The OLPC XO: First Look
A closer look at the $200 notebook from the One Laptop Per Child project
OLPC XO, $200
What it is: In an effort to get laptops into the hands of poor children in developing countries (and soon in the United States
as well), Nicholas Negroponte, founder of MIT's Media Laboratory, started One Laptop Per Child (OLPC). The group's main goal is to sell a low-cost laptop that can be donated by anyone with a desire to spread the advantages
of technology to those in need. You can learn more about the program or make a donation at www.laptopgiving.org.
The result is the $200 XO laptop. The system includes an AMD processor, a 1GB solid-state drive (with 800MB of free space), 256MB of RAM, built-in stereo speakers, and a 7.5-inch LCD. It weighs just over 3 pounds, and includes a built-in webcam and microphone, three USB ports, an SD memory card reader, and support for 802.11b/g Wi-Fi and 802.11s mesh networking. The operating system is a version of Linux with a customized user interface that is largely based on symbolic icons. There are several built-in applications, including a web browser, word processor, and a drawing program.
During the program's launch, you were able to buy one for yourself and donate one for a total of $400. That program ended Dec. 31, but determined buyers can find some on sale on eBay; prices ranged from $100 to $400 on the day we checked.
The OLPC XO, like other Linux-based computers such as the Asus Eee, won't be included in our Ratings of laptop computers (available to subscribers). However, our testers were intrigued by this inexpensive notebook. Here's what they found:
HIGHS
Designed with children in mind. The thick, rugged plastic case has rounded edges and a good handle for gripping. We think the solid-state drive should be durable against accidental bumps, and the ports and openings are covered when the laptop is closed, minimizing the chance of dirt or water damaging the interior. The keyboard is a soft rubber membrane that's sealed to avoid damages from spills. Awkward for touch-typing, its keys and the touchpad buttons are small, but a fine fit for the hands of children. The screen pivots 180 degrees for use as an eBook reader (see image below), and the display can be rotated to face any direction. The screen is not touch sensitive, but navigational and game buttons are next to the display.
Project minimizes dependency on consumables. In an effort to reduce the use of paper, the XO ships with no manuals. Detailed documentation is located online, but the lack of instructions also reinforces the project's goal of learning by doing. The touchpad is extra wide; the OLPC organization says the touchpad will also function as a stylus pad in future systems, minimizing paper use. The laptop consumes very little power, and can use alternate power sources, such as a hand crank, foot pedals, or solar panels. Currently, most of these are available only to developing countries and are purchased through third-party manufacturers. The display's monochrome mode consumes even less energy, and is easy to read outdoors in bright light. The durable case design should yield a longer laptop life-span.
Fosters community and sharing. The mesh network allows XOs to share activities with each other without the use of a wireless access point, an important
feature in rural areas without a wireless infrastructure. A school server can act as a mesh portal for access to the Internet
and a library of class material and activities not installed on the XO. The laptop has a neighborhood view that shows other
XOs and their shared activities, and individual XOs can be saved as friends. Chat sessions, games, bookmarked URLs, and photos
snapped in real time can be shared between laptops, an easy way for teachers to distribute lessons within a class.
Innovative operating system for learning computer use. Unlike a typical operating system like Windows or Mac, documents and activity sessions on the XO are automatically saved to a central "Journal," from which teachers can monitor a student's progress. Only a maximum of five programs, or "Activities," can be opened at one time, however, and the XO lacks a way to categorize files into folders.
LOWS
Warranty lasts only 30 days. After that, the kids (or their schools) are on their own.
Lack of Internet filtering. Security, system updates, and backups can be controlled from the school server, and the Linux OS is less likely to have security threats, but individual XOs have no Internet filtering as installed.
Wide range of education programs, but limited compatibility. Programs on the laptop are designed for children ages 6 to 16, with educational games ranging in subject from basic math and memory games to physics and software programming. They can be a bit slow to load. The XO includes AbiWord as a word processor, which can open most files created by Microsoft Word 2003 (we were unable to open Word 2007 documents). There is also an eBook reader and support for online flash, but large files might take a while to load. Spreadsheets have no supporting programs, but image files can be opened with various programs. Some media files might need additional installations before they can be run-Quicktime, iTunes, and Windows Media files, for example, could not play right away and required researching and downloading drivers to make them work. Peripherals such as a USB mouse, keyboard, and flash drive worked when attached, but the laptop did not automatically detect a digital camera that we connected, and it currently lacks printer support. Additional activities can be downloaded, but programs not designed specifically for the XO can be difficult to install.
