What is Digg?32 Comments
- felchdonkey, on 10/12/2007, -3/+18Not more robust, just higher specs. "Robust" refers to how reliable or durable a system is,
Nonetheless, it is a higher spec machine. I hope it never gets off the ground, though.
The OLPC project is done for altruistic purposes, with the goal of raising the skills of children all around the world, so that the entire planet's future can be brighter. The computers have been specifically designed to be unattractive to thieves, yet attractive to children. They have been planned to work in situations where power may or may not be reliable, they can network together without routers or hubs, and don't rely on the internet to be useful.
The operating system and software are open source, keeping companies like Microsoft or Apple from making tiny consumers out of the children. Even the hardware design thinks of the kids, as it includes a shoulder strap in the handle, and a screen that can rotate to eBook mode, using a display that switches to a hi-res, passive monochrome mode when needed.
What does the Intel design do? Makes a cheap laptop that can run Windows. Screw you, Intel. - DrakeGTA, on 10/12/2007, -1/+11When I was a kid you had to walk 12 miles to school everyday day in the snow, and it was uphill both ways.
- wurzelgummage, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6There's a big problem with this intel machine's power requirements, If you ask me.
"Developing countries" is a bit vague. - ThirdPrize, on 10/12/2007, -1/+7Huh, kids these days. In my days we had pens and paper and were jolly glad of it.
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5now those were the good old days
- halfcockedjack, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5Interesting. The Intel hardware seems to be more robust than the One Laptop Per Child thing, but as the author notes, spending a $100 more per machine gets very expensive once you get into the 10,000+ range.
- SuperMank, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5"derisively dismissed"?
What is this, 5th grade? How about I kick with my foot?
In related news, this is a bad idea. Apart from power issues (stated above) how are they going to make it sturdy enough for "developing countries", ala OLPC? Why include Windows when Linux could probably lower the cost, gain less flak from the internets, AND have better usability on the whole? - HsoKinees, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3yep~ sell some that come with a free Linux distro instead, so people can save some money by not purchasing(renting?!?!) a MS License >_>
- BlackCow, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3I love how in all the Intel comercials the guy calls up and says "I just want to watch videos and listen to music" and the sales rep says "Ok well we will set you up with an INTEL CORE DUO!" and the guy on the other end (totaly clueless) says "ok thats greate" Intel is not serveing the customers needs, they are pushing the most expensive stuff they can. I like playing video games and I don't even have a dual core and it runs modern games greate. /rant
- jbus, on 10/12/2007, -4/+7Trying to profit off of third world children is very low. Unless Intel is going to provide those machines for less than the OLPC and minus the proprietary OS & Software they need to mind their own damn business.
- andersonmanly, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4Intel is, and has always been, in the sack with M$...of course they're going to offer their products.
- spikespeigel42, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3Has anyone noticed all of these OLPC competitors emerging? Why wasnt this around 5 years ago? Why do the chinese have to unveil their laptop just as the OLPC's is nearing completion. My favorite part is that the OLPC laptop is still cheaper, better designed, and more practical to use in a third world country.
***** you intel, my next processor is an amd. - hypercube33, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2What I dont get is why this isnt for sale here, we have poor people in this country as well, and this doesnt exclude college kids...
And I'd buy one.
My Ruling: Sell them there, sell them here. - celerate, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Rather than selling it to the wrong people, they're just leaving out a good chunk of the market that needs these things. When I was in high school I could have brought a laptop into school because there weren't enough computers, but because a lot of stuff was being stolen I decided it wasn't worth the risk of loosing a machine that costed over 1000$ CAD.
Had this thing been available I think just about everyone at school could have had a computer of their own to work with, and it's a much better investment for both the school and the parents than buying full sized Laptops would be. With school requiring everything to be handed in neatly typed, it's about time that affordable school grade laptop machines hit the market *everywhere*. - chicagospur, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Go to http://www.trustedreviews.com/article.aspx?art=3485 for a first review and pictures.
- bloodr, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3I would buy this product.
This product at the 250 price point is exactly what i need to fill the gap between my sexy gaming rig and working on campus. It has enough storage for Office and essential apps (IRC, FTP, etc.) and with expandable storage via SD/CF games become possible, and WiFi. The small screen and keyboard don't bother me much as this isn't my main machine. Plus it's supposed to be made for kids so maybe has a more rugged design for those of us who are a bit clumsy.
Yes Intel built a great product it's just being sold to the wrong people - JonForTheWin, on 10/12/2007, -2/+4It runs windows . . what the hell.
- TokenUser, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2The specs sound similar to the MS UMPC (Origami) initiative ... biggest difference being a touchscreen. So why do UMPC machines cost 5 times as much??
- hello2usir, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2In my day we didn't have jet packs. We had to drive to school and we liked it.
