[OT] Test run of 2009/05/25 image

[Edward Cherlin]

On Wed, Jun 17, 2009 at 7:13 AM, Sean DALY<sdaly.be at gmail.com> wrote:
>>> Therefore I would rather have thought be given by those
>>> working on the OLPC to how it can be made to 'stand out' from other small
>>> systems, instead of thought being devoted to fit the OLPC into a "me too"
>>> mold.  Let's not get sidetracked.
>
>> You are asking the wrong questions. If you ask which is the biggest,
>> fastest netbook, the XO isn't in it. If you ask which netbooks are
>> designed for the target market, nothing but the XO is in it. We stand
>> out far above the noise in our own niche.

Sorry, Britishism. (I lived there for a year.) "Nothing else is in it"
doesn't mean that there are no competitors, but that they are not
actually competitive.

> The OLPC XO-1 is far and away the standout in small systems for kids.
> I mean, my four-year-old saw it and said "Look - a computer for
> children!". No other machine available matches the XO's
> sunlight-readable screen and native mesh networking. None are as
> rugged as the XO-1, nor as easy to repair, nor as inexpensive (with
> the possible exception of the EeePC 701 which is lacking in the other
> departments especially screen size).
>
> However, there are indeed netbooks designed for the K-6 education 1:1
> target market:

They fail in comparison with the XO on power, ruggedness, appropriate
software, and other measures.

> * The Intel Classmate series (Gen1/Gen2 "Clamshell" with 7" and 8.9"
> screens, Gen3 "Convertible" with 8.9" swivel touchscreen). Usually
> runs with locked-down Easybits Magic Desktop over Windows XP, however
> Canonical has just announced Ubuntu Remix support for the series and
> is with Intel and Microsoft in Miami today and Cairo next week
> (http://lists.sugarlabs.org/archive/marketing/2009-June/001489.html).
> Intel licenses to local builders on favorable terms, who rebrand the
> machines; there are two dozen such partners worldwide now, the latest
> being Archos in France
> (http://lists.sugarlabs.org/archive/marketing/2009-June/001452.html).
> Intel positions the Classmate for all markets and relies on the local
> partners to find the sweet spot for governments and education
> ministries. Microsoft follows Intel into local deals and tacks Office
> on where it can.
>
> * The Dell Latitude 2100 education netbook
> (http://lists.sugarlabs.org/archive/marketing/2009-May/001026.html),
> with Ubuntu standard (WinXP optional) and backed by a specific
> education support structure. Rollout is in the USA with a $4000
> classroom rack charger/router which can update/backup the netbooks
> while they are charging at night. The netbook has a tattletale LED bar
> in the lid to inform teachers what's happening (student network
> activity, or has completed a task - it's programmable).
>
>
> Also, education solutions designed to leverage existing PC
> infrastructure in school computer labs (slightly older student
> positioning):
>
> * NComputing (http://lists.sugarlabs.org/archive/marketing/2009-June/001243.html)
>
> * Microsoft Multipoint
> (http://lists.sugarlabs.org/archive/marketing/2009-May/001169.html)
>
>
> Finally, netbooks designed for the age group at home, with an emphasis
> on parental controls and filters:
>
> * The Disney Asus Netpal netbook
> (http://lists.sugarlabs.org/archive/marketing/2009-June/001486.html)
> runs a locked-down kids' Disney-themed desktop over Windows XP and
> will be widely distributed at Toys 'R' Us and the Disney Store.
>
>
>
> I boot Sugar on a Stick on a Gen1 7" Classmate, a pair of Asus EeePCs,
> an Acer Aspire One, a Dell Inspiron Mini 10, a Dell Latitude 2100
> education netbook, and under VirtualBox, on a Mac Mini in fullscreen.
>
> Sugar has the potential to leverage the hardware offers above, and
> given the lack of interest by governments in an Windows XP-equipped XO
> to date, could potentially displace Microsoft in the K-6 education
> markets of developed countries too, which would be great for education
> (and great for Fedora). In this space, it's Sugar versus Magic Desktop
> and other proprietary products, and in my view Sugar is far superior.
>
> Ideas I've encountered for non-education uses of XOs are usually NGOs
> needing rugged hardware for e.g. surveying or medical applications.
>
> Sean
> Sugar Labs Marketing Coordinator
>



-- 
Silent Thunder (默雷/धर्ममेघशब्दगर्ज/دھرممیگھشبدگر ج) is my name
And Children are my nation.
The Cosmos is my dwelling place, The Truth my destination.
http://earthtreasury.org/worknet (Edward Mokurai Cherlin)