Nicholas Negroponte, the visionary behind the One Laptop Per Child initiative (OLPC), has publicly expressed his disappointment at the lack of orders for his low-cost computer for poor children. The situation has become so dire that Negroponte will announce a “Give one, get one” promotion in the US and Canada.

At the heart of the OLPC vision, is the XO-1, a low cost laptop that is rugged, extremely energy efficient (it can be powered using a built-in wind-up generator), supports mesh wireless networking, and uses open source software. The idea was that OLPC would be able to sell the laptops to second and third world governments for US$100 by 2008, though at the moment the price is said to be around US$135 to $175.

While production of the XO-1 is due to start next month, Negroponte had previously said that he needed 3 million orders to start production.

Unfortunately orders for millions of units from Brazil and Nigeria have not eventuated, although it does look as though Peru will take 250,000 units, and the Italian Government has committed to purchasing 50,000 units for Ethiopia. It also looks as though Mexico and Uruguay will also purchase units.

“I have to some degree underestimated the difference between shaking the hand of a head of state and having a check written, and, yes, it has been a disappointment,” Negroponte told the International Herald Tribune.

Negroponte will on Monday announce a “Get one, buy one” marketing campaign for the US and Canada, where supporters will be able to purchase two XO-1s for $399. They’ll get to keep one, while the second one will be given to a disadvantaged child in the developing world. Orders will only be accepted for two weeks between November 12 and November 26. It’s promised that the XO-1 will be delivered to the purchaser before Christmas.

Negroponte hopes that this initiative will give the developing world a taste of what the XO-1 has to offer, by allowing ”perhaps” 5000 units to be distributed to 20 countries. 

“It could trigger a lot of things,” he said optimistically.

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Entry was posted on Sunday, September 23rd, 2007 at 4:53 pm under Notebook, Open source.  Print This Post

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