OLPC Initiative Provides Laptops to Schoolchildren in High-Growth Markets

In an effort to provide schoolchildren in high-growth markets with a window to the world and a tool with which to think, interact, and explore, esteemed MIT scholar Nicholas Negroponte has established the visionary One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) initiative. At the end 2007, thousands of laptops were shipped to Peru, Uruguay, Mongolia and Ethiopia. OLPC is expected to expand to other countries including an effort in the United States in 2008. The OLPC XO laptops will not be available for sale but will be distributed to schools through large government initiatives.

From September 24th to December 31st 2007, OLPC ran a program called Give One, Get One. During that time people in the United States and Canada raised over $35 million by buying an XO laptop for themselves and donating another to a child in a developing country. You can still provide a child in a developing country with an XO laptop computer of their own by visiting http://www.laptopgiving.org or calling a toll-free number at 1-866-XO-GIVING (1-866-964-4846).

The low-cost XO laptops are Linux-based with a dual-mode display, an AMD Geode LX 700@0.8W* Processor, 256MB of DRAM, 1GB of Flash memory, three USB ports, and has wireless broadband allowing them to work as a mesh network. The purpose-built laptop is rugged and can withstand harsh environments including high temperatures, humidity and dust. The device can be dropped from 3-5 meters with no damage and has a completely water-resistant keyboard.

As a founding member of the OLPC initiative, AMD has contributed $2 million to help fund development, R&D for future improvements, and grants to help ensure the Nicholas Negroponte’s OLPC initiative reaches those who need it most. Other members of the OLPC initiative are MIT, Red Hat, Google, Quanta, Brightstar, Marvell, Nortel, News Corporation, and SES Global.

* This processor operates at 433MHz. Model numbers reflect performance as described here:
AMD Geode LX 700@0.8W