To respond to everyone at once; I see the following responses, beginning with the most interesting:
1) The web browser is really the app platform -- it provides access to all the hosted Internet apps (gmail, etc)
Interesting, but two concerns: Will the OLPCs have reliable enough Internet connections and will they have enough horsepower to run modern hosted apps (e.g., AJAX, Java, etc).
2) It's not designed to be a general purpose laptop, it's a communication appliance with a few apps
This answer really solves the problem by reducing expectations: There are few apps because that's what was intended. It's a feature, not a bug. Still, I can imagine that someone has a creative vision of how it will still provide great benefit to the users.
3) It's running on (modified) Fedora so it's Linux, and thus can run any Linux app.
Obviously, as some others have pointed out, end users cannot port Linux apps to the OLPC. Even if they could, the mismatched GUIs (the ported apps would not fit the Sugar UI) would be very confusing for end users (who won't be writing Python interfaces, a la Abiword), and then there would be compatibility problems with the other unique features (e.g., the networking) and the laptop's minimal specs. I'm sure apps can be ported, but there are none (or very few) now.
4) Opera
Good to hear, but it doesn't really solve the problem by itself.
5) Users won't need more apps than what's included
That also solves the problem by reducing expectations. But it is also very unlikely: Have you ever seen someone use a computer without installing additional software? Everyone's needs are provided for on one small hard drive?
6) OLPC will provide all the needed apps
The OLPC crew, no matter how talented and dedicated, cannot provide even a fraction of the apps needed by their millions of diverse customers. It takes a large segment of the worldwide IT industry, with all its successes and failures; its massive labor force, talent and capital; to deliver such things for the Windows platform -- and I still can't find good products in some categories. The OLPC group will do it all by itself? I'm sure many entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, market researchers, and corporate R&D departments would like to know the algorithm for so perfectly divining, anticipating and delivering on peoples needs.
Like any platform, they need many, many developers. There is no substitute. If the open source community wants to help, stop arguing with me, recognize the problem , and start porting apps (and providing tools to port apps).
6) The kids can develop their own apps
Why not just send them parts to build their own computers?
Just because I like to repeat myself every time an OLPC story is posted, I'll ask again: Where are the apps for this platform? Can anybody name one app, accessible to end users (e.g., no recompiling required), that is compatible with the Sugar UI, mesh networking, low-end specs, and other unique features?
A platform exists only to run the apps, not visa-versa. BeOS was a great platform, too. Many excellent gaming platforms have failed, because they lacked apps (i.e., games). Linux desktop is getting nowhere, despite it's technical excellence, because it lacks key apps (i.e., Office). Pull a few key apps from MacOS X (e.g., Office, Photoshop, etc.) and see what happens to adoption.
And all those platforms have far, far more apps available than OLPC (just look at sf.net, download.com or cdw.com). I know OLPC runs a flavor of Linux, but no known Linux apps are compatible with the specs above (Sugar, mesh networking, etc.). Go into a shopping mall and give a random person an OLPC -- what would they do with it? Sure, it has some included apps, but that can't be sufficient to meet the needs of millions of kids with every need and in every environment imaginable.
I hope OLPC works out great, but I can't imagine anyone who has ever designed systems looks at this and thinks anything else but -- great platform, but for what applications?
Have you looked at the OLPC wiki software section?
Yes, and I don't see anything that addresses my question. Do you?
I do see this, which is not encouraging:
The OLPC is clearly NOT an IBM compatible (or MS-DOS compatible, for that matter) PC even though it does currently use an x86 CPU, because it has many features which take it beyond plain PCs. And the designers reserve the right to change to a non-x86 CPU in the future if it makes sense.
That seems to indicate a lack of commitment to a stable platform, which will discourage developers.
Also, you say something that a few others have said, but which I think is questionable: Existing software can easily be made to work on OLPC. There is plenty of existing software, but it needs to integrate with OLPC's modifications to Fedora, the Sugar UI, the 'mesh' networking, some unique security features, and more. Can anyone point to one app on Sourceforge that does it now?
Better yet: If it is so easy, I challenge anyone reading this post to provide such an app. If the people reading this post can't do it easily, how do they expect the typical user to do it?
