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)

PocketNews is a new real-time news broadcaster delivering the latest and hottest news right to your pocket ! With global clients who want to be kept up to date, PocketNews is everyone's way of keeping in touch with the World.

These news are brought to you by CantellTV, its technology partner SigEx Telecom and its founder Chris Cantell. CantellTV is the fastest growing provider of digital broadcasting coupled with enhanced communications, allowing people to easily control, view, upload and share digital content through proprietary interface. CantellTV has relationships with a growing network of international clients delivering millions of videos per day with more than 50,000 new videos uploaded and 200 hours of new TV shows broadcasted daily to a wide range of viewers, from 5 to 7 year olds of LiveCartoons; to 16 to 24 year old active social users of MyJumps; to fortune 50 corporate clients utilizing enhanced broadcasting services. CantellTV is committed to delivering infinite choices to your world of entertainment at the tip of your fingers. Chris Cantell retains consulting arrangements with several pre-IPO companies.

Edited by: Katarina Bosanska