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[Tortuga]

now we just need a way to obtain them.

The prices seem very reasonable and I for one would like to get a hold of a spare motherboard and screen to modify, as well as a spare bezel to modify to allow the backlight LED to light up my keyboard.

From the deployment guide ( http://wiki.laptop.org/go/Deployment_Guide)

http://wiki.laptop.org/go/Deployment_Guide/Service_Repairs
9. Service and Repair
Most parts are inexpensive and easy to replace:

    * $1 or less: buttons, speakers, antennae, bumpers, hinge, connectors, etc.
    * $5 or less: keyboard, touchpad, backlight
    * $10 or less: battery
    * $50 or less: display, motherboard

Perhaps if enough people were to combine an order, then OLPC might honor it in a timely manner?

What do you think?

[fyoder]

It's an odd entry.  The part you quote sounds promising, but the two paragraphs before it seem to suggest that since the purchaser (I'm assuming a government that buys lots and lots) get an extra 1% overstock that can be used for replacement, and since broken laptops are a source of parts as well, there isn't a problem, and as well they don't want to encourage "commercial grade" support.

I get the impression that in their minds G1G1 was a short term thing to make some money and get out some units that wouldn't have been gotten out if they hadn't already been paid for, with no long term commitment of any kind to donors. I would be happy to be proven wrong, but I think we will be competing against one another on ebay to get parts for our xo's when they start to fail.

[pgf]

the thing to remember, if it comes to "competing against each other on ebay", is that this was only a $200 purchase.  how many times have you bothered repairing a $200 piece of consumer electronics?  the XO is incredibly seductive, because it's so capable, so it's hard to remember how cheap cheap cheap it was to buy.

(of course, i'm hoping/assuming that it has a reasonable lifetime.  that certainly remains to be seen.  if they all start failing prematurely (and to some extent, it seems the keyboards already have), then that's a different problem.)

paul

[fyoder]

the thing to remember, if it comes to "competing against each other on ebay", is that this was only a $200 purchase.  how many times have you bothered repairing a $200 piece of consumer electronics?  the XO is incredibly seductive, because it's so capable, so it's hard to remember how cheap cheap cheap it was to buy.

S'truth, but with most cheap consumer electronics, if it breaks you can get a new one.  I suppose one could always replace a broken xo with an asus eee, but I can't imagine being as attached to an eee.              No I think I'd prefer to repair the xo if that was an option.

fyoder is also my id on ebay, so if you see me bidding on a part, don't you dare snipe me in the last seconds! 

[Tortuga]

fyoder your probably right. I just keep that little spark of hope alive for the XOs, but it keeps getting dimmer.

As you said "they don't want to encourage "commercial grade" support" and when you combine that with their repeated statements that they do not want to be in the laptop business.

I can't think of a better recipe for failure, than by their fulfilling these two goals.

[fyoder]

As you said "they don't want to encourage "commercial grade" support" and when you combine that with their repeated statements that they do not want to be in the laptop business.

I can't think of a better recipe for failure, than by their fulfilling these two goals.

If this forum was run on slashcode I'd mod that insightful.  But who knows, perhaps with the current shake up a capitalist type will come to power who'll say "We opened the door onto a lucrative market in small, affordable laptops, and now we're going to completely surrender that market to Asus and Intel?  What, are we fricken crazy?  No, we're going to pursue that market, make a shiteload of cash, and transform education not only in the developing world, but at home as well."

[Brian Basgen]

 How does that bode for those of us that order 100 batch lots for local schools? How do we get access to these service parts??

[AuntiMame]

How do we get access to these service parts??

there are repair centers being set up at various schools and non-profits around the globe. There is also me (www.XOExplosion.com) -- there must be others but I don't know of anyone -- trying to create a commercial channel for parts and accessories without huge (or monopolistic) markup. My business philosophy is that keeping prices as low as possible (while still not going bankrupt) will help the entire community:the manufacturers get access to the commercial community, the users get the parts they need with out having to buy in bulk, and I don't loose money [I'm not a non-profit, and I can't afford to loose $$     even if I don't make any]

Aunti

[Directive0]

They also provide a page with part numbers for replacement (http://wiki.laptop.org/go/Repair_Parts), maybe you will be able to order these and other OEM parts from the manufacturer?

[Wayan Vota]

Hmm... I don;t see those replacement price lists as signifying the price to buy them at, only that it should be possible to buy them for such prices in the future, maybe.

The Parts List is great - if we knew who would stock parts.

[Wayan Vota]

Perhaps if enough people were to combine an order, then OLPC might honor it in a timely manner?
What do you think?

You mean like G1G1?

(cheap shot, but worthy to consider)

[Tortuga]

Aunti, looked at your site, Nice!

Have you inquired about carrying OEM parts?
I ask because I  know of one small company  that tried to make contact with Quanta about being an OEM parts source and hasn't even been able to get a reply from them. Which is why I am curious if you or anyone else has tried to be an OEM part supplier to XO owners/hackers.

Yea Wayan, along the same lines as G1G1, a second chance.

The recent news release seems to show an awareness by OLPC of the need for a spare parts outlet source for XO owners.

Laptop News 2008-03-29
"A spare-parts supply-chain is still badly needed—especially for keyboards—we expect better news in coming weeks."

OLPC stated that they has 25 requests for keyboard RMAs last week. If a keyboard costs $5.00, plus postage, plus time and personnel to make the swap/repair, this type of problem has got to be swelling into a significant drain.

Not to mention the owners that can't get a replacement keyboard membrane cover, Engadget already had an article on this.