Also, try an experiment: Go ask a typical user how they would do it -- not a Slashdot reader, but your mother, or the neighbor's kid.
Your experience is unusual -- most people do not have your aptitude with computers. We cannot expect most OLPC users to teach themselves C. Like most users in the world, few will ever write a line of code.
I think that's great, but I don't believe they, or any one organization has the resources to assess and meet application needs of users. Not even Microsoft, which considerably greater resources, pulls that off. When you consider the diversity of users -- all those kids with all those different cultures, languages, etc. -- it's an even greater challenge.
In addition, it's a challenge that must be met soon -- the kids will have the laptops and will start needing more apps.
One thing I hope they do is provide an IDE for the users, though they could not learn to code, and turn out useful applications quickly enough to solve the issue I'm discussing.
Strangely, this has been answered (whether you or someone else asked it) in virtually every thread on the OLPC I've seen.
If there are answers beyond what you posted above, I would love to see the link. I've been looking for info for awhile.
Will your software work with the Sugar UI, the modifications they made to Fedora, their unique peer networking, and other non-standard components, as well as the limited resources (memory, storage, processor)?
I doubt it will work without modification, at the very least.
Considering it has a unique UI, customized OS, unique networking, unusual capacity (memory and storage), and more I'm sure, I'm wondering where users will find compatible applications?
I've posted this question to previous OLPC stories, but nobody has really answered it: Where are the applications for this platform?
CDDA might be the standard, but it is not perfect (as far as human hearing goes). It is, like every technology, a product of engineering tradeoffs: To what degree do we make the disc bigger, its temporal length shorter, or its audio quality poorer? Someone made that decision about CDs at some point, and remember that decision were made in the early 80s, when storage density was much less.
Any proof here? I don't have anything to test with personally, but considering that CDDA can sample any sound that your ears can, and that each level is represents is indistinguishable from other levels by your ears, it's probably pretty close to perfect.
My understanding is that 192 KHz / 32 bit is needed to meet meets the limits of human hearing. CDDA falls far short of that; it may be true that few people care, but that's not the question here.
The bit depth (e.g. 16bit for CDDA), which determines the quantization levels, is not all that matters; sampling rate (44.1 Khz for CDDA, 192 Khz for perfect audio AFAIK) is also important.
Audio on CDs (CD-DA or "Compact Disc Digital Audio") is stored using the Red Book Audio standard.
A WAV file does not reproduce the bits on the CD; it reproduces the bits output by the CD reader. The Red Book standard uses out-of-order and redundant bits to preserve integrity; the reader interprets the Red Book data into a simpler stream of bits, like WAV.
The number of quantization levels that are used insures that the human ear can't tell the difference between two intermediate levels.
To what kind of digital audio are you referring? This statement can't be true about all digital audio, since almost anyone can hear the differences between different digital formats.
Red Book audio, the standard for CDs, is not the highest quality humans can hear.
I tried looking into the resolution of XM's audio earlier this year. It was hard to find definitive information, but AFAICT, they use different resolutions for different channels. Classical music, for example, gets the highest resolution. Talk, of course, is much lower res.
There was no poll -- who is asking the citizens? It doesn't matter what a poll says or what the citizens want. Unless, of course, the generals decide it matters.
what's democracy anyway: Two wolves and a chicken voting on what's for dinner.
I know you're being somewhat sarcastic, but it's a good point: What's essential is constitutional democracy: The rights of the minority must be protected and the powers of government limited (i.e., by the Constitution), or democracy is, as you imply, just mob rule.
My impression is that Thaksin, though the legitmate, democractic (and popular) leader, made certain powerful groups unhappy, and so they began accusing him of things that would justify illegal actions on their part. Those things would have to be illegally seizing power. The question is not, 'did coup-plotters make such accusations'; they always do. The question is, was there any basis to these accusations?
(I also heard he was corrupt and incompetent, but I don't know that myself and it certainly does not justify a coup -- it justifies voting him out of office!)
The previous regime was NOT a democracy, it was merely labeled as such.
Am I wrong? Wasn't Thaksin elected democratically? Did he seize illegal powers?
