flash memory instead), built-in webcam and microphone, as well as tools to teach the children the basics of programming, blogging, audio/video editing, and internet access to connect them to the whole world...

I've actually loaded the operation system on a laptop of mine and its quite impressive and the kids in those countries are loving these devices. Us Americans and our children really are very spoiled.

One other feature about the OLPC... you can drop it, spill water on it, and it will still work. Would you laptop survive that?

www.Lee-Graham.com

Donald, not sure why you're calling people ignorant. All I see is some lighthearted comments on how the system looks before your response. That doesn't make one ignorant. The olpc doesn't "provide" internet access. It can connect to the internet if it is available and configured properly. My IBM\Lenovo tablet handles being dropped, spilling water on it, working fine. I'm not a basher but do have some complaints with the olpc. I understand it's better to get the systems into the kids hands asap. Improvements can come later and shouldn't hold up deliveries. It is good enough to ship. First no hard drive? Not a fan of the flash memory since they stop working after about 1000 writes. Least not till they replace the current binary bits with quaternary digits. Any question on this, ask anyone who's Ipod just stops working with no warning. Now let's take that scenario to a child in Africa who has only one olpc for their education. This is worse if the system is shared. I haven't heard of the flash memory being easily replacable. Normally, they are soldered onto the board. Guess the non mentioned I.T. Dept. that comes with the systems will take care of them. The cost of the equipment is only 20% of the cost of using the system. I also find the color choice as ironic. These systems are and will be far from green. The case is made of non biodegradable petroleum plastic. How much green consideration is wasted on them to build and deliver. Can't wait to see them littered all over the world. Should change the name to "one disposable" laptop per child. Would prefer a more recyclable version. I understand the cost considerations. I guess reasons like these are why they are called "one" laptop per child. hopefully,rev.2 will be known as "a working" laptop per child. A bit disappointed we can't work out some kind of recyclable program for the millions of pc's being discarded. This wouldn't meet all the needs of the olpc. Seems it could meet the needs of the well fed ones Stephen mentions with electricity.

That is the ugliest laptop ever made.

I dunno...my imagination goes wild with it - I kind of expect it to transform into a robot or something. I don't think it's ugly per se, but it certainly isn't sexy.

not the ugliest laptop. it's the ugliest lamp ever made. that's what most third world users will use it for. they have no electricity and will need to use it's hand crank or foot pedal to power it.

They have electricity and this laptop is being used in many areas now as well. To hear some of you guys speak one would think that you believe that everyone in Africa lives in caves and eats each other. These laptops are mainly going to developing nations, not places where they are starving to death.

No Stephen (sjc001), most "people" don't have electricity in third world countries. If they are able to, most use oil or kerosene lamps and candles in their homes. Yes, children "may" have electricity at their school and "possibly" adults at their jobs. If, they go to school and if they have jobs. I base my comments on personal observation. I've been to many towns,villages and schools in India, China, Pakistan, Afganistan, Philippines, and Indonesia that had no electricity. They have walls with large wide open windows to provide the light. I haven't been to Africa yet. But, co-workers have told me situation is same. This doesn't mean every school has no electricity. Inda and China both have over a billion people. How many of them "have" electricity? The percenatage is less than you seem to be aware of. Both of them are considered developing nations. Your exagerated response on living in caves and canabalism don't make your point more valid. The intent of these laptops is to provide them to the 2 billion children of the world that are not being educated properly, even the starving ones. One third of the world never make it past fifth grade. Mr.Negroponte originally thought of the idea while in Cambodia. A country full of starving people with no electricity. The laptops are part of an education,not a procurement iniative. Why would one not want to provide them to these children? If these systems aren't designed for regions with no eletricity. Why are they designed to also be charged from car batteries, solar, a hand crank, a foot pedal, or a pull-cord? Please, travel more and do some research.