Sep 24

Get 1 Give 1 for Christmas

Tag: Devices — Ellen Hage @ 2:37 pm

XO laptopI never thought that the price of the OLPC would really be just $100.  So finding out that it will cost $200 doesn’t surprise me, but having the price double is disappointing.  I was hoping for $150.  From what I get from the OLPC newssite, the rise in price comes from failed anticipated government purchases.  I read on Engadget this morning that for a limited time starting on November 12th  we will be given the opportunity to buy an XO for $400, a get one sent to you and get one that you’ll never see deal. The one you won’t see will go to one of the deserving children in a developing country.  You can sign up here to be notified.

I have a problem with this whole thing.  One, I want to choose where my other laptop goes.  Given that choice, I would want it to go to a child here in the United States.  When I was working on my dissertation, I tried doing it at the library on Fort Hood.  On any given day the wait was at least an hour. Everyone there was in line for the Internet.  Since I didn’t need any online features, I began to lug my laptop with me.  Then every time I needed a break I had to pack it up and take it with me.  Then the Internet system went down.  During the two weeks it took to bring the system up, I was the only person in the library all day.  I loved it.  It was so nice and quiet.  The thing is that there is a need here for this type of device.  I also wonder how the Internet is going to work on this.  Will it be free?  Or will they have access to some sort of grid network?  From reading what I could, I did not find a definitive answer.  So if anyone can explain this to me, please make comments. I also doubt if a limited time only sale or any sale at double the price will help send enough of these laptops to where they need to go.  I would think that in order for it to be effective, every child in the class would have to have one.  Why just the folks here in the U.S.?  Shouldn’t everyone get a chance to help developing nations?  Also if the host government doesn’t want to make an investment in their own future, what’s my motivation?  Forgive me, maybe by November I will be in the seasonal giving mode. If not, I could just use that money to get an Asus Eee PC and have some change left over. Bah Humbug!

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5 Responses to “Get 1 Give 1 for Christmas”

  1. Feliza
    Posted: Sep 24th, 2007 at 2:57 pm
    1

    “I also wonder how the Internet is going to work on this. Will it be free? Or will they have access to some sort of grid network?”

    Hmm. I was actually wondering that myself. No doubt some people in developing countries have access to the internet, but it seems a little odd that this whole enterprise should depend on technological access that may simply not be there until a few years from now.

    “Also if the host government doesn’t want to make an investment in their own future, what’s my motivation?”

    I’m not really sure what to say about this… Could it be that the host government lacks the financial ability to provide kids with devices like this? Certainly our own government would have a difficult time with this. I can’t imagine how a developing nation might deal with this situation.

    Reply to this comment.
  2. Ellen Hage
    Posted: Sep 24th, 2007 at 3:39 pm
    2
    Author Comment

    Feliza,

    Thanks for another perspective. I took it as the government didn’t because of choice, not ability. So thanks, that makes more sense now. So now my question is the purchase of content if necessary and maintenance support. I think that I am being too cynical.

    Ellen

    Reply to this comment.
  3. Rob Preece
    Posted: Sep 26th, 2007 at 10:54 am
    3

    From what I read, the XO is supposed to automatically create a grid network. Each XO will advertise itself and network with every other XO within extended Wi-Fi range. If one of those XOs has access to the Internet, then all of the other XOs will talk to the Internet through the open XO. If your XO does not talk directly to the gateway XO, it can still talk to the Internet as long as it can find a path through some number of XOs to get to that gateway.

    I’m a fan of mesh networking, so I hope this works. Of course there are a couple of small matters of security and performance (do I really want some stranger downloading huge files through my already-too-slow DSL link?).

    Then again, if you’re the only person who’s bought one in your neighborhood (sounds pretty likely) there’ll be no one to mesh with. It should, though, hook up to your home wi-fi or the wi-fi you can access at your library or MacDonalds.

    Agree that $400 seems a bit steep. For $200, I’d buy one.

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  4. Ellen Hage
    Posted: Sep 26th, 2007 at 2:26 pm
    4
    Author Comment

    Thanks Rob for explain how the Internet will work on the XO. I hope the program is successful, but I see it taking awhile. Like you, I think the most I would pay is $200, especially during the holiday time of year when laptops are generally less expensive.

    Ellen

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