| OLPC confirms field tests, other deets |
Aug. 22, 2006
 A spokesperson for the One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) project on Aug. 22 confirmed to DesktopLinux.com a report that 500 field tests of its low-cost, portable, Linux-powered computers will begin in September, with working devices set to begin rolling off the production line in November.
The OLPC project aims to distribute -- free of charge -- millions of Linux-based laptop computers, complete with their own power sources, to needy children in developing countries around the world.
OLPC founder and project leader Nicholas Negroponte reportedly told ZDNet-UK Aug. 22 that the field trials will begin "everywhere the laptop is required at roughly the same time."
The laptops will be manufactured by Chinese computer maker Quanta, and are widely expected to run a version of Fedora Linux, although that has yet to be confirmed.
The first four countries that have indicated interest in possibly purchasing the computers for children are Nigeria, Thailand, Brazil, and Argentina. However, none of the four countries has yet signed up formally to purchase the machines, although negotiations to do so are ongoing with each country, according to the OLPC.
The OLPC's Walter Bender, the organization's president for software and content, advised DesktopLinux.com that "we are close to converting over to [LinuxBIOS] as bootloader, a new X graphics driver, a new display kernel driver, easy installation path onto internal flash and disk, and the ability to run off of internal flash."
In a related development, Mary Lou Jepsen, the chief technology officer of the OLPC, told eWeek's Eric Lundquist in an interview that the group has solved one of its main stumbling blocks: a flexible and cheap display that can be read in direct sunlight.
"We now have a display that can readily be mass-produced in standard LCD factories, with no process changes. Our display has higher resolution than 95 percent of the laptop displays on the market today; approximately one-seventh of the power consumption; one-third of the price; sunlight readability; and room-light readability with the backlight off," Negroponte wrote in a posting on the OLPC Wiki site.
The OLPC originally began developing a portable PC for use by children in the developing world for around $100 -- although since the idea was initially announced in 2005, the estimated price has risen to around $135 to $140, Negroponte said.
The OLPC lists the following key features and specs for the proposed low-cost laptops on its website: - Processor -- AMD Geode GX2-500@1.0W clocked at 366MHz
- Memory -- 128MB of DRAM
- Storage -- no hard drive; instead, the unit will have 512MB of internal nonvolatile "flash memory," used for programs and data storage
- Display -- 7.5-inch "dual-mode" 1200 x 900 pixel display
- Mono display: High-resolution, reflective monochrome mode
- Color display: Standard-resolution, quincunx-sampled, transmissive color mode
- Expansion -- three USB 2.0 ports
- Wireless networking -- built-in 802.11b/g WiFi
- Power supply -- built-in rechargeable battery back with wind-up charger
- System software:
- OS -- a version of Fedora Core Linux is available for testing, but Fedora is not necessarily the shipped OS
- User interface -- Sugar, "a custom built interface designed for the kids"
- Boot environment -- LinuxBIOS
DesktopLinux.com has been covering the OLPC story since its announcement nearly a year ago. For a history of how this noble project has developed, refer to our special report:
Hot Topic: The "One Laptop Per Child" project
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