Price Of The $100 Laptop Going In The Wrong Direction
from the isn't-technology-supposed-to-get-cheaper? dept
I'll admit it. I've never quite understood the rationale behind the $100 laptop (or OLPC or whatever it's being called these days). Yes, it's a noble goal to get technology into the hands of people around the world with the hope that they can do something productive with it -- but a big top down attempt to build something without much actual user feedback seems destined to fail. At the same time, we've noted that the market seems to be doing a pretty damn good job on its own of driving the price of computers down such that a special project may not make as much sense. So it's a bit amusing to now find out that while computer prices are dropping the price of the "$100 laptop" keeps rising. In fact, the price is now $200 per laptop, showing a rather rapid climb. The $100 laptop was never actually $100. Back in February, project backers said it would be $150. In April, they bumped the price up to $176. Just two weeks ago, they said it would be $188... and now it's $200. And we thought technology was supposed to drop in price over time. Perhaps if they'd acted more like a startup from the beginning things would be moving in the right direction.Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.
Techdirt is one of the few remaining truly independent media outlets. We do not have a giant corporation behind us, and we rely heavily on our community to support us, in an age when advertisers are increasingly uninterested in sponsoring small, independent sites — especially a site like ours that is unwilling to pull punches in its reporting and analysis.
While other websites have resorted to paywalls, registration requirements, and increasingly annoying/intrusive advertising, we have always kept Techdirt open and available to anyone. But in order to continue doing so, we need your support. We offer a variety of ways for our readers to support us, from direct donations to special subscriptions and cool merchandise — and every little bit helps. Thank you.
–The Techdirt Team
Filed Under: $100 laptop, nicholas negroponte, olpc
Reader Comments
Subscribe: RSS
View by: Time | Thread
Not to mention...
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Not to mention...
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Another project, another problem
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Seems odd
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Pretty shortsighted view ...
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Pretty shortsighted view ...
I have a better idea. Why not just give $200.00 to every child in these Third World countries? I have a feeling that would go a lot farther towards their health and education than a laptop would.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Pretty shortsighted view ...
Because the fungibility of an OLPC is much lower than cash. The OLPC is so child-like and so locked down it's theft value is much lower than money. Money that could be easily taken by the local warlord, mayor, thugs, tax collector, death squads, police officers, etc. once distributed.
Your point is quite valid though and does take place in the form of the microloan system. In the same vein, giving someone money empowers them to make choices. Many times better choices than a government official. Also valid is the need for health care but I believe the point is to "teach a man to fish" and give the children of today the tools to fix their problems tomorrow. Not perfect but if it works it'll be a big win for everyone.
Hopefully many of the OLPCs will also see double duty with the parents using them (after the kids are in bed) to manage the local farm/business. Not out right cash but a small step in the right direction.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Re: Pretty shortsighted view ...
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Pretty shortsighted view ...
In the meantime, we also think that our markets need to be protected from the unsanitary and unsafe goods these countries product. It's for your own good, you understand.
We know what's best.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Pretty shortsighted view ...
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Not To Mention...
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Not To Mention...
I am not sure you have been following the OPLC very long.
http://techdirt.com/articles/20060726/101214.shtml
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Pretty shortsighted view ...
What's the matter, can't stand the truth?
Then please, just STFU, OK?
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Pretty shortsighted view ...
This blog is becoming a narrow-viewed one that just spouts the same few ideas, regardless of the deeper aspects of subjects.
Lousy article Mike.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Pretty shortsighted view ...
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re:
A steadily rising price seems like a pretty serious project flaw to me.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re:
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Re:
Otherwise known as "vaporware". But what could be more appropriate? A nonexistent OS for a nonexistent $100 laptop.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Re: Re:
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Not to mention... by Anonymous Coward
It is a far better effort for improvement and a greater investment in the world's future than any of us reading and commenting here will make in our lifetimes. Cynics Suck. -Dotjinks
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Not to mention... by Anonymous Coward
You should have had a $200 laptop as a child. Then, just maybe, you would know how to spell and use grammar.
All I am saying is providing children with a laptop is not going to revolutionize their way of thinking and make them any more educated than a traditional and solid foundation in the education system. Make the people more educated and they will embrace technology on their own and do things to help their countries out of poverty.
I think giving them laptops will do what has happened in western society...make them lazy and introverted as a mass. When the only thing standing between life or death of a village is children having the knowledge and work ethic to farm and make the required resources, then tell me how one laptop is going to help with that?
Give a man a fish...
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Re: Not to mention... by Anonymous Coward
Why should they be condemned to stay in the "village" and be "farmers"? Why should they be on the other side of the digital divide?
"Traditional" education as you say is very bad in poor countries, high tech alternatives could be a solid solution.
