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Lessons To Learn From The OLPC Project
FixedSpelling writes "Whether you're impressed with it or not, the XO-1 could have a major impact on notebook design. The concept behind the OLPC's development brings outside-the-box thinking and cost-consciousness to a level that we rarely see in portable computing. There are a number of lessons that can be learned the from its unique design and we can already see that some of these concepts have been noticed by manufacturers. 'The biggest attraction to the OLPC project has always been the price of the system. You don't have to be a cynic to understand that the impact of a $100 notebook could be huge and the price has generated the majority of the interest in the project. Notebooks break, they get lost, and they are replaced frequently, so the cheaper, the better. The low price was originally important so that the XO-1 could be produced in large quantities without putting too much of a burden on the buyer but the low cost appeals to everyone.'"
I think that they are on to something with OLPC. But, maybe ahead of their time. I'm sort of in the Clifford Stoll school of camp regarding computers in the classroom for pre-teens.
To me, sounds like they just went with tech-jargon-BS and said that the computer is the best way to move to a better education. If all the money they spent, and want to spend, on 3rd-world education went to just.. um... BOOKS, then they would have probably accomplished twice their goal by now.
They seem simply to be wanting to make a "point" with the OLPC. The fact that 3rd world countries look at it economically/socially and reject it makes them go to the "make the 1st-world-feel-better-by-donating" attitude. Still wrong. When you have dug yourself into a hole, stop digging. The 3rd-world does not want steal-able OLPC's at a subsidized rate. They want food and books and teachers. Let's not jump ahead of frickin' simple Sociology 101.
Moe
"If you want to improve, be content to be thought foolish and stupid." - Epictetus
I dare you to mod the thread down now :)
Tsunami -- You can't bring a good wave down!
Like it or not Slashdot has become the online advertising campaign for the OLPC scam. Now it is a $175 laptop and don't forget we ALREADY had $175 computers, they are called Pocket PCs and already contain many thousands of learning applications like ePocrates. Lets total that up: OLPC Laptop: $175 Power Supply: $50 Carrying case: $29 Broadband Connection: $480/yr. Avg Repairs over 3 years: $58 Extra software that cost money: $100-$500 Music Downloads: $100/yr Porn/Malware Blockers: $30/yr. External Hard Disk: $50 Obviously, a regular laptop is actually cheaper: Recent price at Dell.com $399 with rebate, includes battery, power supply and for $39 a carrying case. Now here is the real killer: MANY companies are poised ready eat the $200 cost of producing a similar unit in exchange for a monthly service charge like a cell phone for stuff like you know updates, support, repairs, etc. They are just waiting for the market to materialize from the vaporware state. So exactly how do you turn Slashdot into your personal advertising campaign, I have many ideas I need to sell as well???
Thank God some company is taking a stand to end this socialist not for profit manufacturing campaign. Socialist (open source) software has some logic, but if you think we would have the technology we have today if the real companies like Intel and AMD were trying to make multi-billion dollar wafer fab plants from a socialist movement, look no further than North Korea. Yes NK could produce great open source software, 100 year old nuclear technology, but they could NEVER make a multi-billion dollar wafer fab plant without the free market to fund it. OLPC=socialism, e.g. not for profit manufacturing e.g to take away market share from people that took the risk to create the market.