Playing with my OLPC Laptop

I received an early gift from Santa today and it looks like I’ll be snowed in all weekend so I’ll have plenty of time to play. It doesn’t come with manuals but after a little exploring I’m now connected to my WiFi network and surfing my favorite web sites.

OLPC stands for “One Laptop Per Child” and this is my half of the “Give One, Get One” program from the makers of this unique device. You may also hear it called the XO Laptop.

I really didn’t expect to receive my laptop so soon. Perhaps the folks trying to get out all the Nintendo Wii’s for Christmas could take a lesson from the OLPC Foundation. I have a 2^nd laptop coming so I can play with the wireless mesh network which is integrated into the machine and ideal for classroom usage. As a developer I’m looking forward to creating something useful to do my part.

I’ll be writing more but for now I just wanted to let folks know they’re real and they really work. If you participated in this program hopefully yours may be arriving soon. My only problem so far is, I keep trying to tap on the touch pad to select which isn’t supported. You have to click the left button.

I also took note of my Blog stats to see how accessing web sites is recorded.

Web stats from an OLPC laptop

The Give One, Get One program is curently available but is scheduled to end on December 31^st. The price of the laptop is $200 so your total donation is $400 plus tax. If you’d like to know more go to http://www.laptopgiving.org

Give a Child a Laptop

Do you remember the concept of the $100 laptop that would be designed for kids in developing countries? Well, it’s here! The price didn’t quite make it under $100 but there’s a good chance many kids will still benefit from this project.

There are a few days remaining for you to participate in a special “Give One, Get One” promotion. By purchasing one of the new XO Laptops for a child, you can purchase one for yourself at the current price of $199 USD. After November 26^th don’t expect to see them for sale at the Wal*Mart.(see update below)

The “One Laptop Per Child” project is the vision of MIT Professor Nicholas Negroponte as discussed in his book Being Digital . The original idea came from MIT Media Lab Professor Seymour Papert in the 1960s.

Click Here to Participate

The XO Laptops are being distributed as a first-come first-serve basis so they won’t guarantee shipping by December 25^th. I contributed twice so I’ll have two laptops which can communicate with each other via a “mesh” wireless network. I am looking forward to creating some software especially for this project.

I had hoped to do my own review by now but instead I’ll point you to that zany David Pogue who published a comprehensive review already for the NY Times. Click Here

Update: I haven't seen word on the OLPC website but Engadget is reporting the time to particate has been extended to December 31st.