The junta handed power over to an interim civilian government
Who is really in control? Can the civilians arrest the junta, or counter the junta's policies, or choose Thaksin as their leader?
we will now have free and democratic elections next year
That is when every dictatorship has elections -- next year. If the elections do happen, and are free, can Thaksin be elected? I believe he is favored by the majority.
This would not have happened under the previous "democratic" regime
Is there evidence of this? Can someone make a similar accusation against the junta and remove them from power?
the timing was to prevent slaughter of civilians and imposition of martial law by the previous regime
What evidence is there of that?
Oh, and coups are nothing new here - September's coup was Thailand's 18th coup since 1932.
The coup was obviously undemocratic, but Thailand is now actually in a far better situation than under the previous regime.
I have a hard time understanding how people can support coups in their own country. It seems both short-sighted and simply immoral. I think Bush is a terrible President, but I would take a bullet to stop a coup. My country would be far worse off without democracy, and, whether or not I like him, I think my fellow citizens have a right to chose him over my objections -- or over any general's objections.
First, is it worth sacrificing the long-term stability, prosperity and peace that comes with democracy in order to replace an unpopular government for a few years? Aren't you worried that you've now set the precedent for more coups? You may agree with this coup, but what about the next one? Aren't you worried about violence, insurgencies, or even civil wars? Isn't preserving the ballot box, as opposed to the gun, as the instrument of power far more important than removing a corrupt politician (there will be more!).
Also, don't your fellow citizens have a right to chose their leaders, whether or not you agree? Whether or not a few generals agree? What citizens are so wise that they should get to overrule other citizens? And if one or a few or even millions of people objecting are enough to remove a government, in a country of 65 million people, what government could last even a week? I don't see an option for political stability except democracy.
Finally, what makes generals any less self-serving, corrupt, narrow-minded or inept than any other power brokers? What happens if the people in one region have a problem that the generals are ignoring -- what power do they have to get their government's attention? If they have an elected representative in government, the rep, wanting to keep his/her job, will speak for his/her constituents. The generals can just ignore them. And what happens when the generals under-perform or do something wrong? You can't vote them out. Will there be yet another coup?
He always tries to do the right thing, AFAICT, whether that means telling the truth about Wikipedia (it's inaccurate in many ways and has room to improve*), or stepping aside as chairman. I don't know why he stepped aside, but many (I'd say most) people would put their egos first and resist with all their might. Many organizations fail, or underperform, because founders can't let go.
(* Those are Jimmy's criticisms, not mine: He's judges it more harshly than I do.)
Thank you Jimmy Wales. Whatever its flaws, we are far, far better off with Wikipedia than without it.
It seems to fall nearly into the category of an appliance. It will come with all the software which the thing is intended for, presumably.
Hmmm... These guys in Boston have thought of everything kids of all ages, in all these countries and cultures, in all academic subjects, will need, then implemented it effectively and fit it all on the OLPC?
Like OS/2? The first Xbox? BeOS? As I asked once before (so I'm not re-writing the whole post), is this a platform without applications?
Those platforms were great technology, but users need apps not platforms or great technology. And yes, I know about all the Linux apps, but look at its market share.
I hope someone will cheer me up and explain why this is not an issue with OLPC.
I used Eudora and supported it for awhile, in the mid-90's. It's main advantages were for power users. Back then, I thought that in every user was a power user waiting for an opportunity, so I installed it for them. Well, we all must outgrow our childhood dreams some day...
The vast majority of early software developers can work on ordinary Linux laptops or desktops. The machine will run Linux, X, and Gnome. Write your applications to use minimal RAM and minimal file system space, and to not depend on having a color screen. A release of the Fedora software for the OLPC is available (See Installing Fedora Core. If you want to simulate small memory, you can boot linux with the "mem=128m" parameter.) Some developers who need them, e.g. to work on device drivers, will get prototype boards from OLPC. Here are Notes_on_using_the_OLPC_developer_boards.
Which brings up another compatibily issue: What apps will run on the OLPC specs? Per laptop.org/faq.en_US.html, that's a 500MHz processor, 128MB of DRAM, and 500MB of Flash memory.
I'm not asking about (or criticizing) the quality of the platform; I'm just asking where compatible apps will come from.
