OLPC XO
One of my main motivations for creating this blog is to discuss our experiences with the one of the most sought after bits of tech gear going right now, the OLPC XO laptop. I was able to get an order in early in their Give One, Get One program and Sam's laptop arrived on Tuesday afternoon. Sam doesn't yet know that he's getting this machine, though he's been rather vocal about the fact that he needs a new computer after his aging old purple iMac died a few months ago.
My first impression of this machine is that it is amazing that they were able to build such a solid computer for so little money. While it hasn't yet attained the $100 computer goal, it is still a very fine bit of engineering. The hardware is top notch. The software, well, it's coming along nicely....
Before I delve into the details of the OLPC XO, I should point that I've been working with computers since age 10. My first computer in 1982 was a Tandy TRS-80 Color Computer. I've worked with Apples, Commodores, PC's of nearly every variety. I have a BA in computer science and have been a UNIX system administrator for 14 years specializing in Linux, Solaris and OS X. My first Linux installation was in 1993, which wasn't too long after Linus Torvalds created it in the first place. I would never say I know all that there is to know about Linux, but I'm certainly no newbie.
So given my background, I'm hoping that I can help refine the software for this excellent machine.
