One Laptop Per Child: XO Laptop
Although the Give 1 Get 1 promotion concluded at the end of 2007, it's still possible to get your own XO today. Get the laptop for yourself or for your kids; it's a great way to show your support for the mission of OLPC. It's also totally a geek purchase, and there are many resources on the web for those of us who are a little more computer savvy.
If you're more interested in making a donation, there are several ways to help out.
Nicholas Negroponte
It's an education project, not a laptop project.
Buy an XO Laptop for Christmas!
The Give 1 Get 1 promotion will be managed by Amazon this year in November 2008.
OLPC Mission and the XO Laptop
Why do we need the XO Laptop?
The One Laptop Per Child Foundation was formed by Prof. Nicholas Negroponte with several people from the Media Lab at MIT. The mission of OLPC is "To provide children around the world with new opportunities to explore, experiment and express themselves."The company is not about the product, the XO laptop. Rather, the organization calls itself "a non-profit organization providing a means to an end-an end that sees children in even the most remote regions of the globe being given the opportunity to tap into their own potential, to be exposed to a whole world of ideas, and to contribute to a more productive and saner world community."
But why even promote a laptop as part of education? The XO fits in with Prof. Seymour Papert's theory of constructionism where "learning learning" is the "fundamental educational experience." OLPC states that "using the XO as both their window on the world, as well as a highly programmable tool for exploring it, children in emerging nations will be opened to both illimitable knowledge and to their own creative and problem-solving potential."
Their work is in line with the second Millennium Development Goal. Awareness is increases and even big companies like Intel and Microsoft are starting to take notice of what a computer in the hands of a child can do for education. Pledge your support by showing off your XO laptop!
Find out more about OLPC's vision.
Theory of Constructionism
Behind the idea of the XO laptop
The Children's Machine: Rethinking School In The Age Of The Computer
Amazon Price: $17.10 (as of 10/12/2008)
Watch the XO Laptop in Action
The XO laptop is the computer that can
One Laptop per Child (OLPC) XO Laptop 360 Degree View
Many years and an infinite amount of sweat equity went into the creation of the XO laptop. Designed collaboratively by experts from academia and industry, the XO is the product of the very best thinking about technology and learning. It was designed with the real world in mind, considering everything from extreme environmental conditions such as high heat and humidity, to technological issues such as local-language support. As a result, the XO laptop is extremely durable, brilliantly functional, energy-efficient, responsive, and fun. For more information, please call 1-877-70-LAPTOP or visit http://www.laptopgiving.org/
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What was the XO Laptop Give 1 Get 1 Promotion?
Show support for the XO Laptop program
Initially, the XO laptop we heralded as the "$100 dollar laptop project," but as yet, that price point has not been reached. It is expected that economies of scale will help reduce the individual laptop cost in the future.During November 12, 2007 to December 31, 2007, the OLPC organization ran a promotion called "Give 1, Get 1" as a way of raising awareness for their work and to kick-start the XO laptop program. Basically, you participated by paying $400 for two laptops. One laptop went to you, and the other laptop was donated to a child in a country that has not been able to afford them for the students. That one essentially counted as a tax deductible donation of $200. Originally scheduled for just two weeks, the response for G1G1 was immense and thus extended until the end of the year.
There's always time to make a donation, though. Take a look at the various ways to contribute.
Nicholas Negroponte
If you think it's a laptop, then it's a luxury. But, if you think of it as education, it's not a luxury.
Find the XO Laptop
New and used XO Laptops
Unless you're a child in a developing country that has an education agreement with OLPC, you won't be able to get an XO straight from the factory. However, back by special demand, Amazon will be managing the G1G1 promotion this November. You now have another chance to get a brand new XO laptop.
Each laptop comes pre-installed with a variety of programs including word processing, chat, web browsing, and games. They are also customizable with other programs and the operating system is fully accessible. The machine is also kid-proof: waterproof and drop-proof.
All XO's have green shells, but perhaps one day, these limited edition red XO's will find their way to eBay.