I understand it's Fedora at heart, but for example, OS X is Mach & BSD at heart, yet most Mac users can't realistically use BSD apps (I don't mean/. users, I mean typical consumers).
Apps should provide a consistent UI -- will that be a problem with Sugar? Will networking apps work with OLPC networking (Bittorrent clients? File sharing clients? Chat clients? Flock? Antivirus? Firewalls? etc)? Will apps need special configuration to interact with OLPC security?
I admit not knowing much about the OLPC laptop, but it strikes me that they are implementing many unique (not "proprietary", but same difference) technologies: The Sugar UI, networking, now security, and probably a bunch of things I don't know about.
Where will they find apps for this platform? Look at sourceforge.net, download.com, microsoft.com, cdw.com, or any other source: There are endless apps for existing platforms, freeware, shareware, commercial, open and proprietary. Where will OLPC users get apps?
* Will we someday see OLPC apps developed in similar numbers? I'm not sure: Will there be enough demand to stimulate it? Supply of OLPC savvy hackers? OLPC's choice of non-standard technology makes it more expensive for developers to learn the platform, for apps to be ported, etc. Is there an IDE for OPLC? Other tools?
* Will OLPC supply all apps themselves? It seems difficult for one organization to meet all user needs, something all the Windows developers in the world sometimes collectively fail to do.
* If the apps do become available, will it be soon enough to make the OLPC useful? Or do we have the equivalent of a fantastic game console with very few games or developers.
Perhaps this has been long ago addressed, or I over-estimate the problems or challenges, but I would be interested in the answers.
If you have a large, public forum, and use a moderation system, it seems that partisans would mod their side up and the other side down. They may balance each other out; in fact, the flames that provoke outrage should attract more negative mods, and those that can make arguments that appeal to the other side would be left alone (or modded up).
You could also hand out many, extra, '-1 partisan drivel' mod points, maybe 1/day/user, to filter out the remainder of the flames.
ScienceWeek (http://www.scienceweek.com) is by far the best resource I've found. They print summaries of important research that strike the perfect balance (for me): It's written for an interdisciplinary audience, so you don't need subject-specific knowledge to understand it, but it's written for scientists, so it omits all journalistic fluff and focuses on the content, and it's succinct, which is essential because I have no time. Here's an excerpt from the latest edition:
1. ATMOSPHERE: ON THE ICE AGE CYCLE
The following points are made by Didier Paillard (Science 2006 313:455):
1) The exposure of Earth's surface to the Sun's rays (or insolation) varies on time scales of thousands of years as a result of regular changes in Earth's orbit around the Sun (eccentricity), in the tilt of Earth's axis (obliquity), and in the direction of Earth's axis of rotation (precession). According to the Milankovitch theory, these insolation changes drive the glacial cycles that have dominated Earth's climate for the past 3 million years.
2) For example, between 3 million and 1 million years before the present (late Pliocene to early Pleistocene, hereafter LP-EP), the glacial oscillations followed a 41,000-year cycle. These oscillations correspond to insolation changes driven by obliquity changes. But during this time, precession-driven changes in insolation on a 23,000-year cycle were much stronger than the obliquity-driven changes. Why is the glacial record for the LP-EP dominated by obliquity, rather than by the stronger precessional forcing? How should the Milankovitch theory be adapted to account for this "41,000-year paradox"?
3) Two different solutions are available. The first involves a rethinking of how the insolation forcing should be defined...
Unfortunately, they've cut back to 4 summaries per week. Also, the website design would have been ugly in 1994 -- all bold Times. (why?) But ignore that; nobody matches its content.
Slashdot Mirror
To respond to everyone at once; I see the following responses, beginning with the most interesting:
1) The web browser is really the app platform -- it provides access to all the hosted Internet apps (gmail, etc)
Interesting, but two concerns: Will the OLPCs have reliable enough Internet connections and will they have enough horsepower to run modern hosted apps (e.g., AJAX, Java, etc).
2) It's not designed to be a general purpose laptop, it's a communication appliance with a few apps
This answer really solves the problem by reducing expectations: There are few apps because that's what was intended. It's a feature, not a bug. Still, I can imagine that someone has a creative vision of how it will still provide great benefit to the users.
