The ‘One Laptop Per Child’ scheme has had a major boost with Amazon signing up as a distributor. Customers will be able to buy the low-tech, low-price laptop for themselves with a second machine then sent free of charge to a child in the developing world.

The program itself, titled ‘Give 1 Get 1’ isn’t new, but it’s failed to take off in the past because it was too much hassle for people to find somewhere to buy the machines. There were also several distribution problems. The idea now is that Amazon’s strong reputation and familiarity will solve these issues.

The price for sales on Amazon, which will begin in late November, isn’t yet confirmed. IHowever, in previous incarnations of the scheme, people paid $398 for the device, which included the donation to cover a second machine going to a child.

The ‘Give 1 Get 1′ scheme came in response to a disappointing take-up by overseas governments, though that’s slowly starting to change.

There are several other OLPC developments in the works. A dual-boot edition of the laptop is expected next month. As well as the specially designed Linux-based ‘Sugar’ system, the new edition will include a modified version of XP.

Another new version, the XO-2, should be ready next spring. This edition has two touch-screens and no keyboard. That may sound a bit too close to a glorified Nintendo DS to some, but it’s being billed as an even cheaper, smaller and less power-hungry alternative.

And the people behind the project are now pegging 2010 for the ‘second-generation’ XO, a complete revamp of the original laptop which should finally get the production price under the much-touted $99 figure.

Given that the Amazon deal theoretically involves buyers making a $199 donation to charity, you have to wonder how many people will buy the product for purely altruistic reasons. For the project to be a big success, marketers will have to convince most people the machine is worth four hundred bucks in and of itself.

Given that its main selling points are low price, simplicity and physical durability, the irony is that in wealthy nations, the machine might find its niche as a gift for younger children.

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Entry was posted on Friday, September 5th, 2008 at 8:54 am under Amazon, Retail.

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