Introduction

The XO is the laptop produced by the One Laptop Per Child program (OLPC) headed by Mr. Nicholas Negroponte. The goal of OLPC is to provide every child a laptop which they can use to experience technology and the Internet. Through the Give One Get One program (G1G1), residents of North America are able donate $400 to the OLPC foundation, $200 of which finances a laptop for a child, and $200 of which pays for the cost of delivering one to the donor. Colin Dean was one of the first to participate in G1G1, and this is his review of it.

Packaging

The XO arrived in a compact box bearing the XO logo. I was surprised when it showed up on a Saturday. However, this was quite fortunate, as a major snowstorm was about to pound western Pennsylvania and I'd be snowed in for the next day or so. I did a timelapse video of myself opening the box.



Inside the box was the XO itself, the battery, the power cord, and two paper notes: one thanking for me for participating in G1G1 and the other with instructions on how to start up the XO and some warnings on how not to use it. Note to all: do not step on the laptop. It is not a step.