User:AaronPeterson

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Revision as of 08:06, 23 December 2007 by AaronPeterson (talk | contribs) (software)
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Hi, I just got my XO pc on Friday December 21st.

I should have another one coming soon!

I plan to meet with the seaxo group, but don't know any of them yet.

I tend to try to list things that can be fixed. I am very critical, however criticism is a way to share my love-- analysis of good and bad things can help us figure out what our focus needs to be, and I care very much for this project.

suggestions for next version

  • use kde or at least loose the eye candy
  • use double clicks
  • loose the convertible form factor - have a separable keyboard that can protect the screen or clip to back. that hinge is annoying and looks expensive and likely to damage the laptop
  • use an existing space saver mass market full sized usb keyboard (without a number pad.) and just have a screen cover flap.
  • have the usb slot on a nub, so the usb key is parallel with the edge of the rest of the laptop, so it is protected, maybe even have the usb ports be on the end of a wire so that the inside of the pc won't get dusty, and so that ears are not needed, and have a little nook or bay for the usb drive so it doesn't get hurt or lost.
  • loose the webcam, make it be an accessory that plugs into one of those bays so it can swivel by the cable.
      • Yes STUDENTS loose things, however they can live without a web cam and keyboards cost $1 at surplus stores and we have extras lying about.

XO

What I see from my initial first few hours with the XO..

concept

Why try to target children? -- I imagine that this is more marketable. webcam? - feature checklist? convertible form factor?-- ebook makes sence, but why not make detachable keyboard instead? just have a keyboard that clips on and acts as a screen cover..


OS

  • Why sugar? Why gtk? Why fedora? Scripted UI is cool. Funky circular interfaces doesn't make much sense to me.


  • wpa will be available later, I couldn't get wep to work either... the laptop kept trying to find an illusive mesh network. I did manage to connect it to an unsecured connection twice before it kept looking for mesh networks, then I couldn't even connect to unsecured access points.
  • the cursor motion didn't change with the orientation of the screen when rotate button was pushed.
  • the screen backlight doesn't turn off when the screen is closed.


  • The wireless networking interface is cluttered and the locations don't seem to correlate with anything. a list would be much easier and make more sense. One has to sort to find a computer to join with. I did a bit of war driving and the whole screen was a solid mass of dots. -- useless!
  • need a control panel or something


applications

  • https doesn't work yet
  • authenticated browsing doesn't work (doesn't request username and password)
  • basic concept of activities is very interesting -- probably another reason to get this system
  • some seem silly to be included.

hardware

  • wireless range - I saw more access points than I have ever seen before.. this is probably good!
  • power adapter - this is one of those wall warts that takes only one plug. 12volt. looks like a nice standard plug too.
  • why webcam? - I can't imagine this being a core requirement, it's stuck facing the user so we can't produce instructional films or demonstrations easily.
  • the screen is pretty darn cool. it works with just a bit of reflected light, and it works in the sunlight. -- here is the reason to buy this laptop.
  • sd slot is super awkward to access, and I can imagine lots of damaged touch pads while changing the card.
  • membrane keyboard - I can almost guarantee that this is less durable than a regular keyboard -- finger nails and figiting will eventually cut into it! However it will keep dust out for a good time.

My XO

please note that these are minor and the laptop works pretty much as expected and I think it's a good value even with these defects: My XO arrived with two physical defects:

  1. a warped bottom panel, I believe that the bottom panel will be repairable, it makes the battery not plug in well -- so I am going to ask for a replacement panel if I can't fix it myself. I really don't want to mess with olpc on frivilous damages.
  2. and a Stuck on Pixel in the lower right hand corner. not a big deal--

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