http://www.laptopgiving.org
A laptop with a social agenda. Yes, the cause is very good, but the features
of this machine is very appealing for the price. Wonder if anyone here has ordered it. May be a good idea for this holiday season.
XO Laptop - A novel way to give
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Ace Novice
- Posts: 514
- Joined: Mon Feb 05, 2007 8:17 am
XO Laptop - A novel way to give
The guy behind the idea is Negroponte or something. I don't know how successful he has been with the one-laptop-per-child idea but he has been credited, to an extent, with helping drive down lower end laptop prices as companies respond to his threat.
XO Laptop - A novel way to give
link for laptop per child from cbs '60 mins' the past sunday
click on video on what if every child has a laptop
http://www.cbsnews.com/sections/60minutes/main3415.shtml
click on video on what if every child has a laptop
http://www.cbsnews.com/sections/60minutes/main3415.shtml
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Desi_by_Nature
- Posts: 772
- Joined: Mon Feb 19, 2007 8:57 pm
XO Laptop - A novel way to give
This has been in the news for a long time.
It's a revolutionary idea no doubt, but i'm not convinced.
How does the world (esp. poor countries) benefit by giving a laptop to every child? Especially consdiering that this laptop is more like a toy both in form and functionality than anything useful.
For the cost of providing each child with his/her own toy laptop, one could actually spend the same amount of money setting up computer classrooms in schools with real computers (they don't have to be brand new state of the art computers that cost a lot - the developing world recycles good enough computers every day to make this proposition ecenomically viable to clasrooms in developing nations).
I doubt that the donate one get one scheme will ever take off. I mean for most people who can afford to donate something like this, the thing itself is pretty useless - nothing more than a toy.
It's a revolutionary idea no doubt, but i'm not convinced.
How does the world (esp. poor countries) benefit by giving a laptop to every child? Especially consdiering that this laptop is more like a toy both in form and functionality than anything useful.
For the cost of providing each child with his/her own toy laptop, one could actually spend the same amount of money setting up computer classrooms in schools with real computers (they don't have to be brand new state of the art computers that cost a lot - the developing world recycles good enough computers every day to make this proposition ecenomically viable to clasrooms in developing nations).
I doubt that the donate one get one scheme will ever take off. I mean for most people who can afford to donate something like this, the thing itself is pretty useless - nothing more than a toy.
XO Laptop - A novel way to give
D_B_N... I have not seen one in real-life, but for $200 I think this is great value, especially when cell phones, mp3 players and a variety of jack-of-all-trades-master-of-none devices all range from $200-$500 and above.
The fact that it withstands lot of misuse, provides browsing, WIFI capabilities and a glare free screen with a bunch of kid-friendly apps built in, makes it very appealing.
Regarding the benefits as far as donating to third-world countries, well, it just exposes the kids to something that they may never be exposed to otherwise. The internet and its billions of sites is a fantastic fountain of learning for inquisitive kids.
Here is the biggest difference between this and a classroom of computers maintained by the school.
1. It takes the maintenance & support issues out of the mix. Like you said, it is almost a toy that a kid can figure out and maintain themselves.
2. There is no network to be maintained. NEtworking comes built in.
The beauty is in its simplicity. It is a toy.It is an appliance. Not a scary computer that needs to be locked up in a dust-free environment. But it opens the world to its audience.
Don't you think this is a better gift than an X-Box or PS2 to one's own kid? (I know I am touching a raw nerve here - dragging your beloved game systems here)
All said and done, it still will depend on how the people in these countries who manage these schools want to use/control it.
The fact that it withstands lot of misuse, provides browsing, WIFI capabilities and a glare free screen with a bunch of kid-friendly apps built in, makes it very appealing.
Regarding the benefits as far as donating to third-world countries, well, it just exposes the kids to something that they may never be exposed to otherwise. The internet and its billions of sites is a fantastic fountain of learning for inquisitive kids.
Here is the biggest difference between this and a classroom of computers maintained by the school.
1. It takes the maintenance & support issues out of the mix. Like you said, it is almost a toy that a kid can figure out and maintain themselves.
2. There is no network to be maintained. NEtworking comes built in.
The beauty is in its simplicity. It is a toy.It is an appliance. Not a scary computer that needs to be locked up in a dust-free environment. But it opens the world to its audience.
Don't you think this is a better gift than an X-Box or PS2 to one's own kid? (I know I am touching a raw nerve here - dragging your beloved game systems here)
All said and done, it still will depend on how the people in these countries who manage these schools want to use/control it.
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Desi_by_Nature
- Posts: 772
- Joined: Mon Feb 19, 2007 8:57 pm
XO Laptop - A novel way to give
Suri;63692There is no network to be maintained. NEtworking comes built in.
[/quote]
What does this mean? There has to be an ISP WiFi provider backbone that provides the internet service - again how reliable are these networks and services in 3rd world countries?
Metaphorically speaking lets hope we're not donating a plasma TV to someone who has no cable/satellite service - or cannot afford one.
XO Laptop - A novel way to give
Desi_by_Nature;63834What does this mean? There has to be an ISP WiFi provider backbone that provides the internet service - again how reliable are these networks and services in 3rd world countries?
Metaphorically speaking lets hope we're not donating a plasma TV to someone who has no cable/satellite service - or cannot afford one.[/quote]
I thought I read that the XO guys will setup up the wireless router as part of the drive in every location.
Yep, the assumption is that there is an ISP to provide the service. If the service is not available or no will pay for it, then it is an expensive chat device for the kids.
XO Laptop - A novel way to give
as someone said ' a mind is a terrible thing to waste', giving a child a computer
will open his/her mind to outside world. only education can lift someone from
proverty.
Chairman Mao came from a romote village, so does most of the revolutionaries.
:emwink:
will open his/her mind to outside world. only education can lift someone from
proverty.
Chairman Mao came from a romote village, so does most of the revolutionaries.
:emwink: