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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7 Posted by kmagdc@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:52PM EDT Report Abuse
I think it is a good idea but what about American first. Lets get all the kids here first then go overseas. What is going to happen is they will become smarter while our kids become stupid
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8 Posted by cliffordwilliams@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:27PM EDT Report Abuse
NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND, I THOUGHT WAS FOR HERE IN AMERICA. MIT IS JUST MAKING A NAME FOR THEMSELVES
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9 Posted by swilleylinda@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:52PM EDT Report Abuse
When the price goes down, I would be happy to buy and donate one to a needy child, such as the poor kid who lives a few doors down from me. There are too many kids right here in America who are technology challenged due to lack of resources. They deserve the learning experience as much as any other child.
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10 Posted by debbyomar@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:39PM EDT Report Abuse
Its time that we start looking out for our own first. There are a lot of people in the USA that are as needy as some overseas. Families that a laptop for their child is not possible because looking for their next meal is more important. Wake up we have people in need right here.
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11 Posted by paitrans@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:48PM EDT Report Abuse
Could the MIT people coordinate with the Donors Choose people somehow? In Donors Choose, teachers all across the USA are requesting goods and supplies for low income school kids. I would think this would fit in with some of their needs. Donate your $400 and give one lap top to MIT and one to Donors Choose for a school child in the USA--could it work?
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12 Posted by danny_n_michelle@att.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:35PM EDT Report Abuse
k exactly! duh if u started across the world n help kids why not say donate to a charity organization I mean if a whole bunch of people who think that it's a lil bit whom could actually love themselves enough to I think should! I can't wait to get mines n if I could afford it really I would! we would love to totally help out it is great2 I have a child who would be able to learn wonderfully n I love that we'd be able to share that with another kid! so far it would make such a difference2my kid's learning it's amazing what a great learning tool it can be for us
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13 Posted by tsrencher@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:23PM EDT Report Abuse
So let me get this right. I donate $400 to a kid oversees and I get to donate one to a kid in the US. Don't think so! I think there are kids in the US that would rather eat, have clean cloths, and a home. I think i will spend it that way. Once we clean up our own backyard we can worry about someone else's. This sounds just like our government worry about eneryone else when all of our S*** is falling apart.
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14 Posted by monsoon63@sbcglobal.net on Tue Sep 25, 2007 4:59AM EDT Report Abuse
I AM ALWAYS AMAZED THAT AMERICANS HAVE TO BUY EVERYTHING WHILE EVERYONE TRYS NEW WAYS TO GIVE EVERYTHING AWAY TO THE WORLD. LETS THINK ABOUT NEEDY PEOPLE HAVE YOU EVER DRIVEN THROUGH ANY MAJOR CITY OR RUAL AREA IN THE USA I DON'T THINK WE NEED TO SHIP LAPTOPS OVERSEAS TO REACH THE NEEDY PEOPLE TAKE A GOOD LOOK AROUND YOU FIRST. THIS IS NOTHING BUT A LETS FEEL GOOD ABOUT OURSELVES PROJECT. MAYBE IF THESE PEOPLE LIVING IN THESE DIRT POOR COUNTRIES WOULD KICK OUT THERE LOCAL DICTATOR THEY COULD HAVE WHAT EVERYONE ELSE HAS. BY THE WAY EXACTLY HOW DO THE PLAN ON RECHARGING AND SO ON SOFTWARE AND REPAIRS MAYBE WE CAN SHIP THE GEEK SQUAD OVER TOO. ONCE YOU START ON THE SLIPPERY SLOPE OF FREE IT NEVER STOPS AND PEOPLE BEGIN TO THINK THEY ARE ENTITLED I KNOW AT LEAST 20 SCHOOLS I COULD NAME IN MY AREA THAT COULD USE FREE LAPTOPS
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15 Posted by monsoon63@sbcglobal.net on Tue Sep 25, 2007 5:02AM EDT Report Abuse
MY WIFE AND I STOPPED BY A GARGE SALE THE OTHER WEEKEND THIS GUY HAD AT 20 LAPTOPS FOR SALE FOR 2 BUCKS EACH SO I THINK MIT COULD REPAIR THEM FOR 98 DOLLARS AND BINGO YOU SAVED THE WORLD
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16 Posted by skillebrew@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:26PM EDT Report Abuse
We have children in the United States that could use donated Lap Tops, and it would teach the children that they can help the other children of our nation.
