One Laptop Per Child - donation program extended through year's end

[note: I am in no way associated with this project, other than becoming a donor as of today]

I am posting this here in the spirit of giving - REAL giving, rather than more of the pervasive acquisition going on around us.

In a nutshell, One Laptop Per Child is a program that is donating some pretty interesting little machines to children in developing countries.

Right now, they are doing a buy one/donate one program, so you can pick one up for your kid (or yourself) and ALSO donate one to a needy child, for $399.  This deal has been extended to year's end.   Too late to make it under the tree, but still something to consider.

This has been diaried previously, and you can certainly read a lot more about it there.

Be sure to read G2geek's comment about why this machine is so revolutionary.  

I'm not a computer-savvy person, but I do understand a bit, including the fact that since this machine is NOT Windows or Apple based (it runs Linux), the donation will not be lining corporate pockets.  

Don't let the platform scare you - it is fully functional, easy-to-use, kid-friendly - the keyboard is dirt/sand/liquid-proof, and the screen (though very small) is viewable even in full sun.   It networks with other machines, and is fully wi-fi ready.   The on-board software looks extremely interesting (even to a grown-up!), and more is in the works.  You can read all about the features at the site, which, once again, is One Laptop Per Child.

I hope this information gets out there - I absolutely love the idea of a machine that will help kids all over the world have a connection to all the knowledge and information that my kids do.   I love their mission statement:

OLPC’s mission is to provide a means for learning, self-expression, and exploration to the nearly two billion children of the developing world with little or no access to education. While children are by nature eager for knowledge, many countries have insufficient resources to devote to education—sometimes less than $20 per year per child (compared to an average of $7,500 in the United States). By giving children their very own connected XO laptop, we are giving them a window to the outside world, access to vast amounts of information, a way to connect with each other, and a springboard into their future. And we’re also helping these countries develop an essential resource—educated, empowered children.

As an interesting addendum, please read this diary about the Negropontes - Nicholas, the MIT professor who envisioned developed this program, appears to be pretty much the polar opposite of his brother John, the Bush crony.  

•  If you have already done this,

  let us know your thoughts.   I am especially interested in hearing about the machine itself.

  Thank you!

  by Dem in the heart of Texas on Sun Dec 23, 2007 at 12:28:58 PM PDT

  •  A Couple Quick Thoughts

    One, Nicholas Negroponte of the MIT Media Lab is one of the coolest people around. Period. He has worked tirelessly on this project for years. Cause he realizes although the third world needs clean water, food, shelter, and medical care. They also need access to computers, other wise they are going to fall further and further behind the developing world.

    Although I didn't donate, I got my company to purchase 10 of them. I also wanted to include a quick photo.

    

    It is also important to note that Negroponte has fought an uphill battle here 24/7. Microsoft didn't like it cause it is running a free operating system (OS). The equipment folks didn't like it cause it showed the huge mark-up on their machines.

    But Negroponte realizes this is important on many levels. You know there could be the next Bill Gates or Steve Jobs living in Africa or Asia but who will never see their potential cause they don't have the opportunity.

    by webranding on Sun Dec 23, 2007 at 12:38:50 PM PDT

    •  thank you

      for including the picture.  It's kind of cute (although a bit "martian"-like).  My kids will love theirs... (they're going to share, though)...

      by Dem in the heart of Texas on Sun Dec 23, 2007 at 01:17:43 PM PDT

  •  We donated

    My wife and I bought two and donated both of them.  It's our "Christmas" to each other.  

    The idea that more people in other parts of the world could have access to the abundant information available on the net was just to good to pass up.  The MSM sure isn't going to provide them with the truth.

    by jedennis on Sun Dec 23, 2007 at 04:56:48 PM PDT

•  I read about this - doesn't it have wind-up ...

  power self-generation? I wonder though about the 'saturation' of wifi networks, though. We can't get it throughout our county (in swVA but we're working on it)  - how is Negroponte, et al, ensuring wifi availability?

  by va dare on Sun Dec 23, 2007 at 12:47:52 PM PDT

  •  Left a dangling 'though' ... sorry. n/t

    by va dare on Sun Dec 23, 2007 at 12:48:53 PM PDT

  •  Well "Generally" Speaking These Are Not Meant

    for non-US use per say. WiFi networks here in the US are terrible, so they are non-existent in third world nations. Not really much Negroponte can do.  

    by webranding on Sun Dec 23, 2007 at 12:53:56 PM PDT

    •  Uh, distributing these to areas without an ..

      educational network? Non-US? Uh, sorry, the very mission of the program is to get these into the hands of third-world children. Without a satellite (or tower) in their 'backyard', they'll be about as useful as hip pockets on a boar hog. If Negroponte can bring universally-accessible wifi to sub-saharan Africa. etc., then why can't we get it in Appalachian VA, WVA, TN, KY, NC, etc.?

