One Laptop Per Child – XO 2

Although the initiative of One Laptop per Child (OLPC) has sold the $ 100 laptop, called XO and launched in November 2007, with $ 188, project organizers are now determined to deliver a $ 75 laptop by 2010. XO 2 is expected to have the same size and enough memory to store 500 e-books.

One Laptop per Child organization has announced that it is already working to develop the successor of XO, one of the laptop computers for children, which provides, at present, access to computers for many poor students from developing countries. “Following feedback from governments, educators and most importantly, the children themselves, we work hard to reduce costs, consumption and the size of the XO laptop to make it more accessible and usable for the poorest children in the world,” said Nicholas Negroponte, OLPC founder.

Since the launch of XO in November 2007, approximately 600,000 units were delivered for an average price of 188 dollars each. “Delivery of the first generation of laptops has generated tremendous interest globally for the project and provided valuable information on a laptop transformation into a tool that help children to learn better”, said Negroponte. OLPC initiators are determined to deliver the next generation, called XO 2, at a price of 75 dollars by 2010 and, in order to achieve the objective, they will use the latest discoveries in the field of processors and displays, together with new software based on Linux. Vice president of the research firm Gartner, Leslie Fiering, says that the recent announcement about the OLPC initiative is in the style of founder Nicholas Negroponte, who is trying to attract as much media attention with little information at this time.

The XO 2 laptop will have the same size as a standard textbook and will store 500 e-books. Moreover, the device will incorporate flexible dual screens to display e-books in a vertical format, as in a book. Will have touch screen capabilities. The decision of the OLPC to put the keyboard on one of the two screens will reduce significantly the size and weight of the device. XO 2 will consume one watt, unlike the first version, that consumed almost 4 watts, which is a major advantage for children in rural areas with limited access to electricity. Meanwhile, the OLPC has launch an improved and cheaper model of the first version, called the XO 1.5, in the late spring of 2009.



Intel’s Classmate project addresses to the children, children with fragile ages, but that should soon get used to the secrets of a computer. Basically, getting used with the computer can be set on the same stage important as learning the alphabet or taking the first lessons about life from their parents. Classmate has already launched several generations of educational mini-laptops, with various degrees of performance and adapted to be used in any conditions.

The Classmate, one of the laptop computers for children, is comparable to a regular netbook, thanks to its technical specifications. It is equipped with an Intel Atom N270, 1.6 GHz. The platform used for this version called “convertible” system is an Intel 945 GSE classmate, which supports 1 GB of memory. Applications and storage are handled by a 1.8-inch hard disk with the capacity of 60 GB, the part on which the Classmate is perfectly reasonable is to present to a kid just what he needs to make the first contact with technology, but compared with current netbooks, Classmate is not perfect.

The touch screen has the great advantage to serve as a sheet of drawing. It is virtually an infinite sheet of drawing that the little one can draw freely. However, do not forget to teach your kid that the only tool that is allowed to draw on the screen is only the stylus. Classmate convertible was also designed to withstand even shocks. Solid construction, protection and rubber handle enables safe transport, but guarantees also that the system will escape unscathed from the most minor accidents, unavoidable when the target users are children. Tests conducted by Intel ensures that your laptop can fall from a height of 50 cm directly on concrete without getting broken. Also, the keyboard can be sprayed with water without damage. The laptop was tested by spraying with water on G and H keys for 30 seconds, from a distance of 15 mm, while the system was in operation. Once the system was switched off and dried for four hours, the laptop has resumed functioning without problems.

Another important element is the size. The laptop measures 241 x 215 x 39.3 mm and weighs approximately 1.3 kilograms. With this dimensions, children will not have problems with netbook’s transportation. And in terms of software classmate reserve some very pleasant surprises. Operating system interface used is Blue Dolphin, from Windows XP. Blue Dolphin is a practical application launcher fully customizable, optimized for control through the touch screen. Dolphin is much more friendly and easier to assimilate and learning for children and the system will be much easier and more enjoyable.

Large icons are placed on the entire surface of the screen, so launching the application you want to be more simple. However, for those who want to familiarize children with the familiar interface and Windows, there is the possibility of deactivation launcher’s Blue Dolphin and return to the Start classic structure. Evernote is a very useful program for writing with a simplified method of saving notes. Writing on the touch screen can surprise you with its accuracy.



Classmate can turn into a real easel-hand with the help of ArtRage 2. This will enable your child to try their artistic skills. Also, there is the possibility of transforming the system into an ebook with Foxit Reader and FBReader programs.



Intel Classmate convertible is probably one of the most successful configurations and construction for younger computer users. The Netbook can be always mistaken for intelligence toy, ready to learn the little ones secrets of a good and true computer. It is solid and resistant to the small accidents than can happen all the time, and it can become a classmate both fun and educational for children.