An innovative low cost laptop, intended for children in the developing world, has received numerous design awards and accolades in the US and European press, causing it to become a must-have item for children of the overdeveloped world. Prompted by the attention the XO-1 laptop has received –– even before the first mass produced model has been shipped –– its developers are rolling out an innovative Get One, Give One (G1G1) scheme. For a limited time, staring on Nov 12th, G1G1 subscribers will receive one laptop for their children (or themselves – after all this is a HOT machine) and pay for another laptop to be shipped to a child in need. The cost for both computers will be just $399. The first 25,000 units will be shipped in time for Christmas, with remaining customers receiving theirs in the first quarter of 2008. The first countries to receive the donated machines will include Cambodia, Afghanistan, Rwanda and Haiti.
The laptop was conceived by a group from MIT, led by Nicholas Negroponte, who wanted to design a low cost $100 laptop to empower and educate children in the poorer parts of the planet. The laptop has been developed by a Delaware-based non-profit called OLPC (One Laptop Per Child), which was founded by Negroponte, and is funded by sponsors such as Google, eBay, News Corp. and Intel, amongst others. The machine currently costs $188 per unit, if ordered in bulk, but the goal is for the price to be lowered to $100 by the end of 2008.
OLPC hope their laptops, which roll out in October 2007, will be bought by governments (such as Peru's who have ordered 250,000 units) and NGOs, but despite much lip service and many promises, business has been slow. “I have to some degree underestimated the difference between shaking the hand of a head of state and having a check written,” said Negroponte to the NY Times. “And yes, it has been a disappointment.” Instead, inspired by demand for the cute green and white machine from wannabe customers in the western world, OLPC hopes individual consumers will lead the way, shaming governments into action via the G1G1 scheme.
The rugged laptop has few moving parts, making it perfect for children everywhere. A traditional hard drive is replaced by a I GB flash drive, negating the need for costly cooling fans. The computer has a high resolution, energy efficient dual mode display, that can be read in sunlight, a unique peer-to-peer wireless interface, a camera, speakers and microphone, and can be reconfigured in an energy-saving eBook mode. With just 256 MB of RAM to run off, the operating system is a pared down, Linux-based graphical user interface called Sugar, which focuses on a single task at a time, making the most of the computer’s low cost design. The energy efficient machine uses batteries, which can be recharged conventionally, or by using optional hand cranks and foot pumps or pull-string and solar chargers.
Those interested in the Get 1 Give 1 schemes can go to www.xogiving.org. The site also offers the opportunity for individuals to donate a computer for just $200.
It seems they don't have a strategy for marketing it.
Our NGO is working in the field of Social & Educational development. We need Laptops for our students. Please subscribe any scheme or programme to join you...