3) It's running on (modified) Fedora so it's Linux, and thus can run any Linux app.
Obviously, as some others have pointed out, end users cannot port Linux apps to the OLPC. Even if they could, the mismatched GUIs (the ported apps would not fit the Sugar UI) would be very confusing for end users (who won't be writing Python interfaces, a la Abiword), and then there would be compatibility problems with the other unique features (e.g., the networking) and the laptop's minimal specs. I'm sure apps can be ported, but there are none (or very few) now.
4) Opera
Good to hear, but it doesn't really solve the problem by itself.
5) Users won't need more apps than what's included
That also solves the problem by reducing expectations. But it is also very unlikely: Have you ever seen someone use a computer without installing additional software? Everyone's needs are provided for on one small hard drive?
6) OLPC will provide all the needed apps
The OLPC crew, no matter how talented and dedicated, cannot provide even a fraction of the apps needed by their millions of diverse customers. It takes a large segment of the worldwide IT industry, with all its successes and failures; its massive labor force, talent and capital; to deliver such things for the Windows platform -- and I still can't find good products in some categories. The OLPC group will do it all by itself? I'm sure many entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, market researchers, and corporate R&D departments would like to know the algorithm for so perfectly divining, anticipating and delivering on peoples needs.
Like any platform, they need many, many developers. There is no substitute. If the open source community wants to help, stop arguing with me, recognize the problem , and start porting apps (and providing tools to port apps).
6) The kids can develop their own apps
Why not just send them parts to build their own computers?
Just because I like to repeat myself every time an OLPC story is posted, I'll ask again: Where are the apps for this platform? Can anybody name one app, accessible to end users (e.g., no recompiling required), that is compatible with the Sugar UI, mesh networking, low-end specs, and other unique features?
A platform exists only to run the apps, not visa-versa. BeOS was a great platform, too. Many excellent gaming platforms have failed, because they lacked apps (i.e., games). Linux desktop is getting nowhere, despite it's technical excellence, because it lacks key apps (i.e., Office). Pull a few key apps from MacOS X (e.g., Office, Photoshop, etc.) and see what happens to adoption.
And all those platforms have far, far more apps available than OLPC (just look at sf.net, download.com or cdw.com). I know OLPC runs a flavor of Linux, but no known Linux apps are compatible with the specs above (Sugar, mesh networking, etc.). Go into a shopping mall and give a random person an OLPC -- what would they do with it? Sure, it has some included apps, but that can't be sufficient to meet the needs of millions of kids with every need and in every environment imaginable.
I hope OLPC works out great, but I can't imagine anyone who has ever designed systems looks at this and thinks anything else but -- great platform, but for what applications?
Yes, and I don't see anything that addresses my question. Do you?
I do see this, which is not encouraging:
That seems to indicate a lack of commitment to a stable platform, which will discourage developers.
Also, you say something that a few others have said, but which I think is questionable: Existing software can easily be made to work on OLPC. There is plenty of existing software, but it needs to integrate with OLPC's modifications to Fedora, the Sugar UI, the 'mesh' networking, some unique security features, and more. Can anyone point to one app on Sourceforge that does it now?
Better yet: If it is so easy, I challenge anyone reading this post to provide such an app. If the people reading this post can't do it easily, how do they expect the typical user to do it?
Also, try an experiment: Go ask a typical user how they would do it -- not a Slashdot reader, but your mother, or the neighbor's kid.
Your experience is unusual -- most people do not have your aptitude with computers. We cannot expect most OLPC users to teach themselves C. Like most users in the world, few will ever write a line of code.
I think that's great, but I don't believe they, or any one organization has the resources to assess and meet application needs of users. Not even Microsoft, which considerably greater resources, pulls that off. When you consider the diversity of users -- all those kids with all those different cultures, languages, etc. -- it's an even greater challenge.
In addition, it's a challenge that must be met soon -- the kids will have the laptops and will start needing more apps.
One thing I hope they do is provide an IDE for the users, though they could not learn to code, and turn out useful applications quickly enough to solve the issue I'm discussing.
If there are answers beyond what you posted above, I would love to see the link. I've been looking for info for awhile.