- arafoz, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1I think both products have a good chance of succeeding, however in different markets.
The OLPC project seems more appropriate for children in developing countries. However, the Intel would be a great fit in the United States, providing a realistic option for schools to equip their students with laptops. - Lobster, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1I see no reason to pay for them
http://www.theinquirer.net/default.aspx?article=30607
With proper coca-cola sponsorship we will have educated but toothless kids.
Most phones are free (you pay for connection) - so make a bigger phone.
If you don't educate consumers - where is your market?
Paying for computers - how quaint. We have free software. Now for the hardware. - shbnggrth, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1I was so overjoyed when I went to high school with my fathers slide ruler while all the kids were sneaking calculators and using calculator watches, remember those! Kids these days have it so easy. We didn't have IM, we went home to read the note on the refrigerator, if you had one! We didn't have Windows XP, we had DOS! World Wide Web? Nope, commands on a prompt for the internet. We were and still are the geeks!
That's why I still love DOS and raw HTML. Better way to write a web page than using a text editor and your noggin! - arpad, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1For the same reason MS software costs so frickin' much: we can afford to pay for it.
- webcrumb, on 10/12/2007, -2/+2Pens and paper? You had pens and paper? In my day we had a stick of charcoal and we wrote on our hands. When we ran out of space we had to memorise what we'd written and the teacher would pass around a damp cloth. If you were lucky you were one of the first to get the cloth, otherwise you left school looking like you'd been down t' pit.
- Yanks2435, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1Most games aren't coded to take advantage of dual core yet, so there isn't a huge advantage in that aspect. Games are mostly GPU limited anyway, but the Core 2 Duo's are a massive improovement over P4's, since Netburst was a total failure. There is a budget line of C2D's out, and there is an E4700 coming out soon as well. The Celeron line will be getting revamped into the Core architecture too. There isn't anything wrong with a company trying to move it's newer product to replace an out-dated one.
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -2/+2LOL What hypocrites... Now I bet the majority of OLPC haters who *gasp* might be Intel fanboys and towing the Intel line will all say what a great idea this is...
And then the gamers who can't imagine a system that's just "enough" for specific tasks... Wow...
Dugg for the good will. - DonPMitchell, on 10/12/2007, -2/+1You really think the MIT Media lab and Negeroponte are purely altrusistic? ( http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/10/04/mit_media_lab_ireland/ ). I think it is naive to just assume that anything done by a business is bad and anything done by various academics and political movements is good.
If Intel can make a cheap product that uses compatable processors and standard popular software, that will be much better for young people. A laptop running Windows is just more valuable than one that only runs Linux. - bnolsen, on 10/12/2007, -2/+1Dump WinXP please, then I mgiht consider it...
- Yanks2435, on 10/12/2007, -3/+2XP isn't an issue since they probably get it for close to nothing, so the cost increase from Linux to XP is probably minimal. Also, what is wrong with teaching the kids an OS that is used by nearly all the world, and businesses ? There is a lower spec'd Linux machine that is available, so they have a choice of what they want. I would say this is a better deal since you are getting signifigantly better hardware for not too much more money, but only those who can afford the choice will. Also Intel's hardware is very reliable, since they are in control of the whole motherboard/processor combo.
- valgar, on 10/12/2007, -3/+1We can debate who is doing it for what reason. Sort of like asking the insurgents in Iraq whether Democrats or Republicans are more evil. The fact of the matter is, for those children who have little to no access to technology, it really matters little. It is really about providing full access to a technology, wherever it comes from, that might narrow the gap between the those with access and those without.
Relic
Vintagesnowboarder - celerate, on 10/12/2007, -3/+1You phrase it so it sounds so bad.
Intel is still making these machines so they are more affordable to third world countries, and if you ask me the specs are so much better than the OLPC that I think the price is worth it. Besides, people will be buying these based on need, if they don't need a computer they won't have to buy them, and I can tell you most third world children don't have computers on the top of their priority list. If you're going to complain that Intel is actually making some profit off these you might as well complain that they're not giving them away for free. Intel still has to look after itself and its employees, and this is by far not a high markup on those computers. - arpad, on 10/12/2007, -7/+3Boy, have you got things backwards. It's the Intel machine that'll help poor kids not the OLPC and the reason is that the OLPC is being done for altruistic reasons not for profit.
You see, if Intel can make money selling a $200 laptop then so can a slew of Chinese, Taiwanese, Korean and God knows how many other country's avaricious, young entrepreneurs, probably for less.
You won't be able to keep them out of the market and one of the aspects of the product they'll be competing in is price. That'll rationalize the design and production of components specifically for this market segment helping drive prices even further down and increasing functionality. Then poor people can decide for themselves if a laptop is worth what they can pay for it instead of some disconnected and uncaring government bureaucrat. Hey, it's worked great for cell phones, why not computers?
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