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17 Posted by beck0546@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:04PM EDT Report Abuse
Great, give them to other countries so they can grow up and bomb us with our help,our children in our country need more then new computers.
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18 Posted by clarks49@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:26PM EDT Report Abuse
Do you people up there in your big corporate offices, every get out to the real America. Their are thousands of kids here that don't even have a home, food , clothing and every body whats to give to other countries. I think it is time for us Americans, to start giving at home,FIRST.
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19 Posted by jmacd.dalton on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:36PM EDT Report Abuse
I agree with those who said that we need to help the kids here in America. Everyone is so quick to help everyone abroad, but we forget our own. I don't think this plan works to well...but don't forget our own kids!!! They need the help first!!!!
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20 Posted by sispatwilson@verizon.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:24PM EDT Report Abuse
I would love to donate a Laptop to a child. I was one of the people that had a hard time with Oprah Winfrey building a school over in South Africa, but it is her money and she can do as she see's fit. I feel the same way about my own money, if I did this I would like to help a child right here in my own state which is California, I know of so many poor children and 1 parent homes, this is who I would like to help. My heart goes out for the poor people overseas, but my heart goes out to my own country first.
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21 Posted by taratowns8 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:56PM EDT Report Abuse
I am a mom of seven, and I am a firm believer in blessing others, however, the word of God teaches us that, charity begins at home. It does not look good when you take care of someone else's home and your own home is in shambles. Go ahead and spread the knowledge, but... make sure that "home" is taken care of first.
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22 Posted by sslr48@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:38PM EDT Report Abuse
Lets start taking care of our own kids in this country! We continue to give more and more of America away. Soon we will become the needy country supported by China or the Middle East. You guys really need to to go outside more and look around in your own neighborhood! I would suspect that there are schools systems in MA that could use a little help. Look around people!
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23 Posted by oscabel on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:46PM EDT Report Abuse
WHAT'S OUR COUNTRY'S DEFECIT FOR HELPING OVERSEAS?COME ON PEOPLE WE NEED HELP RIGHT HERE IN OUR OWN BACKYARDS!I TRY TO DONATE CLOTHING AND FOOD TO PEOPLE RIGHT HERE IN OUR OWN COUNTRY WHEN I CAN,NO WAY WOULD I PURCHASE A LAPTOP FOR ANY PERSON'S OR CHILD OVERSEA'S.THOUGHT "M.I.T"WAS A SMART SCHOOL?GUESS THEY HAVE THEIR HEAD'S UP THEIR BUTTS!
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24 Posted by verynawdgirl on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:33PM EDT Report Abuse
Hey MIT, I don't side with these selfish people on this post but after reading what they have to say, it is obvious that we have our own education problem right here in America. I posted earlier basically stating that charity is about giving not just who you are giving it to, but based on the spelling and grammar in these posts I would say please give your laptops to some of these people and teach them how to use spell checker.
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25 Posted by iammrspoker on Tue Sep 25, 2007 7:01AM EDT Report Abuse
This is a good thing but my children won't get one be cause we are dirt poor. They need to help children who are in the Usa for a change. If we stop giving to everyone else then our children wouldn't do without. I cannot afford a $5.00 barbie and these people want you to give to give away $400.00. Wish I had that much. I think these big companies should give us something. They make enough. Sick, I think. something that costs $100 and now $400. Those people don't care about children only the money. Just like everyone else GREED, sick, just sick
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6 Posted by verynawdgirl on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:33PM EDT Report Abuse
You just can't please everyone. I think that if you are doing something charitable for someone it is a good thing no matter where that person seems to be. I agree that we need to start helping the less fortunate in the United States but that doesn't mean that we should stop helping people elsewhere at the same time. And to those who scoff at the price of these computers, I am sure the cost will go down once they are in regular circulation. When you do the math they are only $100 more than originally projected since you are getting 2 for $400.