XO laptop, super low power tough laptop

ShipsWoofy

ShipsWoofy

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XO laptop, a great scheme for Africa which I do not want to discuss here*

On the other hand, the XO laptop which promises a full days use on a single battery charge. This is even a multimedia machine, it may not play high end games etc. but lets look at this for a PBO audience..

Attach to the SSB and leave it downloading wefax or navtex, it has wifi for inshore forecasts, it is dust and weather proof and they suggest it can be dropped from waist high without ill effect.

launched as the $100 laptop for Africa, I could buy 2, one for African schools one for me, that would seem fair. Anyone know how I can get my hands on one!

bbc story

Watch the video link on the page.

<span class="small">* My reason is not to control the thread but to keep politics from the pbo forum, I think it more interesting in here, as in the lounge it would just turn into a right wing bun fight</span>
 
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launched as the $100 laptop for Africa, I could buy 2, one for African schools one for me, that would seem fair. Anyone know how I can get my hands on one!

[/ QUOTE ]Count me in, if it helps the procurement - I'd be more than happy to do this , too. Seems a bit too good to be true ($100 for a machine to cope with harsh environments) but certainly worth a punt, even if mine fails on the boat and the other one works fine.
 
but what would you use it for ??
it apparantly runs linux aghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh !!!.. so thats a loser for boating software...

MS says it may offer a cut down version of windows... hmmm.. cant see maxsea et al running on that either...

I think a few seats for the kids to sit on, some shelter, and some books and cloths might be better....
 
I don't want to be seen as a knocker DW. The project is interesting, but you can buy a lot of blackboards and chalk for the same money.
 
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but what would you use it for ??
it apparantly runs linux aghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh !!!.. so thats a loser for boating software...

[/ QUOTE ]Ah, good spot, Captain.

agree you can buy a lot of blackboards etc with the same money, but their functionality is a bit limited. $100 to access all the information on the internet seems like good value to me.
 
At least according to the one laptop per child development website it should be possible to run something called WINE on the XO laptop

http://dev.laptop.org/ticket/3213

Wine is a linux application that allows Windows applications to run (slowly I think...) under Linux, by emulating the things that are normally available in the windows environment.

So theoretically it might be possible to run Windows navigation software on that platform. Whether it would be usable is another question. It would be slow, and maybe the navigation SW and/or charts themselves need to run on an external USB stick.

I've just started playing with Linux on my laptop as a kind of winter time hobby (definitely to be dropped as soon as the days start to get longer /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif and I had started looking into possiblities for native Linux chart plotting SW, but I agree the capabilities of anything I have found look pretty limited compared to the windows packages.


Chris
 
from what I understand the laptop will only be available in the west for $200 per machine. I would suggest looking at the intel backed rival project which has produced an ASUS machine with a 4gb solid state hard drive. With 500meg on board although it ships with linux it will run xp. These cost about £200-£300 ish and are probably a more practical option. clicky
 
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I don't want to be seen as a knocker DW. The project is interesting, but you can buy a lot of blackboards and chalk for the same money.

[/ QUOTE ]

This is exactly why I added the disclaimer, did you read it.

I am not talking about the political aspect of the project, nor the project itself, I am more interested in the machine.

Is it now impossible to say anything on this forum without the nay sayers and misery. Why is it, me sending the link for a computer that would it seems fit will on a small boat inventory I am being lectured about the educational needs of Africa. Sending the link does not mean I have an opinion on this subject, but it seems my colours are nailed to the mast; by virtue of showing an interest in the hardware, I am depriving Africa of blackboards.

Cripes, I thought this might be of interest, especially with regard to the many threads currently running on powering a computer on board, I shan't bother again.

I despair, I stayed away from the forum for a month and a half, I don't think it was long enough.

/forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif
 
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I don't want to be seen as a knocker DW. The project is interesting, but you can buy a lot of blackboards and chalk for the same money.

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A lot of our aid is sentimental do- goodery rather than real help. It would be much more practical to move a factory for making PCs over there instead - if we had one to move.
 
In that case chriscallander and me will just sod off. You did actually get some intelligent 'advice'.

I don't think anybody was actually accusing you of depriving 3 world children of resources by single handedly backing an imperialistic global corporate enterprise to prise money from needy 3rd world governments. I suggest lying in a darkened room listening to loud rock music AC/DC works quite well, for half an hour and then writing a letter to YBW on forum abuse, you should then feel better and be allowed back out to play /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif
 
wooooooaa take it easy - it's an interesting post - there will always be someone who pops up with a daft opinion/comment/p*ss take - who cares. not worth getting upset about.....

Ian
 
I'm going to stick my head above the parapet here.

I've played with an XO install on a Virtual Machine at work (and seen the hardware demonstrated) and own an EeePC

The XO doesn't look anything like a desktop as you or I would no it. The end-user has no knowledge of files, folders etc. they have a fully-searchable diary like journal scrap book thing.
The interface shows you who's online, what they're working on and allows co-operation.

interface2_thumb.jpg


The hardware is awesome - even include a hand-crank. You can also get to a more usual desktop style advanced front-end - it will easily run WINE.

In the US you could buy 2 get 1 via ebay (not an online dealer - ebay just gave the charity a free portal) but it costs around $180 - mass manufacture has yet to kick in.

The eeepc is more like a normal laptop - I've got one and it is great. It will run Wine, and via that windows programs (I've got SeaClear on mine) Anyone got any suggestions of a decent linux GRIB reader?
 
DW, You're NOT being "lectured on the educational needs of Africa" FFS.

Yes, the machine is interesting. What I know about the inner workings of computers and what is the best sort of software to have can be easily written on a postage stamp. Same thing can be said about my knowledge of Africa.



/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
Hi Simon

WINE is a bag of really.... linux is basically crap for most users....

wait till an MS release is available. there are lappys that cost 350 euros here in spain that run everything... a hundred of that is MS software, 50 of that is markup (at least), so its here now....

and, its NOT really a ruggedised PC, ..

its just a form of marketting by people who want to make MORE money.. NOT a help for africa or anyone .. apart from western wannit cheaper bods...
 
AHA, SO that makes it alright then dood !!!!..

NUFF SAID

/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

SO its alright to give kids who cant read laptops, making money for western organisations, but NOT TO GIVE THEM THE BASICS FOR AN EDUCATION... ???

Jeeeeeeeeeeez...


DO you wanna buy some dehydrated water dood ??. err, yes, you probably willl... AND, its not for profit, we just pay each of us fat cat directors millions while you contribute and sing the priases, PRAISE THE LORD.... Paypal accepted...

Unbelievable... /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
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AHA, SO that makes it alright then dood !!!!..

NUFF SAID

/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

SO its alright to give kids who cant read laptops, making money for western organisations, but NOT TO GIVE THEM THE BASICS FOR AN EDUCATION... ???

Jeeeeeeeeeeez...


DO you wanna buy some dehydrated water dood ??. err, yes, you probably willl... AND, its not for profit, we just pay each of us fat cat directors millions while you contribute and sing the priases, PRAISE THE LORD.... Paypal accepted...

Unbelievable... /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

Sheesh, what a plonker.
 
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