BOTTOM LINE
The XO provides a solid learning platform for kids in developing countries who might not have access to more powerful systems. They're best utilized in a school environment, when multiple XOs are available for sharing. There's a chance the XO will again go on sale to the general public, but unless you simply can't afford anything else, a better-equipped laptop—such as the models you'll find in our notebook Ratings report— will be more suitable for your or your kids' personal use.
The result is the $200 XO laptop. The system includes an AMD processor, a 1GB solid-state drive (with 800MB of free space), 256MB of RAM, built-in stereo speakers, and a 7.5-inch LCD. It weighs just over 3 pounds, and includes a built-in webcam and microphone, three USB ports, an SD memory card reader, and support for 802.11b/g Wi-Fi and 802.11s mesh networking. The operating system is a version of Linux with a customized user interface that is largely based on symbolic icons. There are several built-in applications, including a web browser, word processor, and a drawing program.
During the program's launch, you were able to buy one for yourself and donate one for a total of $400. That program ended Dec. 31, but determined buyers can find some on sale on eBay; prices ranged from $100 to $400 on the day we checked.
The OLPC XO, like other Linux-based computers such as the Asus Eee, won't be included in our Ratings of laptop computers (available to subscribers). However, our testers were intrigued by this inexpensive notebook. Here's what they found:
HIGHS
Designed with children in mind. The thick, rugged plastic case has rounded edges and a good handle for gripping. We think the solid-state drive should be durable against accidental bumps, and the ports and openings are covered when the laptop is closed, minimizing the chance of dirt or water damaging the interior. The keyboard is a soft rubber membrane that's sealed to avoid damages from spills. Awkward for touch-typing, its keys and the touchpad buttons are small, but a fine fit for the hands of children. The screen pivots 180 degrees for use as an eBook reader (see image below), and the display can be rotated to face any direction. The screen is not touch sensitive, but navigational and game buttons are next to the display.
Project minimizes dependency on consumables. In an effort to reduce the use of paper, the XO ships with no manuals. Detailed documentation is located online, but the lack of instructions also reinforces the project's goal of learning by doing. The touchpad is extra wide; the OLPC organization says the touchpad will also function as a stylus pad in future systems, minimizing paper use. The laptop consumes very little power, and can use alternate power sources, such as a hand crank, foot pedals, or solar panels. Currently, most of these are available only to developing countries and are purchased through third-party manufacturers. The display's monochrome mode consumes even less energy, and is easy to read outdoors in bright light. The durable case design should yield a longer laptop life-span.
The OLPC XO with its screen folded over its keyboard.
Innovative operating system for learning computer use. Unlike a typical operating system like Windows or Mac, documents and activity sessions on the XO are automatically saved to a central "Journal," from which teachers can monitor a student's progress. Only a maximum of five programs, or "Activities," can be opened at one time, however, and the XO lacks a way to categorize files into folders.
LOWS
Warranty lasts only 30 days. After that, the kids (or their schools) are on their own.
Lack of Internet filtering. Security, system updates, and backups can be controlled from the school server, and the Linux OS is less likely to have security threats, but individual XOs have no Internet filtering as installed.
Wide range of education programs, but limited compatibility. Programs on the laptop are designed for children ages 6 to 16, with educational games ranging in subject from basic math and memory games to physics and software programming. They can be a bit slow to load. The XO includes AbiWord as a word processor, which can open most files created by Microsoft Word 2003 (we were unable to open Word 2007 documents). There is also an eBook reader and support for online flash, but large files might take a while to load. Spreadsheets have no supporting programs, but image files can be opened with various programs. Some media files might need additional installations before they can be run-Quicktime, iTunes, and Windows Media files, for example, could not play right away and required researching and downloading drivers to make them work. Peripherals such as a USB mouse, keyboard, and flash drive worked when attached, but the laptop did not automatically detect a digital camera that we connected, and it currently lacks printer support. Additional activities can be downloaded, but programs not designed specifically for the XO can be difficult to install.
BOTTOM LINE
The XO provides a solid learning platform for kids in developing countries who might not have access to more powerful systems. They're best utilized in a school environment, when multiple XOs are available for sharing. There's a chance the XO will again go on sale to the general public, but unless you simply can't afford anything else, a better-equipped laptop—such as the models you'll find in our notebook Ratings report— will be more suitable for your or your kids' personal use.
