User:Ewoud

Ewoud Bras

Tijd voor verandering.

If I understood correct; the OLPC project is all about the numbers. Nicholas Negroponte will need to sell a whole lot of "100 dollar" laptops, at $90 above the price, meanwhile the production can't get started.

My first reaction when I held the machine was that the current quality of the laptops is great! I found it has an automatic system for building a serious network, the machine looked robust, has proven to be highly intuitive and fully functional, especially with kids. I saw a 4 jear old get acquainted and operational in less than 4 minutes! I probably shouldn't be so surprised, as an organised open movement is backing it up in terms of interfacing, software, security, content creation and educational resources, ...all that at the amazing $100 price tag...

So why do I often hear that it's a machine that is build for the 3rd world? Why do we think education is 3rd world only. I kind off keep thinking of the world wide web being world wide.

Let's just try to look at what it is. $190=131euro $100=69euro ... This should not need a lot of explaining.

Develop one with a slightly bigger keyboard and screen, use the same configuration, with online software and local printing provided, you'll sell so many you'll need to start thinking about some serious organisational resources.

Sell as a service to non profit organisations based on per user per month basis (like a cell phone), include network, e-learning, training as part of the service package.