OLPC

ALSO NOTED: What happens to your cell phone after it gets recycled?; 4GB Eee PC finally gets a splash of color;

Mon, 14 Jan 2008 06:59:51 -0500

> OLPC to launch U.S. branch. Article
> What happens to your cell phone after it gets recycled? Article
> 4GB Eee PC finally gets a splash of color. Article
> ZFS for OS X gets unofficial. Article
> LG Prada phone gets Silver, on-screen QWERTY. Article
> Android gets real on HTC Qtek 9090. Article

And Finally... Microsoft customer service responds to a call...10 years later. Article

Intel's Classmate PC: OLPC killer?

Mon, 17 Dec 2007 06:59:54 -0500

We've heard the term "OLPC killer" get bandied about a few times before, usually in the context of Asus' similarly-priced Eee PC but this is the first time we've ever heard it used in conjunction with the OLPC's real competitor: the Intel Classmate PC. Wired's Gadget Lab got some hands-on time with the Classmate PC and walked away quite impressed by the machine's battery life, build quality, performance and--of course--pre-loaded Windows XP and Microsoft Office. "The ultra-small keyboard won't do grown-ups' hamfists any favors, but for a Windows-centric school environment, it's hard to imagine a more appropriate notebook." No wonder they've had no trouble selling them, eh?

For more on the Classmate PC:
- see this Gadget Lab article

OLPC going Windows XP too

Thu, 06 Dec 2007 06:59:54 -0500

Yesterday, we caught wind of the fact that Asus was readying a Windows XP version of its venerable Eee PC. Today brings news that Eee PC competitor, the OLPC's XO, will also take Windows XP for a test run. Microsoft has announced that it plans to conduct field trials in January for XOs running Windows XP, with the goal of shipping machines as early as the second half of 2008. Apparently, the company is designing a custom version of XP just for the XO, which will run directly off of a 2GB SD card.

While this is good news for the OLPC project--one of the many criticisms that the XO had endured from governments is that it doesn't run Windows--it's also a slightly troubling development for advocates of open platforms. Though OLPC Chairman Nicholas Negroponte has long espoused a philosophy of complete openness, it's hard to see the inclusion of Windows XP on the open-source laptop as anything but a compromise of those ideals. This is especially true if you consider the fact that Microsoft had been pushing for the inclusion of an SD card slot in the machine more than anyone else. Will the OLPC project be forced to abandon its open-source ideology in order to succeed?

For more on the announcement:
- see this PC World article

California school district orders Eee PCs

Thu, 29 Nov 2007 06:59:53 -0500

Still not convinced that Asus' low-priced Eee PC is a direct competitor of the OLPC project's XO laptop? Check this out: Fresno California's Unified school district has ordered 1000 Eee PCs--that's $650,000 worth--which will be distributed to students in 60 different classrooms. No, it's not quite one laptop per child--these rugrats will have to share their laptops with other kids--but it's still something. The idea is that kids will be able to use the machines to maintain a sort of online portfolio of their various projects while also using them to supplement textbooks in the classroom. Apparently, the school district spent a year looking for a laptop that wouldn't take up too much room on a student's desk before stumbling upon the 7" Eee PC. Bullard High School student Chris Mitchell was quoted as saying "This is cool." We're inclined to agree.

For more on the deployment:
- see this article from the Fresno Bee

Eee PC vs. the OLPC XO

Wed, 28 Nov 2007 06:59:53 -0500

Though they might be different machines with different target audiences, you can't blame folks for wanting to compare the OLPC project's XO and Asus' Eee PC. After all, they're both small, minimalist laptops that essentially retail in the States for $400 (though the XO's actual value is only half of that). So let's just get this over with: which machine reigns supreme? Laptop Magazine put both notebooks to the test and in their opinion, a clear winner emerged. Though the XO scored well for its design, durability and innovative approach to WiFi connectivity, it ultimately couldn't compete with the Eee PC's UI, bundled applications and performance. "Barring its unique form factor and mesh networking features, we wonder if the XO couldn't have been better served by an operating system and programs more akin to the Eee PC 701," Laptop writes.

For more on the two tiny laptops:
- see this article from Laptop Magazine

OLPC XO raking in the green stuff

Mon, 26 Nov 2007 06:59:54 -0500

If you managed to forget about the OLPC XO over the holiday weekend, allow me to remind you that today is the last day during which you can "give 1, get 1"...well, sort of. It seems that the philanthropist program for the gadget obsessed was so successful that the OLPC project has decided to extend the "deadline" for orders through the end of this year. The OLPC folks have revealed that they've received over $2 million in "donations" per day since they started taking orders. That means that there will be a whole lot of little green laptops under the tree this year, both at home and abroad. Want to "give 1" but don't necessarily want to "get 1"? OLPC will be rolling out a program for you early next year.

In other OLPC news, the project has now introduced bulk ordering on their site for those looking to procure units for educational purposes; quantities of 100-999 go for $300 each, 1000-9999 units are $250 and more than 10,000 will cost you $200 apiece.

For more on the XO:
- see this press release

ALSO NOTED: Alabama students getting OLPC XOs; Philips/Lite-on announce $199 Blu-ray PC drive;

Wed, 14 Nov 2007 06:59:51 -0500

> Polaroid markets Zink portable photo printer. Article
> Alabama students are getting OLPC XOs. Article
> Google to buy Sprint? Not likely, says Ars Technica. Article
> Philips/Lite-on announce $199 Blu-ray PC drive. Article
> A fire-proof safe... for your hard drive. Article

And Finally... OLPC XO, meet the Roomba robotic vacuum. Article

ALSO NOTED: Dell prepping 30" display with HDMI and DisplayPort; T-Mobile Sidekick Slide has sliding problems;

Tue, 13 Nov 2007 06:59:51 -0500

> IBM's BlueGene/L continues to dominate the supercomputer charts. Article
> Windows 7 requested feature list leaked. Article
> zBoost cellular repeater boosts reception. Article
> T-Mobile Sidekick Slide has sliding problems. Article
> Dell prepping a 30" display with HDMI and DisplayPort. Article
> OLPC XO: Laptop Magazine gives one, gets one. Article

And Finally... Exploded iPod gets trapped in resin, still works. Article

ALSO NOTED: 2-3 HTC Android phones in 2008; Nigeria opts for Linux on Classmate PCs;

Mon, 12 Nov 2007 06:59:51 -0500

> HTC: "Two to three" Android phones in 2008. Article
> PDA sales continue to plummet. Article
> iPhone firmware v1.1.2 jailbreak now available. Article
> Is WiMAX viable in the U.S.? Article
> Zune 80 gets preemptively pawed. Article
> OLPC "give one, get one" program kicks off. Article
> Nigeria opts for Linux--not Windows--on Classmate PCs. Article

And Finally... Sprint marketing error shows Motorola Q running Palm OS. Article

ALSO NOTED: Verizon jumps the gun on Daylight Savings; Best Buy to stock Eee PC?;

Mon, 05 Nov 2007 06:59:51 -0500

> Best Buy to stock Eee PC? Article
> Verizon jumps the gun on Daylight Savings. Article
> Samsung's M4650 smartphone has Windows Mobile, touchscreen. Article
> T-Mobile cuts a WiFi hotspot deal for OLPC XO buyers. Article
> Marvell chip makes laptop power supplies smaller, eco-friendly. Article

And Finally... Vintage computer festival v 10.0 in photos. Photos