Will your software work with the Sugar UI, the modifications they made to Fedora, their unique peer networking, and other non-standard components, as well as the limited resources (memory, storage, processor)?
I doubt it will work without modification, at the very least.
I don't see any apps on sourceforge.net or freshmeat for OLPC.
Considering it has a unique UI, customized OS, unique networking, unusual capacity (memory and storage), and more I'm sure, I'm wondering where users will find compatible applications?
I've posted this question to previous OLPC stories, but nobody has really answered it: Where are the applications for this platform?
My understanding is that 192 KHz / 32 bit is needed to meet meets the limits of human hearing. CDDA falls far short of that; it may be true that few people care, but that's not the question here.
The bit depth (e.g. 16bit for CDDA), which determines the quantization levels, is not all that matters; sampling rate (44.1 Khz for CDDA, 192 Khz for perfect audio AFAIK) is also important.
As far as the quality of CDDA (16 bit) sampling, at least read this article, which essentially matches my understanding from previous research:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quantization_(sound_
The article confuses many terms and standards. The following is my amateur understanding, based on substantial research a few years ago:
Almost all digital audio you hear, including on CDs, is recorded using Pulse Code Modulation (PCM).
Audio on CDs (CD-DA or "Compact Disc Digital Audio") is stored using the Red Book Audio standard.
A WAV file does not reproduce the bits on the CD; it reproduces the bits output by the CD reader. The Red Book standard uses out-of-order and redundant bits to preserve integrity; the reader interprets the Red Book data into a simpler stream of bits, like WAV.
By the way, if you want to get a perfect rip of a CD, try Exact Audio Copy (EAC).
To what kind of digital audio are you referring? This statement can't be true about all digital audio, since almost anyone can hear the differences between different digital formats.
Red Book audio, the standard for CDs, is not the highest quality humans can hear.
I tried looking into the resolution of XM's audio earlier this year. It was hard to find definitive information, but AFAICT, they use different resolutions for different channels. Classical music, for example, gets the highest resolution. Talk, of course, is much lower res.
Did you see the poll?
There was no poll -- who is asking the citizens? It doesn't matter what a poll says or what the citizens want. Unless, of course, the generals decide it matters.
I know you're being somewhat sarcastic, but it's a good point: What's essential is constitutional democracy: The rights of the minority must be protected and the powers of government limited (i.e., by the Constitution), or democracy is, as you imply, just mob rule.
Here's a great article about it:
http://www.foreignaffairs.org/19971101faessay3809
(I also heard he was corrupt and incompetent, but I don't know that myself and it certainly does not justify a coup -- it justifies voting him out of office!)
Am I wrong? Wasn't Thaksin elected democratically? Did he seize illegal powers?
Who is really in control? Can the civilians arrest the junta, or counter the junta's policies, or choose Thaksin as their leader?
That is when every dictatorship has elections -- next year. If the elections do happen, and are free, can Thaksin be elected? I believe he is favored by the majority.
Is there evidence of this? Can someone make a similar accusation against the junta and remove them from power?
What evidence is there of that?
Don't you want them to stop?
I have a hard time understanding how people can support coups in their own country. It seems both short-sighted and simply immoral. I think Bush is a terrible President, but I would take a bullet to stop a coup. My country would be far worse off without democracy, and, whether or not I like him, I think my fellow citizens have a right to chose him over my objections -- or over any general's objections.
First, is it worth sacrificing the long-term stability, prosperity and peace that comes with democracy in order to replace an unpopular government for a few years? Aren't you worried that you've now set the precedent for more coups? You may agree with this coup, but what about the next one? Aren't you worried about violence, insurgencies, or even civil wars? Isn't preserving the ballot box, as opposed to the gun, as the instrument of power far more important than removing a corrupt politician (there will be more!).
Also, don't your fellow citizens have a right to chose their leaders, whether or not you agree? Whether or not a few generals agree? What citizens are so wise that they should get to overrule other citizens? And if one or a few or even millions of people objecting are enough to remove a government, in a country of 65 million people, what government could last even a week? I don't see an option for political stability except democracy.
Finally, what makes generals any less self-serving, corrupt, narrow-minded or inept than any other power brokers? What happens if the people in one region have a problem that the generals are ignoring -- what power do they have to get their government's attention? If they have an elected representative in government, the rep, wanting to keep his/her job, will speak for his/her constituents. The generals can just ignore them. And what happens when the generals under-perform or do something wrong? You can't vote them out. Will there be yet another coup?
He always tries to do the right thing, AFAICT, whether that means telling the truth about Wikipedia (it's inaccurate in many ways and has room to improve*), or stepping aside as chairman. I don't know why he stepped aside, but many (I'd say most) people would put their egos first and resist with all their might. Many organizations fail, or underperform, because founders can't let go.
(* Those are Jimmy's criticisms, not mine: He's judges it more harshly than I do.)
Thank you Jimmy Wales. Whatever its flaws, we are far, far better off with Wikipedia than without it.
It seems to fall nearly into the category of an appliance. It will come with all the software which the thing is intended for, presumably.
... These guys in Boston have thought of everything kids of all ages, in all these countries and cultures, in all academic subjects, will need, then implemented it effectively and fit it all on the OLPC?
Hmmm
So far, I'm not yet cheered up.
Like OS/2? The first Xbox? BeOS? As I asked once before (so I'm not re-writing the whole post), is this a platform without applications?
Those platforms were great technology, but users need apps not platforms or great technology. And yes, I know about all the Linux apps, but look at its market share.
I hope someone will cheer me up and explain why this is not an issue with OLPC.
http://groups.google.com/group/comp.archives/msg/e 3bcb4c240c5827e?dmode=source&hl=en
...
I used Eudora and supported it for awhile, in the mid-90's. It's main advantages were for power users. Back then, I thought that in every user was a power user waiting for an opportunity, so I installed it for them. Well, we all must outgrow our childhood dreams some day
Which brings up another compatibily issue: What apps will run on the OLPC specs? Per laptop.org/faq.en_US.html, that's a 500MHz processor, 128MB of DRAM, and 500MB of Flash memory.
I'm not asking about (or criticizing) the quality of the platform; I'm just asking where compatible apps will come from.
/. users, I mean typical consumers).
I understand it's Fedora at heart, but for example, OS X is Mach & BSD at heart, yet most Mac users can't realistically use BSD apps (I don't mean
Apps should provide a consistent UI -- will that be a problem with Sugar? Will networking apps work with OLPC networking (Bittorrent clients? File sharing clients? Chat clients? Flock? Antivirus? Firewalls? etc)? Will apps need special configuration to interact with OLPC security?
I admit not knowing much about the OLPC laptop, but it strikes me that they are implementing many unique (not "proprietary", but same difference) technologies: The Sugar UI, networking, now security, and probably a bunch of things I don't know about.
Where will they find apps for this platform? Look at sourceforge.net, download.com, microsoft.com, cdw.com, or any other source: There are endless apps for existing platforms, freeware, shareware, commercial, open and proprietary. Where will OLPC users get apps?
* Will we someday see OLPC apps developed in similar numbers? I'm not sure: Will there be enough demand to stimulate it? Supply of OLPC savvy hackers? OLPC's choice of non-standard technology makes it more expensive for developers to learn the platform, for apps to be ported, etc. Is there an IDE for OPLC? Other tools?
* Will OLPC supply all apps themselves? It seems difficult for one organization to meet all user needs, something all the Windows developers in the world sometimes collectively fail to do.
* If the apps do become available, will it be soon enough to make the OLPC useful? Or do we have the equivalent of a fantastic game console with very few games or developers.
Perhaps this has been long ago addressed, or I over-estimate the problems or challenges, but I would be interested in the answers.
I was thinking about this issue recently ...
If you have a large, public forum, and use a moderation system, it seems that partisans would mod their side up and the other side down. They may balance each other out; in fact, the flames that provoke outrage should attract more negative mods, and those that can make arguments that appeal to the other side would be left alone (or modded up).
You could also hand out many, extra, '-1 partisan drivel' mod points, maybe 1/day/user, to filter out the remainder of the flames.
The rest is here: http://scienceweek.com/2006/sw060811.htm
Unfortunately, they've cut back to 4 summaries per week. Also, the website design would have been ugly in 1994 -- all bold Times. (why?) But ignore that; nobody matches its content.