Marketing fight between XO and Classmate PC by Martina Harvanova

A quite successful project One Laptop Per Child knows how to win publicity. Whether it is a bad or a lucky one, OLPC is mentioned among such companies as Apple or HBO in the press, despite its not-profit-making focus on the help to developing countries. The target is to mediate education of computing and technologies to kids who don't have the facility to own or even to have an access to new technologies. The current issue for the OLPC is the technical equipment, because already in the beginning of the 2008 certain troubles occurred with the case. First of all, a Nigerian company was suing the OLPC over a claimed patent violation. And then it was announced that Intel decided to break the marriage with the OLPC. The first laptop used by OLPC was an ultra-low-cost, flexible and responsive XO. And already this decision of OLPC to use rather XO than Intel's Classmate PC shamed Intel and its dreams to get great PR through the cooperation with OLPC. Although Classmate PC still provides its service to kids in developing countries, its popularity is overcoming a gradual shift. Now, there are two competitors both serving with low-cost laptops designed for children, but on the other hand, both working on completely different systems. Technicians claim there is definitely no comparison between XO and Classmate PC. The XO with its groundbreaking capabilities and wireless networking features has a potential to change all future laptops, while the Classmate PC is basically just a very standard small-form-factor laptop with few innovations. However, its advantages, for example simple familiarity, prove it has its stable spot among computers of these features. Apparently, the innovative XO laptop sweeps the board and that is exactly what Intel is upset about. The whole marketing about both laptops seems to get more complicated. The public is a powerful factor. And all producers and competitors know it. The issue is who is going to be the seen as the most sympathetic and helpful one.

related story: http://www.schneier.com/blog/archives/2007/12/new_lithium_bat_1.html

by Martina Harvanova for PocketNews (http://pocketnews.tv)

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