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[rraucci]

The Kindle uses a proprietary format, AZW, which is a version of the Mobipocket Reader format:

http://www.mobipocket.com/en/HomePage/default.asp?Language=EN

Conceivably you could kind-of get the Kindle eBook experience on your XO by using the Mobipocket site, but they don't have Mobipocket Reader software for Linux.

Here's a workaround for a Mobipocket Reader that *may* work on the XO:

http://www.saudette.net/projects/index.php?title=Cross_Platform_Mobipocket_Reader_Hack

I'm going to try it this week.

So far, reading eBooks on my XO has been really great.  HTML, TXT, PDF files all run smoothly.

I tend to think that finding books in more open formats is the better way to go, so even if Kindle-Mobipocket eBooks on my XO don't work, I can get the same books in other ways.

[Stezippo]

I love it even more than I did when I was just reading about it.

The keyboard is awesome and I haven't had any issues with typing on it with my big adult fingers (it took some getting used to at first).

The additional applications are fun to play around with and the applications that were already there are interesting to use as well. Some of the additional applications seem to stick and I have to 'kill' it off or restart the computer, but overall I enjoy them.

The internet connection does have some issues, but I think it's more to do with my internet connection (as my other laptop has the same issues when I'm connecting to my university's internet, I assume it's just that every so often, I get kicked off of it because there's too many people on the server or I'm in an area that is a low level of connectivity).

I use it mainly to play around and figure the computer out rather than actually using it for any specific purpose.

I'm also very much in love with the way it looks. It's so small and pretty.

[piano13]

I love this thing!!  I get the most delight  from knowing I helped OLPC and a kid.  My second thrill is remembering what it"s like to NOT know something--putting myself in kid-think mode to approach some of the activities, etc.!   As an adult, and having no kids, it makes me laugh when I realize I'm approaching it as a professor of 25 yrs., not as the intended users would.  I get real joy (and bits of frustration) using it.

I've been lucky to have had none of the problems others have had merely getting a working machine--my hat's off to them for hanging in there.

Bits of frustration?  I'd like to try programming or even play with color but  I've never worked at that level on any machine.  Trying to learn how to use sugar  hasn't been very successful.  I think this is related to the documentation issues mentioned earlier.  And if I want to try a workaround like ubuntu, how do I learn some of that (or follow others' scripts provided here), and then use terminal to use a command line for text entry?  I get totally lost.

But that problem is mostly me, not the computer as much.  And overall, working with OLPC and the XO has been one of the best things I've done in awhile!!  Many thanks to Nick N. and the whole group involved--developers, techs, and the user community too!

[4xo]

My impressions of owning  4 XOs for my kids is that it is hard to get them interested. A bit too difficult to use. Few too many crashes. Hard to get the XO to XO interaction going. Hard to get kids interested. I guess, once they saw windows with Internet and flash games, everything is anticlimactic and boring to kids. Hmmmm. Sad. I have not given up on the kids and on the xo yet. Not yet.

[con]

As soon as my nephews saw that I had installed Wesnoth in Xubuntu, they were fighting over who got to play with it.  Now, they each want one.  Hopefully, the G1G1 will come back this Christmas. 

[baash05]

I'm most impressed with the guys and girls who code for this thing.
I also quite like the portability but dislike the instability of the system. I've had a few of the apps crash.

I agree with several people in that this is not a laptop for grown ups at the same time I to thought it was finished. (ok the hands i knew about) I have no real problem with features that aren't yet enabled. Those I see comming and I'm excited to my hands on them. What I do see as a fatial flaw in the OLPC (company not system) is that they released code that crashes. Like it or not open source is only good if it's stable.  I've got what is called a stable build but if I think I define stable not as code freeze but actually stable apps.

This is not really a problem totally to do with OLPC it's more of the open source idea that's the problem and why it will never fully fly. (there's a reason for the linux market share) Open source isn't owned and like a public bathroom it doesn't get cleaned up quite as much as it perhaps should.  There is no QA. Coders (and I'm on of them) don't much like QA. It's not the most exciting part of the job. I don't see how something as significant as the brows app crashing when I zoom in and out has been allowed to make it into a release. I'd be surprised if my QA person kept her job if our most used app crashed every day.   
I think what OLPC need to really focus on is not one more feature.  Not a single one. If someone who works there brings one up they should get walked out. What needs to be done is a pile of testing.  Nothing but testing and debugging. 

I am glad I got my OX, I'd do it again. I quite love it's potential.  I just hope someone takes ownership. Someone who's name is on the line. 

Oh and compairing this to any other system that is "crap" is a cop out.  Do it right or step asside and let M$ get it done for you. 