      At best, at this moment, we have a few wifi-potholes scattered over the continental US (I'm not sure about Hawaii or Alaska). Many colleges (even community colleges) and universities were very  timid in making it available due to privacy and copyright 'issues' (some valid, some not-so).  A few towns in my sw-VA county are finally doing it this year with federal grant-help.

      by va dare on Sun Dec 23, 2007 at 01:10:40 PM PDT

      •  Part of the plan is a mesh network

        the computers can all talk to each other.

        by mem from somerville on Sun Dec 23, 2007 at 01:12:06 PM PDT

        •  So every computer becomes its own...

          IP address? I'm still confused. Much of the discussion at forums available via the One Laptop website (linked above) is about lack of access points even utilizing their T-Mobile accounts. Rural areas are still under-served.

          by va dare on Sun Dec 23, 2007 at 01:21:53 PM PDT

          •  You could set up a computer

            in a school situation that acts as a server, and the kids can network their laptops with that and with each other.  Small local networks.  

            There are a lot of things you can do with a computer that don't require internet access.  But when it is available they could access that as well.

            They aren't just for email and DailyKos....

            by mem from somerville on Sun Dec 23, 2007 at 01:28:04 PM PDT

  •  I checked the specs and reviews the other day...

    There's some vagueness about whether the latest models include a crank, a foot-pump, a pull-cord or nothing but an AC adaptor. It'd be nice if there was some form of muscle-power option, but apparently models vary with age.

    Other significant issues that might sway people for or against looking to use this machine in a different setting than in developing countries (for example, I thought it'd be fun to use one in NYC) is that the machine apparently contains no hard drive (I think it's got 2 GB of flash memory, which may or may not compensate for the slowish processor speed, which is apparently something like 433 mhz).

    The display is small, but also adjustable in laptop/notebook or Giant Gameboy modes, and as has been aid elsewhere, is designed with a setting for viewing in full sun.

    It's extremely light. The WiFi antennas are large and adjustable (they are the same "rabbit ears" that lock it shut when not in use); allegedly the adjustable rabbit ears are better at sensing a signal than whatever's in most laptops or a WiFi network card.

    It's probably not a practical solution to my computer needs, but if the cash I'm expecting shows up any time soon, maybe I'll just order the two and donate them both...

    by adamantius on Sun Dec 23, 2007 at 02:58:47 PM PDT

    •  Sorry, I forgot one more thing...

      It uses a form of Linux called XO, which seems to provide an almost entirely text-free, icon-based interface. I'm pretty sure the specs don't mention whether you can load anything else onto it.

      by adamantius on Sun Dec 23, 2007 at 03:04:20 PM PDT

•  On Nicholas Negroponte...

  while his brother John went off to the foreign service, NN was blazing new ground in high-tech (from Wiki):

  In 1967, Negroponte founded MIT's Architecture Machine Group, a combination lab and think tank which studied new approaches to human-computer interface. In 1985, Negroponte created the MIT Media Lab with Jerome B. Wiesner. As director, he developed the lab into the pre-eminent computer science laboratory for new media and a high-tech playground for investigating the human-computer interface.

  In 1992, Negroponte became involved in the creation of Wired Magazine as the first investor. From 1993 to 1998, he contributed a monthly column to the magazine in which he reiterated a basic theme: "Move bits, not atoms."

  I've read all his columns, books, he's a visionary who also knows where all the 'patents' reside.

  by va dare on Sun Dec 23, 2007 at 12:56:23 PM PDT

•  A very worthy cause.

  I've been thinking about donating for some time.  Unfortunately, it's not exactly a small sum.

  by boran2 on Sun Dec 23, 2007 at 01:08:07 PM PDT

  •  just one computer

    is $188... I imagine (though I haven't looked) that you can donate without getting one as well...  

