In November, I posted about the One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) program. I fully recognize that children in developing countries need many things more basic than laptops (such as clean water and food), but I also believe that education is incredibly important to those children; this program is one way of bringing technology and education to them. I’m sure that my perception of the OLPC was influeced by my fondness for cyberpunk novels, as well as by recently reading Geoff Ryman’s novel Air (about the effects of technology on traditional cultures).
Anyway! On Wednesday, my wee OLPC XO laptop arrived. For scale, the XO is sitting on The Knitter’s Book of Yarn; the XO is about 8.5″ wide, while Rurouni (the laptop in the background) is 11.5″ wide.
My big accomplishment of the evening was getting the XO connected to my wireless network (ChatNoir) and writing the first line of this post on it. 🙂 The keyboard is definitely kid-sized!
Not everyone around here was convinced that the XO was a welcome addition.
“Hmph. Don’t you already spend enough time on the computer?!” -Chaos
Those that could be reached for comment, that is…
“Wha…? Whatever. Hey, man, did you happen to see where that froofy nip toy went?” -Mayhem
Ooo, that’s a nice looking computer! Think of the benefits, Chaos. If you learn to use one, you can “visit” all your friends any time you want.
I agree, it’s about time Chaos started his own blog and maybe the new computer will spur him on. Hmm, I think I’ve seen that anime girl on my daughter’s computer…
That’s a nifty little computer… looks like it has a handle too. And ya gotta love the colored keyboard.
How Cool! I checked that out when you posted about it and was really unhappy that I wasn’t able to participate.. my kid would have totally flipped over having a kid-sized laptop and it would have been a great ‘learning experience’ in teaching him about other places in the world.
I think its great that you were able to donate.. though I’m not sure what those kitties are going to do now that they have full-time access to a laptop. lol. Just make sure you don’t leave the camera laying about or you’ll be sorry.
Wow, cute little laptop! What are the specs?
Hee hee Mayhem…*scritch belly scritch*
ooh that looks similar to the little Asus note book that we are going to trial at school. It runs linux, open office and has a 2 or 4 gb HD with lots of places to plug in extra hard drive space. The best thing about it is the price – £150 ish and of course no licenses!
Wow it sure is cute. I sorta wish I had been able to participate in that program. I think it is great just don’t have the funds right now to do it.
Hey. there is snow falling on your blog.. eek!
So what are you going to do with that little puter??
You *ARE* giving it away right???
Very cute!
So…when does May start her twelve-step program?
hadn’t seen one before, what is the chasis made of, is that plastic?
What a cute computer!
Cute! I’d heard about those but hadn’t seen one.
Mayhem, I think you need your eyes examined: that is *Mom* not a *man*
hahahahahahaha! That pic of Mayhem is now one of my all-time favorites! So stoned!
That’s such a cute little computer. My friend’s grandson has something similar. He’s autistic, and having a computer has been such a great learning tool for him.
They’r getting smaller and smaller. We have so many computers in this house, I’m surprised not to see one in the privy.
There ARE copies of PC Gamer, and Network Computing- not conducive to the bathroom experience. Should I stack them by the litterbox, maybe?
That is really amazing… if money for food, etc. weren’t such an issue then I’d have purchased one for my kids and one for a child overseas. Will this be designated for May and Chaos?
I am kicking myself for not doing the Buy One Get One offer. dang dang dang
What a neat looking computer
Ha! Maymay is so… under the influence!
I can’t believe how wee that computer is! Very cool.
I’ve been meaning to ask the outcome or status of the complaining neighbor saga. (Sniffs, outraged) I can’t believe the whole thing. They’re CATS, not elephants and from the pics I can see your entire condo’s carpeted. Has anyone suggested ear plugs? Or play some music for god’s sake! What is WITH this woman? (Okay, righteous-on-your-behalf rant over.)
Oh, and one more question. Do your cats want to EAT nip? Is this normal? Should I worry because mine do? Not the toys, but catnip flakes.
Every time I post a comment the “Post a Comment” boxes come up again. They’re so eager and quick, I just feel like I should keep commenting! Okay, I won’t. I’ll stop now.
Heh, heh, the first one I’ve seen outside of Cambridge or the developing world.
That’s too cool!
I must admit, at first I was against this thinking it was an odd idea for children that need basic items. But the more I thought about it, the more I realized that education will bring even more improvements to a developing world, and education encourages children to reach beyond. Which will help everyone!
But now, is it really a useable Laptop for someone like you?
So what will you do with that teensy little laptop?
Very cool idea! And May does look totally stoned.
Do we see a cat powered blog coming on?
Didn’t I see that on 60 Minutes? Or was it Sunday Morning (ok…now you know what network I watch – except for Nightly News with Brian Williams!)
lololol
Cute little “toy” computer…(and I know they’re really not, but it looks like one)
(((hugs)))
You should name your computer Booger. 😉
The cool thing about those computers is that they really work! That’s a great program they have with the give one/get one.
What a cute little laptop and what a great opportunity to help someone.
May looks so cute and innocent in that picture 🙂
That’s cool! Drew has spoken of the program a fair bit.
Very cool! Mark is jealous, I think. He’s been following that program’s recent developments and wondering how it is going to survive. The ‘ears’ are very strange on those, cute but strange. However, May’s ears are just perfect for giving off that strange toothy expression there 😉
May is such a niphead.
It’s still snowing in your house. Can’t the HOA do something about that?
I just got mine too! Love it.
I compleltely agree with you on the education front. If we can show them while they are young that there is more to the world than the little corner they live in, then they get curious and expand their horizons. Which leads to more enlightened leaders and more stable countries. The problem in most of the Middle East ight now is that they are still in the tribal feudal type mindset. Anything from “elsewhere” is scary and needs to be obliterated. Not good in our modern world!
We got one too, just before Christmas. Have played with it just a little and am passing it around to my tech friends for publicity and software development. I love love the idea that some child in a third world country will have one because of me.
Your blog is working now. Jeanne is a goddess. Don’t you forget it.
I’ll be interested in your opinions about it too – I would have loved to send one too (and I will, if the opportunity arises, even if I don’t “get one free”. I’ve long said, the only things dividing people from each other are Time and Distance, and the Internet obliterates both. What a great idea…. (I’d LOVE to be able to write to a lady in Hungary and ask her for her family’s traditional goulash recipe — or to a lady anywhere else to exchange recipes.) It’ll come in time. (In the meantime – yeah, let the kitties write their own blog!) {grin}
I got one, or rather our company got one, right before Christmas. I just haven’t had a chance to blog about it yet. It’s a cute little thing. It took me a while to get it connected to our wireless network though.
May looks like she’s had a little too much nip already. 😉
Wow, unusual looking laptop!
Thunder has taking to using my iBook as as a landing pad! And takes keys out of the keyboard each time ;(
Bad rabbit. Think he may be jealous.