[PeaceCorpsGranny]

I am selling my XO and buying an EEE PC by Asus. The XO is just not the computer I need to take with me to Africa. Read my rant on my blog 1person http://1person.wordpress.com/2008/03/07/goodbye-to-my-xo/

vc

[goney3]

I am selling my XO and buying an EEE PC by Asus. The XO is just not the computer I need to take with me to Africa. Read my rant on my blog 1person http://1person.wordpress.com/2008/03/07/goodbye-to-my-xo/

In reading your blog, I can see you had no clue what an SD slot is... I have a 16 Gigabyte SD card that cost $60 (Newegg.com). That puts the XO right up there with the big boys.
The power issues you are having is really ridiculous. If you think your EEE-PC is going to last longer and run off of car batteries/solar panels/hand cranks in Africa you're nuts.
If you explore the "accessories" sections on this forum you can find reasonably affordable solar panels, human powered generators, and external battery packs for $80 that boost your battery time to 8+ hours!
Mplayer also works on the XO and plays videos rather well... there is also a thread on the News Forums that shows you how to convert and store DVD's on your XO for seamless playback.
You can also install Xfce or Fluxbox or Enlightenment to get a more traditional experience out of your XO.

If you're selling your XO that is fine, but please don't go around and post blogs that spread rumors and half-truths.

[PeaceCorpsGranny]

Why are people so rude on this forum?

[goney3]

Why are people so rude on this forum?

I apologize if I came across harsh, but in reality I see advertising a post with non-constructive criticism as rude in itself. It negatively impacts the global mission and the cause for helping children in 3rd world countries.

Someone on your blog commented with:
"It may not be adequate to YOUR expectations for a laptop computer but does it meet the expectations of the INTENDED audience for the product?"

And I feel they are absolutely right.

[eclare99]

Very informative; tx! This is motivating me to do even more with my xo now!

I am selling my XO and buying an EEE PC by Asus. The XO is just not the computer I need to take with me to Africa. Read my rant on my blog 1person http://1person.wordpress.com/2008/03/07/goodbye-to-my-xo/

In reading your blog, I can see you had no clue what an SD slot is... I have a 16 Gigabyte SD card that cost $60 (Newegg.com). That puts the XO right up there with the big boys.
The power issues you are having is really ridiculous. If you think your EEE-PC is going to last longer and run off of car batteries/solar panels/hand cranks in Africa you're nuts.
If you explore the "accessories" sections on this forum you can find reasonably affordable solar panels, human powered generators, and external battery packs for $80 that boost your battery time to 8+ hours!
Mplayer also works on the XO and plays videos rather well... there is also a thread on the News Forums that shows you how to convert and store DVD's on your XO for seamless playback.
You can also install Xfce or Fluxbox or Enlightenment to get a more traditional experience out of your XO.

If you're selling your XO that is fine, but please don't go around and post blogs that spread rumors and half-truths.

[fyoder]

Why are people so rude on this forum?

 
Try blogging something critical of Christianity then posting about to a Christian forum saying that you've concluded their religion is flawed and so you're converting to Islam instead! 

From your blog entry:

I do feel OLPC is sending an inferior product to the third world. It displays the attitude that second rate is good enough for the third world.

They're lucky if they can afford second rate.  Remember, the charity aspect is a small part of the initiative -- countries are expected to pay for these things.  Also, as an educational appliance, these things are better than second rate and represent good value.

That said, you and a whole lot of other people aren't looking for an educational appliance designed for use in the classroom, you're looking for a fricken laptop, and that being the case your frustration is understandable.  But criticizing your xo for being a lousy laptop is a little like criticizing a toaster for not being a good clock radio. 

To turn the xo into what most people would consider a usable laptop requires a lot of work, for many it even means getting rid of sugar altogether.  But that's where this site and google come in.  As others have pointed out, there is information here which could have helped you with your xo, if you wanted to put in the effort. In the end, given what you are looking for and the amount of effort you are willing to expend, your decision to go with an eee is probably sound.

[blaerk]

I was a first hour donor but had to wait until mid-January for it to arrive. When it did I couldn't believe how small and light it was. I immediately went out and bought myself a full-sized, roll-up keyboard and a mouse. The mouse was a great addition but I still haven't touched the keyboard I bought. Maybe I'm a freak but I find I can touch type on my XO almost as fast as I could on a full sized keyboard. Sure, I may get more errors, but it's way faster than typing on a crackberry or my cell phone.

I've already managed to fill the memory once - which had me thinking I trashed the machine (it wouldn't get past the boot screen). But thanks to the posts I found here I managed to re-flash it. Now I'm loving it again. I'm still a bit scared of using the command prompt despite using DOS since the beginning but I'm sure I'll get the hang of it. There are a couple of things that are still a mystery to me - like how to install and run programs off of my SD chip and where to find a decent MP3 player.

I've only taken it to one coffee-shop and found that it was a chick/guy/geek magnet. It's better than a dog in that respect, lol.

[lgarcia]

Maybe I'm a freak but I find I can touch type on my XO almost as fast as I could on a full sized keyboard. Sure, I may get more errors, but it's way faster than typing on a crackberry or my cell phone.

Try typing one handed - it is also really easy to do. Maybe it was the piano lessons my mother made me take as a kid, but my small hand stretches across the keyboard with little effort.

I took my XO to a conference and was taking notes one-handed (ok, I admit I was using my right hand to eat.) I typed better than I expected and ended up taking most of my notes that way. I  alternated hands - they both typed ok. I don't type well anyway since my right hand is faster than my left hand and this may be why I had fewer typos.