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David Pogue Reviews the XO Laptop

Posted by Zonk on from the little-engine-that-could dept.

Maximum Prophet writes "David Pogue, technology reviewer at the New York Times, has taken a first-hand look at the XO laptop, also known as the 'One Laptop Per Child' project, or the '$100 Laptop'. His reaction is very favorable, having tested it out via several criteria. And ultimately, he writes, the laptop is about more than just technology for the people. 'The biggest obstacle to the XO's success is not technology -- it's already a wonder -- but fear. Overseas ministers of education fear that changing the status quo might risk their jobs. Big-name computer makers fear that the XO will steal away an overlooked two-billion-person market. Critics fear that the poorest countries need food, malaria protection and clean water far more than computers. But the XO deserves to overcome those fears. Despite all the obstacles and doubters, O.L.P.C. has come up with a laptop that's tough and simple enough for hot, humid, dusty locales; cool enough to keep young minds engaged, both at school and at home; and open, flexible and collaborative enough to support a million different teaching and learning styles.'"

3 of 303 comments (clear)

  1. Photoshop? by wile_e_wonka · · Score: 4, Informative

    The Linux operating system doesnt run Microsoft Office, Photoshop or any other standard Mac or Windows programs. Wait--I got ripped off. My computer came with windows, but it didn't come standard with Microsoft Office or Photoshop!

    In all seriousness, though, the OLPC comes with OpenOffice and Gimp, which seem like fine alternatives to me for a bunch of African kids getting the laptop for free.
  2. Re:If OLPC was so good, it would be sold in US by DragonWriter · · Score: 4, Informative

    The fact that the OLPCs are not offered in US toy stores even before pushing them abroad makes me suspect that they are seriously underpowered machines without much available software and are not as fun and cool as the project leaders would have us think.


    They aren't designed as toys. They are designed as educational tools to be used in an environment where they interact with others with similar hardware, school servers, etc., and to support centralized distribution of software and content by the agency purchasing them.

    I also don't think you understand the marketing costs and risk associated with a mass retail marketing effort, particular of a product which is designed for the specific needs of a very different one than you are trying to market it to at retail.
  3. Re:Can I flash the thing by timeOday · · Score: 5, Informative

    The XO weighs over 3 pounds and is worse in every techinical respect (processor, memory, hard disk space, drives, etc).
    RTA!
    • 6-24 hours(!!!) of run-time
    • The XO's battery is good for 2000 charges and costs $10
    • The XO has a 200 DPI daylight visible screen(!!!)
    • It can run on a 1' square, $12 solar panel
    • Spill-proof keyboard
    Just like the article says, this laptop has many significant advantages - not just over your $350 Compaq, but over my $3000 Thinkpad. I would really like to get one of these for my 9 year old - and I have no doubt my wife and probably myself would be stealing it often!