The OLPC's XO laptop is about to be released by Corina Ciubotaru

Even though many said it will never work, the One Laptop Per Child program is now officially underway. Starting November 12, the laptops will be sold in pairs at $399, with one being taken home by the buyer and the other being sent to a child in a developing country, chosen by the company. Expectations of the laptops costing only $100 will be fulfilled only in a few years, after production prices will drop and if the program turns out to be a success. These computers aren't quite your regular laptops. They are shock-resistant and can withstand extreme temperatures, can be recharged through the most surprising means, including solar panels and hand cranks, while only needing about one-tenth of a regular laptop's energy. The XO, as its creators lovingly named it, has an open-source operating system designed by Red Hat and will feature UNICEF's learning software as well as a wireless Internet connection. It was designed to enhance the learning experience for children in developing countries, while also having a low cost, no polluting materials, and a lifespan of five years. It's a good idea that could work and could give rise to all sorts of new concepts that would improve design in future laptops, but still some consider that $400 is a bit too much for a needy student in the U.S. The first countries to benefit from the program are Cambodia, Haiti, Afghanistan and Rwanda; even though many meetings and handshakes with officials in China and India should have made them the first beneficiaries, the two countries haven't ordered any laptops.

related story: http://uk.news.yahoo.com/afp/20070924/ttc-us-poverty-it-laptop-e0bba4a_1.html

by Corina Ciubotaru for PocketNews (http://pocketnews.tv)

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