    I know what you mean - it's not a donation that everyone can afford to make... but plenty here can, and I'm hoping it will help to get the word out.

    by Dem in the heart of Texas on Sun Dec 23, 2007 at 01:15:39 PM PDT

    •  No I don't think so

      I bought one before the buy one give one but it was as a donation to one of the countries receiving the laptops.
      I bought one on the buy one give one and I have received it but haven't done anything with it yet.
      I think Negropnte was opposed to making them available in developed countries as he wanted all the production available in developing countries but although countries are interested they have been reluctant to come up with the resources so he was persuaded to permit the buy one give one idea.
      I've been following it since it was announced a few years ago and truly hope it is successful.

      by danmac on Sun Dec 23, 2007 at 01:35:31 PM PDT

•  Hey Dem, love the project!

  I ordered one on the first day, but they are having some--ummm....distribution issues.  Some people are getting them already (a friend and kossack I know got his), but some of us haven't seen our orders yet.

  I can be patient, it isn't about Christmas for me.  But I have been sharing stories with the folks on the brand new OLPC forum.  

  The people who got them seem to love them.  

  And for those interested, one of the threads is about the yo-yo power thingy.  I have joined the MA user group and I am hoping to contact those folks after Christmas and ask them to come to our meet up.

  by mem from somerville on Sun Dec 23, 2007 at 01:10:07 PM PDT

  •  Got one gave one

    Our gift to our grandkids was a letter from us about this project, a copy of the downloadable poster from OLPC, and the knowledge that a poor kid would get one. The one I got is making the rounds of 7 grandkids, much ot their delight.

    The wi-fi is about triple the strength of my Mac laptop. The hand crank and maybe solar are to come later, I heard. The forum mentioned above is great and a great source of learning fo me.

    I intend to let the seniors in our apartment building use it. I figure if kids can master it, so can older people. I will let you all know how that turns out.

    I sure wish Negreponte luck in this whole endeavor.

    by oakroyd on Sun Dec 23, 2007 at 03:06:20 PM PDT

  •  Holy moly, mine actually arrived.

    It is the cutest computer I have ever seen.  And I'm fairly resistant to cute.

    I'm letting it warm up before I start playing with it.  But geez, it is sweet.

    by mem from somerville on Mon Dec 24, 2007 at 12:14:46 PM PDT

•  I am counting my pennies

  trying to figure out how to get one (in time for the deadline).  I am a school techie and the idea of a wind-up battery is intriguing.  I also like the size/weight.  I am getting old and it would be a lot easier to tote around.

  by luckylizard on Sun Dec 23, 2007 at 02:31:16 PM PDT

•  I can't recommend these highly enough

  My six-year-old little got her hands on one at a science-fiction convention and we had some difficulty getting it away from her.

  She picked up the drawing, the music, and the idea of the operating environment scary-fast.

  Sadly, things will be too tight for us - hope they extend the donation program into next year when things will be better.

  by Moody Loner on Sun Dec 23, 2007 at 03:54:14 PM PDT

•  Reader

  I'm seriously considering doing this, if for no other reason than the notion that, with PDF support out of the box, it might very well kick Kindle's ass as an e-book reader.

  by Ray Radlein on Sun Dec 23, 2007 at 09:32:01 PM PDT

•  I got one, gave one and it came.

  not the hand powered thingy yet but the battery last a long time. Works great in the out doors and the screen clarity is very high so the small size is ok.

  You can download books and also load from a flash drive.

  When they give them to a school they first train the teachers how to utilize them for classwork and install a satellite dish for web access for the whole community. Then each laptop can form a link for each other. So that's how that is solved. If you had a neighborhood full of them you could all be linked by one link. So the kids can use them at home too.

  I strongly urge everyone that can to do this to do it. I'm going to see if my t-mobile link will let me use it at the dog park which is less than a mile from some of their spots.

  I certainly haven't mastered it yet but then I'm not a kid. I think the idea of using it with the elderly is a super idea.

  I hope they extend this offer  for a long time. Does anyone know how it's been doing?

  sam

  by samddobermann on Tue Dec 25, 2007 at 06:08:29 AM PDT