Donate One Laptop per Child, Get One
Fri Nov 2, 2007 8:42AM EDT
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Starting Monday, Nov. 12, Americans and Canadians will have the chance to add charity and innovation to holiday shopping lists. The One Laptop Per Child organization is offering the chance to purchase two XO laptops—one to be given to a child in the developing world, the other to keep or donate locally.
It's called "Give 1 Get 1" and the $399 offer is good for two weeks. The XO laptops are durable laptops designed for education and connecting kids in developing nations who have never worked with computers.
The One Laptop Per Child Organization has had verbal agreements from many developing country governments to purchase the laptops in bulk, but concrete, signed orders have not been as forthcoming as project founder and chairman Nicholas Negroponte had hoped. So the group has opened up the sale of the laptops from Nov. 12 to Nov. 26 to Americans and Canadians in an effort to spark worldwide sales. They will be delivered by Christmas.
The energy-efficient computers have high-resolution screens, cameras, and peer-to-peer wireless communication capability built in. They run on free open-source software. There are no moving parts—no CD or DVD drive, and no hard drive—just 1GB flash memory and a low-power processor so it can be easily maintained. It can be powered by solar energy, a foot pump, or pull-string powered chargers, and the screen is readable in full sunlight.
The New York Times reports that some members of the laptop project were understandably concerned that if American children were to use them, they would be highly critical when comparing them to Macs and PCs. But focus groups with kids ages 7 to 11 turned in high praise, so they moved ahead with the one-for-one program. For a good look at the XO laptop, check out David Pogue's review in the Times.
Affordable laptops for kids have been top of the news lately. Asus' $400 Eee PC is getting some good early reviews, while Intel announced its $400 flash-memory "Classmate PC" will be tested by the Brazilian government alongside OLPC's XO Laptop.
Whether families keep the second OLPC computer for their kids, Give 1 Get 1 is about the giving. "The main thing is to get this thing started," Negroponte says in the Times piece.
Interested? What would you do with the second laptop if you decide to make the $400 donation?
LINKS:www.xogiving.org
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47 Posted by fourturkeyscamp@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:02PM EDT Report Abuse
why are we worried about other countrys when the need is here i would buy 1 if they gave it to the intercity or some place here that they need it and then i would do the same with the other one
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48 Posted by dvation2000 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:50PM EDT Report Abuse
So you give a child a laptop. There they are in a hut with no electricity and no food. Obviously no internet connection. And this Laptop thing in their hands that they cant even turn on. What are they going to do. Plow the ground with it and plant seeds???
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49 Posted by shkmtc5@sbcglobal.net on Tue Sep 25, 2007 9:22AM EDT Report Abuse
I think this is a great idea, but it is not buy one get one free when the last individual price I saw was $185-$200 each. Maybe the original goal of $100 per laptop was too much for MIT to handle. $400 for two is really no bargain then. This brings us back to where we were, at the beginning. Keep trying, MIT, you might get it one day.
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50 Posted by toasterwater on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:14PM EDT Report Abuse
"Our children I guess just arent meant to have the oppertunities that we give other countries" You are SO right, kangelic31! American children have no opportunity at all, we should move our kids to Africa so they have the opportunity to receive a free laptop from charity. It's an awesome coincidence that you literally cannot spell the word OPPORTUNITY. Why don't you look the word up in the dictionary. Maybe you will see a picture of all the WASTED opportunity that exists in the good ole US of A. Or will you have to look for a dictionary next time you are out buying cigarettes with your food stamps?
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51 Posted by christinaorosz@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:24PM EDT Report Abuse
I am shocked by all the negativity! A child is a child regardless of what political boarder it was born behind! I am curious how many of the critics are donating anything at all. Education is important. This project began with the idea of helping people help themselves. MIT wanted to develop a computer cheep enough for some of the world's poorest governments to buy computers for their children. So they ran into some obsticles. So what? Should they have done nothing and waited for an idea they were sure would not run into snags? I am curious how many of the people slamming this project are doing anything at all to help people in America or overseas.
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52 Posted by karen_powell@att.net on Tue Sep 25, 2007 9:25AM EDT Report Abuse
That's great...let's donate a laptop to a child overseas and let their children surpass the United States child who was not fortunate enough to get the free laptop. WHY NOT help the child overseas become technologically inclined. They'll end up taking our children's jobs anyway. That is how it goes right????? First let's ship the laptop overseas.....then let's ship the jobs overseas too!!!! Now that's plan for ya
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53 Posted by mmcrae8282 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:23PM EDT Report Abuse
Forgive me for being a cynic but i can only think in terms of profitability for those involved in this project. I think that the reason for these computers going to 3rd world children are 1)to influence these societies with the same propaganda that influence us here in the U.S. They do this under the suversive guise of "helping" to "educate". 2)to find children with special gifts of intellegence so that they can be recruited to work on scientific projects. I remain wary of people who try to "help" others with their lives, when they don't have an accurate realization of who thier "helping" actually benefits...or what it creates.. perhaps they do...scary really...
