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OLPC Says No Plans for Consumer Release

Posted by Zonk on from the us-doesn't-have-poor-folks dept.

Gr88pe writes "The One Laptop Per Child product has clarified that they have not made a decision on whether or not to carry out a consumer release of the XO laptop, despite previous reports. From the article: 'OLPC told Ars Technica in a statement that the company has no plans for a consumer version of the laptop. "Contrary to recent reports, One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) is not planning a consumer version of its current XO laptop, designed for the poorest and most remote children in the world," said Nicholas Negroponte, OLPC chairman.' They are considering a number of plans, but have made no formal decision."

6 of 208 comments (clear)

  1. as idiotic as the rest of the program by frovingslosh · · Score: -1, Flamebait

    Yea, you wouldn't want to make a product like this available to people openly. That would only result in a greater availability of software for it and help reduce costs for all devices due to economy of scale. Much better to have questionable governments and other organizations buy them at a discount and rather than put them in the hands of those they are intended for sell them at inflated prices on the electronic bay of theives, with the market boosted by no legitimate channel to buy them, increasing the black market profit and having a negative effect on the olpc program.

    --
    I'm an American. I love this country and the freedoms that we used to have.
  2. Re:Well, which is it? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Flamebait
    "Well, which is it?"


    I really don't think they know yet.

    This is a business deal. Humanitarian aid is the product to be markedted, not the goal.

    There is a surplus of used computers in the world, these are the computers people in poor areas need. They would be cheaper than $150 each to buy and ship, and they would be of far more use than these crappy laptops.
  3. Re:Well, which is it? by shaneh0 · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    So the OLPC has WiFi?

    Laptops != Internet Infrastructure.

  4. Re:One of the more interesting ideas by shaneh0 · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    "it would feel great to know that somewhere out there is the twin of that machine that some other child is using"

    Or--not to be cynical--some other war lord or terrorist or future war lord or terrorist.

  5. Ill just buy one off some poor kid.. by kop · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    I think some if these children will be happy to part with their laptop for a little money.
    Watch for my ebay ad!

  6. Comment removed by account_deleted · · Score: -1, Flamebait

    Comment removed based on user account deletion