Slashdot Log In
Preview Of The $100 Laptop
Posted by
Zonk
on Fri Nov 04, 2005 02:20 PM
from the penguins-in-little-hands dept.
from the penguins-in-little-hands dept.
cynical writes "Harvard's Ethan Zuckerman, founder of GeekCorps and Global Voices, got a chance last week to drop in on Nicholas Negroponte and get a preview of the $100 laptop Negroponte has designed for students in the developing world. Zuckerman talks about both its hardware and the One Laptop Per Child project, and asks the readers for suggestions for innovative ways the $100 laptop can be used." From the article: "The mockup I saw was about the size of a large paperback book. There's a stiff rubber gasket around the edge of the machine, which can double as a stand. The keyboard on the mockup was detachable, but will probably fold out on a hinge ... Two trackballs, surrounded by four way buttons, on each side of the screen act as controls, and function keys on the back act as additional buttons.)" We've previously reported on this device here on Slashdot.
Related Stories
[+]
Proprietary Parts in OLPC Project Draw Criticism 247 comments
An anonymous reader writes "The Jem Report is running a story about the recent controversy surrounding the hardware used in OLPC laptops. Some devices require NDA's to write drivers, and some parts require firmware that cannot be freely redistributed. Richard Stallmann and Theo de Raadt oppose the use of such devices. Jim Getty defends OLPC's choice (de Raadts response). Jem Matzan has interviewed all sides and published the answers."
This discussion has been archived.
No new comments can be posted.
The Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not responsible for them in any way.
The non-existant $100 laptop! (Score:2)
I'll wait for this to be actual news. I'm filing this under the "proposed" WiMax killer.
Re:The non-existant $100 laptop! (Score:3, Insightful)
I'll wait for this to be actual news. I'm filing this under the "proposed" WiMax killer. I accidentally clicked "Submit" instead
Vaporware until they have real mfg costs (Score:4, Insightful)
But the fundamentally cool thing about this box is that it costs $100; at $200 it wouldn't be as cool, and at $500 it'd be really lame. So until they've got real manufacturing costs and really *can* make it for $100 in volume, it's still vaporware.
Parent
Has this already been obsoleted by cellphones? (Score:4, Insightful)
Just look at the kind of information people are sending and retrieving from these low-power, sub-$100 devices already...
Re:Has this already been obsoleted by cellphones? (Score:5, Insightful)
Most cell phones are not really sub-$100 devices. Their true cost of a web-enabled phone is often well over $100, but the true cost is hidden somewhere in the 1 to 2 year contract with the provider.
Plus, the interface on a Computer is superior then the interface on a mobile phone for many tasks.
Parent
Draw the line (Score:2, Insightful)
$100 per child? (Score:5, Insightful)
As an ex-CS college professor, let me suggest that it would be better to spend that $100 on the developing world on more teachers, education for teachers, roof for schools, etc.
Technology is not the answer to every problem. Remember all those silly computer labs back in high schools in the '80s? Did anyone get any real educational value out of them?
Re:$100 per child? (Score:5, Funny)
Parent
Re:$100 per child? (Score:4, Funny)
So, I would say they could use the laptop to find places that rent U-hauls.
Parent
Re:$100 per child? (Score:3, Funny)
Rations: Meager
Temperature: Hot
Sally has fever. Lost 3 days.
You are at the Snake river. Do you want to hire a ferryman or attempt to ford the river on your own?
Re:$100 per child? (Score:3, Funny)
Of course they did! Some of them learning to crack the school network, going to on to becoming the legendary uber-hackers, eventually being hired by computer security firms!</completeanduttersatire>
Re:$100 per child? (Score:5, Insightful)
Are you forgetting the huge information boom of the 90's and now the 00's?
Parent
Re:$100 per child? (Score:5, Informative)
This laptop is being designed for folks for whom an information boom would be textbooks and teachers. It's being designed for folks who have a hard enough time putting food on the table and clothing on their backs without dropping two months' paycheck on a piece of electronics. In fact, design flaw #1 on this thing is that it is a piece of electronics.
A computer is a not a magic make-everything-better device.
Parent
Re:$100 per child? (Score:5, Informative)
While I want to agree with you, I also think that there are counter-examples that electronics are not only beneficial but the correct solution to information needs for the poor. For example, radio and telephone are electroics-based technologies, but are crucial and successful even in poor and low-tech areas.
A critical element of success is that the electronics be reliable and easy to operate. These I think are the big challenges for something like a laptop, not the fact that it's built out of electronic parts.
