DigitaCrusader has a review of a test model of the OLPC. “Overall I’d say it was a pretty interesting experience, being able to use a beta of the XO. It’s hard for me to judge how a child in the developing world might fare with one – I am of course an old master at computers, with experience across a wide variety of operating systems and deep knowledge of how the devices work. But it didn’t seem very hard get it do things – certainly not as opaque as the windows hierarchical start menu.”
I really want to see the software for this little amazing device maturing soon and making just to this amazing hardware design.
Everytime a new version shows up, its layout (the case, buttons, etc) is improved… but the software seems to be evolving a little slower than the hardware… I really hope it can catch up soon, as the general concept for OLPC is really nice from hardware AND software perspective.
Speaking as XO tester, the software has changed since the official test release. New firmware is to support the new spec for LX based XO machine.
There are more activity (applications) included on the latest build, new are:
– Turtle activity, a drawing software based on LOGO language
– Call activity, very similar to web chat. By click one user icon, you can talk to other laptop.
– Connect activity, a power 4 game like
– Journal activity, an application that keeps track the latest activities user did, still in progress.
Major change is the ability to share an activity with other laptops, although it is still work in progress. It is now possible to see other XO machine once WiFi connection is established. You can even custom the name so other users will know the topic.
Just to share the information that software is moving as fast as the hardware. In some case, regression can be inevitable which is why software development takes time.
To see the change, make sure to grab the latest build which is currently 432. Some bugs are present thought.
http://wiki.laptop.org/go/Software
Edited 2007-05-22 04:21
…by the way:
What If Every Child Had A Laptop?
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/05/20/60minutes/main2830058.sht…
At OSDir.com http://shots.osdir.com/slideshows/slideshow.php?release=788&slide=3
My 3 year old would love one of these, bright green, rugged, Internet enabled, children’s web sites would never look so good, and i wouldnt have to hover over him telling him to mind the Mac .. and 100 bucks or so to boot … great stuff, id buy one tomorrow in its current state, sounds fantastic … roll on worldwide relese, thats what i say ……
Edited 2007-05-22 01:38