Christopher Dawson (ZDNet) has an article giving us the next iteration of the OLPC computer, almost before most people saw the first one (Have you seen one close up?).
The little jewel is about the size of the Asus EEE handheld, and looks like it will be manufactured by Fisher-Price. It features the typical gauche ‘angry fruit salad’ color scheme, which has been known to promote learning in children (not).
from ZDNet, the first pics of the XO (2), so nice you’ll like it twice!
Actually the unit is being named XO 1.5 – must only be 50% better. The amazing thing is that this is supposed to come in at a retail price of $75 (and includes a piece of the Brooklyn Bridge), having a more expensive input system than the XO. It simply proves the title, and makes me know that the real money won’t be in the sales of an end product, it is in the bilking of the investors where the project will make millions!
from Mr. Dawson’s article
I’ll believe it when I see it. The blogosphere has offered plenty of reports today on OLPC’s latest announcement, a new version of the XO laptop unveiled today at MIT’s Media Lab. It certainly looks like a good idea: take two 16:9 aspect ratio touchscreens, hook them together and make one capable of doubling as a multitouch, multilanguage “keyboard”. Voila, a clamshell iPhone on steroids loaded with educational potential, all for the low, low price of $75.
Umm, OK. Sorry, I’m afraid Negroponte has lost so much credibility over the past two years with his so-called $100 laptop, hardware failures, and distribution issues, I won’t be holding my breath. The new laptop, pictured below in stock photos from OLPC (courtesy of xconomy), is slated for release in 2010, while an update to the current XO was also announced today. Called XO 1.5, the updated hardware is supposed to be released in early 2009.
Mr. Negroponte certainly has a lot to answer for, considering his last revolutionary technology is almost non-existent, has a poor record for working, and has a 100% cost overrun. But he can dream (scheme?) with the best of them.
This has about as much chance of success as Mr. Ballmer has of becoming an award winning tap dancer.
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[tags] OLPC, Nicolas Negroponte, XO, XO 1.5, scam, fleecing investors, fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice… [/tags]
Technorati Tags: OLPC – Nicolas Negroponte – XO – XO 1.5 – scam – fleecing investors – fool me once – shame on you – fool me twice…