--Pat
Parent
Hell yes. (Score:5, Insightful)
Parent
Re:$100 per child? (Score:4, Interesting)
I did- classes in just such a lab were my first introduction to Assembly Language and the PROPER use of spaghetti code (in miniassemblers, spaghetti code is useful because it allows you to edit your program directly in memory. So useful that indeed it's valueable to put in three NOPS after every 5th instruction so that if you need to you can insert a JSR later).
I'm sure it didn't help for the majority of students- but for the few who would otherwise be spending their time being beat up by jocks, it was a godsend.
Parent
Re:$100 per child? (Score:4, Insightful)
Parent
Re:$100 per child? (Score:4, Interesting)
I did-- I had an Apple IIe in my 5th & 6th grade classrooms, and I did some programming in Basic & Logo on the system, learned some basic hardware skills.
I tucked those skills away for 10-15 years, but I still think that they helped me to solve logic problems, basic computer hardware skills. I majored in science/humanities major in College, but somehow I still ended up being a Senior System Administrator for a number of companies.
Another way to ask this question: Will the students be at a disadvantage if they do not have tools like a Computer in the classroom?
Obviously they need a roof, teacher, books, etc. But other tools can be valuable as well.
Parent
Re:$100 per child? (Score:3, Interesting)
So I don't think anyone will get any real educational value out of them now (they will be teaching word processing, spreadsheets, typing, etc. You know stuff that any 13 year old can figure out).
Re:$100 per child? (Score:5, Insightful)
Parent
Re:$100 per child? (Score:4, Insightful)
Beyond that, the fact is computers are becoming a part of our daily lives, and a certain level of computer knowledge is, more and more, becoming a job requirement. They also allow for free expression (more easily), and allow people to connect from around the world. Kids who can't get access to computers and the internet will find themselves at a disadvantage when trying to survive in relation to 1st and 2nd world countries.
No, not every activity needs to be pushed onto computers. Computers aren't replacements for teachers. Computers shouldn't even be top-priority. However, if used properly, they are a great tool. As with most of the cases of technology misuse in the '80s and '90s, the whole problem comes when people who don't understand how these computer-things work start deciding that they'll be a cure-all for every situation. Of course, this problem persists today, but we can hope that as computers become more common, more people will understand that computers are tools to create solutions, and not solutions in themselves.
Parent
Re:$100 per child? (Score:5, Insightful)
That being said, your point is not only well taken, but valid. These laptops could be a leap forward, but they aren't much use if the children they are designed for don't also have food, clothing, and shelter to start.
Nice gesture, but it's a long way off.
Parent
Re:$100 per child? (Score:4, Interesting)
At a school like mine, a computer lab could conceivably provide access to Wikipedia, and any other number of educational games. My students were fascinated with education games, spent hours looking at entries in Encarta, and made some pretty incredible art with MS Paint. But of course, more needs to be done.
I think in addition to hardware, we also need to create materials to education children on "how" to use the computer. After scouring the net looking for a primer, my colleagues and I decide to write our own. We should not be reinventing the wheel on this problem.
Cheap hardware coupled with the proper teaching materials could do a world of good for developing countries. I just hope it happens sooner rather than later.
Parent
Re:$100 per child? (Score:3, Interesting)
Sure it is, you just have to frame the question differently. e.g.:
Problem: "Our school doesn't have a roof over it!"
Answer: "You should have a fundraiser to buy roofing construction supplies and some alumni to volunteer labor"
Results: New roof for the school, community strengthening, cost of roof spread out among the entire community via the fundraiser.
Whatever. That might be cost effective, sustainable and useful. Really, you should say:
Problem: "Our school
Re:$100 per child? (Score:4, Insightful)
That was one example out of hundreds. I learned a lot about math, about research, and about logic from computers. Of course now a days kids don't program, they run prepackaged applications. Using Word and playing Reader Rabbit aren't the same as trying to figure out how a computer works.
Parent
Re:$100 per child? (Score:3, Insightful)
I want one of these for my kids (Score:4, Interesting)
Re:I want one of these for my kids (Score:5, Funny)
that's what beatings are for
Parent
Sneak preview pictures (Score:4, Funny)
Re:Sneak preview pictures (Score:3, Insightful)
Swatch them! (Score:3, Interesting)
Have Swatch or some other design-centric company make a dozen glitzy versions a year. Sell them for $250, with a big trade-in allowance on used units. The store and designers would get a cut; the rest would go to buy units for distribution to poor kids.
