Several years ago Nicholas Negroponte of MIT proposed a $100 laptop for children in poor countries. Finally, it is out and I’ve been trying it courtesy of David Alley of Designs for Learning. It now costs about $200 and you have to buy two, one for yourself and one that goes to a developing nation as a charitable deduction. You can order the XO Laptop here.
This amazing little 3 pound rugged computer comes with a huge array of hardwired software including: word processing, browsing, subject matter learning programs, art programs, music programs, memory programs, chat programs, automatic wireless connections, camera (video also), games, calculator, and more. It has no hard drive but does have USB interfaces, Linux operating system, open source software (which means many developers around the world working on additional programs and enhancements) and a rubberized keyboard. It uses 1/10 the power of a normal laptop which yields long battery life.
Several countries have ordered hundreds of thousands of the laptops to revolutionize their technology in education initiatives.