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54 Posted by toasterwater on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:14PM EDT Report Abuse
THANK YOU POST #51!!!! You are JUST A KID! Just an average AMERICAN KID who has $250 to spare!!! Thank you for being the shining example for all of the morons who think American children as a whole are more needy than those in 3rd world nations! Please tell me you live in Alabama. Oh, and don't worry kid, the adults in this conversation misspell way more words than you did. So I guess that means all of our educational efforts at home are paying off right?
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55 Posted by verynawdgirl on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:33PM EDT Report Abuse
Oh YES #58 let's move to Africa with our children. What a stupid comment to make. If you were told before birth that you could live anywhere in the world BUT you had to be poor, what country would you choose? The United States of America, that's the answer. Even our poorest people have more than some of the richest have in other countries. Not to mention that America is the land of opportunity. If you aren't happy with the hand you were dealt, do something about it. You have the most opportunity in the world to do so. I agree with many of the other posters, how are you posting if not for your own computer to begin with or that of a friend or the public library, other countries don't have that luxury. These other countries need education to get themselves out of the situation they are in. I am all for helping them with that goal and in the end they will no longer be riding our coat tails.
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56 Posted by se.johnson@sbcglobal.net on Tue Sep 25, 2007 9:33AM EDT Report Abuse
Great idea. We have homeless EVERYWHERE and we are giving away laptops abroad?
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57 Posted by cynthiabarcome@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:33PM EDT Report Abuse
I would give the second one to my son. We are educated but also are fairly low income due to choosing to be a stay at home parent. I think it would be great to help two kids at the same time. The program is fantastic. It helps kids in developing countries access online education and get the skills and information they need to make their future brighter as well as that of their children's and grand children's. An educated population will help to solve environmental, social and economic problems as well as encourage the evolution of democracy in countries that may not participate in it due to a lack of understanding. Great idea!
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58 Posted by carolhill4396@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:18PM EDT Report Abuse
I would love my children to have a computer in this day and age it's almost a must. I am disabled and do not have the money to get them one I usually have to go to the library to use one but I am borrowing one right now. Problem with this link is it doesn't get you anywhere execpt here to post a comment so my comment is I would love my children to have a computer so that they may have the same chances in life that other children have (their father ran out on us when they were just babies because he couldn't handle real life) then I had 2 brain surgeries and things just went down hill from there!!! I believe my children deserve this chance!! and would really love to give it to them.
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59 Posted by toasterwater on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:14PM EDT Report Abuse
verynawdgirl... post #63... I appologize for my use of sarcasm in a text format... That comment about moving to Africa was stupid on purpose... I was being sarcastic... and about the other posters that you agree with who mention things like: "how are you posting if not for your own computer to begin with or that of a friend or the public library, other countries don't have that luxury" read the author names on those comments... chances are, the author was me :) Once again, sorry for the confusion... Moving our kids to Africa for the opportunity to get a free laptop would be a VERY STUPID thing to do. I will try to curb my use of sarcasm in text posts in the future :D
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60 Posted by jencripps315 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:32PM EDT Report Abuse
I agree with the majority of the comments posted on here, that we should help at home first. If we all feel the same way then it must mean that those who don't feel that way are the one's running this country. It's so sad. I get so tired of hearing Oprah and everyone else on their high horse who have helped people IN OTHER COUNTRIES... However, there is a downside to helping here in the US... we need to make sure to help those who actually need it and who also want to help themselves, not those just looking for a handout because they are too lazy to work and do something.
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61 Posted by abranaber on Thu Sep 3, 2009 2:44PM EDT Report Abuse
What is a child in a developing nation supposed do do with a laptop? Where is a child in, say, rural Africa going to find an internet connection?
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62 Posted by vickey1dawn@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:34PM EDT Report Abuse
Yes, I was wondering what happened to the $100.00 price. Would like to help, but can't afford $400.00.
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63 Posted by se.johnson@sbcglobal.net on Tue Sep 25, 2007 9:47AM EDT Report Abuse
There are thousands of children/families in the US that cannot afford laptops and are poor. Schools that do not have budgets for pencils, etc. Why are we not giving to the US poor and needy FIRST?
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64 Posted by lichtcs on Thu Sep 3, 2009 6:50PM EDT Report Abuse
Lets try helping the people in our own country first. Half the world hates the US anyway but they are happy to take our money and donations.
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65 Posted by masshuum on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:10PM EDT Report Abuse
Toasterwater, I don't think you understood my comment. The point is that technology is not the solution to education.
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46 Posted by ynke7@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:56PM EDT Report Abuse
Sure first tell the People in the Blue collar sector that they will be able to get a laptop for their Kid by Christmas,,,, Then tell us people who work VERY hard for their Money, well if you DONATE $400. dollars You can get One for Your Kid, and One for someone in another country. This REAKS!!!! You Ought to Be really proud of yourselfs, for taking the American public for a RIDE... I really hope YOUR laptop FLOPS!!!!!