If they made a $200 version (Score:4, Insightful)
How will this help (Score:3, Insightful)
I'm inclined to agree with the writer that Negroponte's response is lacking. How will every student having a laptop help them in any way?
Some things that the articles don't answer.... (Score:3, Interesting)
2. What CPU will it use (Intel, AMD, other)?
3. How does the sourcing of compnents influence the $100 cost of the laptop? For example, could they get Intel to hand over a bunch of of CPU's cheaply? Can they get Samsung to do the same with RAM?
Buy One Laptop, Get Literacy for Free! (Score:5, Funny)
Too many moving parts? (Score:3, Insightful)
Why Not the US Too? (Score:4, Insightful)
I wonder, however, why he only plans to offer this device to the developing world when millions of children (and their school districts) in the United States could also benefit from such a device. $100 laptops could save school districts millions in textbook costs alone!
Re:Why Not the US Too? (Score:3, Informative)
I wonder, however, why he only plans to offer this device to the developing world (...)?"
There are two reasons the manufacturing cost is so low:
1- They'll be shipped to the receiving country as parts. 10 million motherboards, 10 million displays, etc. and assembled in-place using local labor. So the assembly costs are not only low -- they're providing jobs in the country of use. Which instantly supplies a labor
Add a wireless card, a DVDRW drive, USB ports (Score:4, Funny)
Maybe it can be networked to support a school tutoring program and free internet access?
Add Windows XP error reporting and Office assistants, and it can be used as an instant source of frustration and lamentation.
I couldnt get the worldchanging URL to load....maybe it could be used to support that site too.
A laptop for the 3rd world maybe... (Score:3, Insightful)
/.'ed webpage (coral cache) (Score:3)
How to fund these things (Score:3, Interesting)
Summary: Gosh! Wow! (Score:3, Funny)
Re:yes but.... (Score:3, Funny)
Re:THE END OF THE AMERICAN TECH WORKER (Score:3, Interesting)
At any rate, statements like half of x has property p should be substantiated by sources. If half of students can't read wouldn't we hear about it on CNN?
The level of reading required for self-education could be deficient though. It is a lot better now than a few years ago, especially with the power of Google. No one can go to class for every aspect of life or work, and ther
Re:THE END OF THE AMERICAN TECH WORKER (Score:3, Insightful)
( ) Technical innovation in a developing country
(*) Product shipped to a developing market
( ) General discussion about IT in the devbeloping world
The location is:
( ) Africa
( ) India
( ) Bangladesh
( ) China
( ) Somewhere else in Asia
( ) South America
( ) Central America
(*) Other _unspecified_
You're objecting to it on the basis that:
( ) Poverty hasn't been eliminated in that country yet
(*) American jobs will be lost
Your argument is bogus because:
( ) Poverty hasn't been elimin
Re:THE END OF THE AMERICAN TECH WORKER (Score:4, Insightful)
Parent
8th grade reading level is "literate" in USA (Score:3, Interesting)
By 4th grade you can pronounce almost every word other than a few oddballs and words adopted from foreign languages. You can take a good guess at spelling words and names that you've never heard before.
By 8th grade you've probably read dozens if not hundreds of children's books and a few non-challenging adult books too. This assumes at least 1 book a week checked out from the school library for 8 years - not a universal assumption but something most teachers encourage.
Re:Do they really need a laptop? (Score:3)
My first reaction was about the same; "Millions of western children / students do not have a laptop. Why the effort to get children who even don't have food a laptop?!"
But on the other hand; Western kids have ALOT more opportunities and resources to get educated and create a future. A laptop wont make too much of a difference for the average western kid in order to "make it".
These kids even can't afford paper (in which aspect such a laptop is a great tool for education!) They can even pass on their study
Re:Idea (Score:4, Funny)
( ) Technical innovation in a developing country
(*) Product shipped to a developing market
( ) General discussion about IT in the devbeloping world
The location is:
( ) Africa
( ) India
( ) Bangladesh
( ) China
( ) Somewhere else in Asia
( ) South America
( ) Central America
(*) Other _unspecified_
You're objecting to it on the basis that:
(*) Poverty hasn't been eliminated in that country yet
( ) American jobs will be lost
Your argument is bogus because:
(*) Poverty hasn't been eliminated in the developed world either, that doesn't mean we should halt all technological research
(*) This will not adversely affect any efforts to alleviate poverty
(*) This will help to alleviate poverty
( ) Poverty in that country isn't as widespread as you say it is
( ) The US does not have a divine right to keep all the cool jobs
Parent