Fetching new data from eBay now... please stand by
Got the XO Laptop, Now What?
How do I play with the XO Laptop?
The best place to get started is at the Getting Started Guide (pdf). You should also note that if you got a brand new XO, it probably hasn't been upgraded to the most recent stable build. Newer builds have a couple of improvements such as the ability to access WPA points. Find the current stable build and update your XO.
Try all the installed programs; you'll see icons for them at the bottom of the screen. If you're feeling adventurous, you can also download new programs from the OLPC wiki software page. Actually, the easiest way to get knew programs is to download them directly onto your XO. (Go to http://wiki.laptop.org/go/Activities from the Browse program.)
Pictures of the XO Laptop
See the XO Laptop from all angles
This cute, green laptop with ears is made for little hands. Check it out!
First Boot
XO Laptop
What's in the box
XO Unboxing 2
XO Unboxing 1
XO Laptop Arrived!
My XO
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Mark Ahlness and Wes...
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Do I Have to Plug the XO Laptop In?
Can't I run the XO Laptop off the grid?
Many of you may have seen pictures of the original XO laptop design that included a hand crank to charge the computer. That feature was eventually removed to allow more flexibility in charging methods. However, it is true that most of the villages receiving laptops do not have a power grid. So how will they charge their computers?Several different charging mechanisms are in development. One that has received some media coverage is the Potenco Pull-Cord Generator shown in the picture at right. Another is the Freeplay Handcrank. Unfortunately, you will not be able to get either in the United States.
Solar energy solutions are feasible, but they are not yet fully developed. If you try to get a solar panel, it's likely you'll have to do a bit of manual tinkering. One over the counter portable energy source that is compatible with the XO laptop is the Freeplay Weza, a foot-powered device that retails at about $270. You will need to acquire an XO compatible cable on your own, though.
Read More on the Man Behind the XO Laptop
Find Negroponte and the XO Laptop
Being Digital
Amazon Price: $11.16 (as of 10/12/2008)
XO Laptop Resources
XO Laptop links to help you along
- OLPC Homepage
- Find more in-depth information about the OLPC mission, the laptop, and how to support the cause. You can also find links to all the latest XO and OLPC related news articles here.
- G1G1 website
- The promotion is no longer available, but you can find other information here about the laptop and the OLPC mission.
- OLPC Wiki
- This wiki is maintained by a vibrant community. Anything you need to know about your laptop can be found here, regardless of whether you're a technology newbie or a hardcore developer.
- OLPC Support Forum
- Much of this forum is XO laptop related, but there are also discussions specifically for teachers and other educators.
- Find an OLPC group near you
- It's not as fun when you can't utilize the mesh networking capabilities of your XO. Find a group of fellow XO enthusiasts near you in this link.
Current News on the XO Laptop
Want to learn more about the XO Laptop?
- Peru tries out Windows on XO laptop
- "It demonstrates our ability to collaborate with Microsoft to provide governments a choice of operating system on the XO laptop."
- Madison XO laptop project brings innovative tool to local children ...
- The students settle around two long tables and open their XO laptops from the One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) program. Initiated by faculty from the ...
- Rwanda: Laptops for 2.5 Million Children By 2012
- Outside Africa, Argentina, Brazil, Thailand and Uruguay have also committed to the XO laptop initiative. Speaking at the official launch, Prof Negroponte ...
- Who Wants a Cheap(ish) MacBook?
- Something really cool like two larger iPhone screens hinged like a notebook (which could look like a mockup of a possible XO laptop redesign)? ...
What do you think about the XO laptop?
Have you gotten yours yet? If you have one, what do you think of it? Leave a message here! Thanks.
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Comfortdoc
Thank you for including the "One Laptop Per Child - A Gift that Gives Twice for Christmas" lens. My daughters have been enjoying the one that we got them for Christmas and wistfully wish they'd gotten two (one for each of them), but understand why one was sent to another child. Posted June 14, 2008 |
