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[Carol]

But to replace the machine I had, the XO had to do ten things.  As of this week, it does 8-1/2 of them.  With the promised improvement to the code in Update.1, it will do 9-1/2.  When I finsh coding my star chart activity it will do all ten.  Not too shabby, considering it cost me (including the donation) less than half what I paid for the "traditional" lap-top which is actually less suited to airline travel.

I think that with a few tweaks, this is a $1,000+ machine.  That is capable of doing things no $1,000 laptop can.

[KarenXO]

At the time the G1G1 was announced, I was lusting after an e-book reader that cost about the same. Then I saw David Pogue's review on the New York Times website and realized that I could get a small, light-weight computer that reads PDF files (of which I have a lot) and also connects to wi-fi and does other things. That it was very cute and slightly radical were bonuses. That a second computer would go to a child in a developing country was an even bigger bonus.

The Linux system was a challenge; I've been using Windows, and before that DOS, a long time. But I'm happy to report that I have learned to use at least the features that are useful to me.

Looking back, I'm very glad I did it!

[kirish43]

The reason I liked the XO's were of a more practical nature. I have worked in schools with laptops on a cart and found them to be VERY ineffective for kids. The school I worked at bought 15 gatewyas on a cart with wireless access points. After 2 years the batteries were DEAD-SO they had to stay plugged in all the time. New batteries cost 89 dollars per unit so the school was simply not going to buy any more. The kids would pry off keys and it would take me glasses and tweezer to get the keys back on. Twice i rescueed a laptop from hitting the floor as a child stood up an walked away and forgot to take off their headphones. The last time I rescued the laptop I injured my back.

For me the XO was all about the durablity factor. The xo here has been dropped, actually got left out in the rain and is still working. I never did get flash to work on the darn thing-but my son has fallen in love with scratch  and etoys.  He has given up bugging me about webkinz and when he can't get on the family computer he uses his xo.

The XO also motivated the development of other low cost laptops for kids and you have to love that.

I will not be doing the G1G1 again. For me the wait time and distribution system was a nightmare,  Fool me once same on you fool me twice shame on me--  400 is a big price if your motivation is to buy a durable laptop your child-now there are several choices under that price point.

That being said,  I commend all of you who are willing to G1G1 again. In my family money is really tight.( I am on my third year as a teacher without a raise-and my husband is still looking for a job after 1 year.) If I were in a better financial position I would likely buy  1 Asus for my classroom and donate 100 dollars to OLPC project.

The XO that was donated for my classroom has been wonderful and is still working well. It helped a little boy all of last year and this year will be used by a little girl with Learning Disabilities. At 200 dollars  a pieces my school, would have purchased 5 of them for 1,000 dollars. However this is not possible and they are not interested in spending 800 dollars for 2 computers.

It is too bad they decided to simply not sell them individually at the retail level.

[CareySmith]

We did G1G1 from 2007 xmas season and finally able to give our laptop to a spanish family in Mexico when we're headed there shortly.  It's been in the planning stages for a long time.  We hope to do more.  I believe this is the most amazing organization for third world children.  This family lives in a small fishing village and we are excited that they will also have internet to use there as well!  I cannot wait to see the look on these children's faces and see what they can accomplish.

One family at a time, I do hope they continue the G1G1 program every year!

[tommyr]

I did it to help a 3rd world child and get one to play with myself. I'm glad to help this great cause!

Mine should be here tomorrow.

[averti]

Why? Partly because so much of what is donated or sent to 3rd world countries
(food, cash, medical supplies, etc.) ends up getting stolen or diverted by
local sharpies. I opine that the resale value of a standalone XO must be near zero
in most places. In turn this may mean that villains will leave these computers alone
in favor of more "fencible" goods. (Why go to the effort of stealing a digital wristwatch?)

If it is not readily apparent that you can't use an XO to launch rockets or commit
extortion, perhaps they will get to the intended target users for the intended
purposes. (One could make a reasonably sophisticated bomb detonator device
out of an XO, but again, more trouble than worth...)

a.

[daiseyinn]

Wanted to share the world with my Grandchildren! It has been a wonderful experience for all 6 of us. 

[microwiz]

Is there anything that can be done with this forum software that will prevent spam like the two previous items being posted, and thus making it onto the RSS feed and getting announced?  

It's most annoying - especially when I try to report it using the moderator link and keep getting told "An error has occurred!" and that because of a recent posting from my IP, I have to try again later.  (Not sure why that happens either - I don't know of anyone who would be posting anything to OLPCNews except me!)

Hope this can be addressed soon...

[Gabey8]

I got the email this time when you reported the posts, so I have gotten rid of the two spam messages and banned the posters. So the "report this post" link worked this time around.

Doggone spammers. 

[majormarine]

Considering all the unrest in the world much of it is good I thought it would be a good idea to give young people the opportunity to learn about the modern world so the could make informed choices.

[ladyferret]

We plan to G1G1 every couple of months that will allow us to give one to people we know who would benefit from the ability to learn about computers during these very hard economic times. May help them find meaningful employment.

[BBK]

We have donated money KIVA and many other programs that help people improve their economic circumstances however by G1G1 you also increase the opportunity for children to enter the 21st century better prepared to grow and take care of themselves as adults.