[SATLUG] XO One Laptop per Child

[John Chalinder]

They have extended the 'Give One, Get One' program to Dec 31st in the US and 
Canada:

 From now through December 31, 2007, OLPC is offering a Give One Get One 
program in the United States and Canada. This is the first time the 
revolutionary XO laptop has been made available to the general public. For a 
donation of $399, one XO laptop will be sent to empower a child in a 
developing nation and one will be sent to the child in your life in 
recognition of your contribution. $200 of your donation is tax-deductible 
(your $399 donation minus the fair market value of the XO laptop you will be 
receiving).

In addition:
  For all U.S. donors who participate in the Give One Get One program, 
T-Mobile is offering one year of complimentary HotSpot access. Find out more.

If you participate in Give One Get One today, you will receive your XO 
laptop(s) in early 2008. Your donated laptop will reach a child in 
Afghanistan, Cambodia, Haiti, Mongolia or Rwanda in the same early 2008 
timeframe.

If I had $399 to spare, I'd do it for two reasons:
1) I love the idea of donating a computer to a third world child, even though 
I think they could use food, clothing, shelter and medical care more; and,
2) I'd love to see what a $100 computer comes with. It certainly is colorful, 
and claims to be fairly rugged and waterproof. I'm sure I could find a child 
among my friends who would enjoy a brand new computer.

It appears to have connectivity via wi-fi, which they claim has a much longer 
range than a standard laptop. The only specs I can find are on their FAQ page:
http://www.laptopgiving.org/en/faq.php

I'm sure this would not be a system suitable for any use beyond the education 
of third world children. "The XO laptop features the Linux operating system 
and includes software specifically designed for children and the XO."

They are not designed for everyday use by anyone other than children, and does 
not look like it will not be made available to the general public except 
through this limited time offer of 'Give One, Get One' program; which is 
designed to promote the program. The idea is to get laptops into the hands of 
third world children so they may have an affordable means of improving their 
education.


On Sun, 2 Dec 2007 20:30:41 -0600
  "M K Ramadoss" <mkr777 at gmail.com> wrote:
> Has anyone had on-hands use of the XO?
> 
> Would it work by connecting to home Wifi and would it be a good Christmas
> present for a child in the US? It is available for purchase till end of
> month, in their buy one gift one program.
> 
> mkr
> -- 
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