I'm from Perú. And, although I live in Lima, I've been to the poorest andean villages. Technology would make a world of difference to them. It would make them part of, or at least open the door to, the possibility of discussing like we are doing here.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Re: Re: Not to mention... by Anonymous Cow
I am not saying we need to sit idly while people in this world suffer. There are better ways, but why a laptop? I would think food, clean water, clothing, solid shelters, medicine, electricity, and education all take priority over an entertainment item (let us be realistic and know these computers will be used mainly for gaming and instant messaging because we a dealing with children here).
I just think the OLPC has misguided goals. While the idea is nice, I am not sure they will get the results they are looking for.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Your missing the point of the project
The $100 laptop (OLPC) project has broken ground in many ways, including the OLPC enginered rugged LCD display that works well in direct sunlight and can be produced for a fraction of what a traditional LCD can be made, as well as the unique push towards open hardware standards, long battery life, and one of the only no frills, all function laptops available. And of course there's the software, far too much information about it to include in this short post.
You should do you homework before you go all haterade on a project like this.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Your missing the point of the project
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Your missing the point of the project
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Re: Your missing the point of the project
I suggest you do the same. Nowhere does it state that the OLPC is patent free. "Open source hardware" basically just means that the hardware is fully documented, not necessarily patent free.
But now assume for a moment that the OLPC really was patent free. That makes the OLPC look even worse because it means that its special "ground breaking" technology is so crappy that mainstream laptop makers won't use it even for free. How bad does something have to be before you can't even give it away?
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Re: Re: Your missing the point of the proj
The OLPC is not pantent free, nor did I ever claim that it was.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Not to mention...
Frankly I find Hope in the effort and I plan to donate during the give one get one promotion that is supposed to start Nov 12th.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Back to the drawing board, boys!
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Back to the drawing board, boys!
There is no local market or local factory. That's the point. Some of you people seem to think all we need to do is throw money at a problem and it'll go away. Well guess what, the US (and others) have been throwing BILLIONS of dollars in military support, food rations, and medical aid. These countries are still impoverished because of the short sited approach of buying a hungry person food and giving a sick person medicine.
I'm not saying let people starve, I'm saying teach him to fish instead of giving him a fish.
Also, the OLPC project isn't being run by some government agency, it is being run by a group of open source computer enthusiasts and volunteers applying what they have to a problem the best they know how. If you're so concerned you should get off your butt and donate your money, or donate your time on a project like this. Because unless you do you have no right to participate in any conversation regarding what "they" should or should not do with their resources.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Back to the drawing board, boys!
Then why are you going about them?
Why would I want to throw my money away on a foolish project? Fook that, you and the horse you rode in on. I'll make my contributions to worthwhile projects, thank you.
I have no right to my opinion? (unless I'm stupid enough to give money to your stupid project that is) Once again, fook you and the horse you rode in on. If your project is full of people like you then the sooner it fails the better.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Re: Back to the drawing board, boys!
Who said anything about factories? Oh wait, you did."
I was refering to the previous post:
"Help the parents of these children find decent, stable jobs "
There are no jobs to be had.
"I have no right to my opinion? (unless I'm stupid enough to give money to your stupid project that is)"
No, you don't. You don't get to have an opinion and you get absolutley no input on a project unless you participate. If you think sending cash/food/medicine is a better use of your resources, then go for it. Spend your resources anyway you want. God bless, I hope your short sighted solution makes you sleep better at night.
You are like a non-voter who complains about politics, STFU.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Re: Re: Back to the drawing board, boys!
>Who said anything about factories? Oh wait, you did."
>I was refering to the previous post:
>"Help the parents of these children find decent, stable jobs "
>There are no jobs to be had.
Jobs =/= Factories
>You don't get to have an opinion
Just what kind of fascist are you anyway?
>STFU
Back to you. And may your project go down the toilet like the big stinking turd that it is.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Back to the drawing board, boy
You must be an American, how's the view from way up on that high horse of yours? Knowing nothing about the project or it's history, and giving nothing of yourself to the project but you feel compelled to assume you can be an authority on the topic and dictate where the project should go and how it should get there?
I'll take being a facist over being assuming the role of all powerful American dictator.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Back to the drawing board,
I'd sure like to know what country you're from where they don't think people should be allowed their own opinions. Care to tell us or are you too ashamed?
Not only do you believe others have no right to an opinion of their own, you seem to be a blatant liar to boot. Not surprising.
If it's based on Linux, then there a good possibility that it's got some of my work in it.
It sounds rather like you aspire to be both, actually. Is the OLPC project full of people like you?
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
To Pretty Short Sighted View
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
I like one of the comments above, about the usability factor. Even at $200, these laptops cannot possibly have decent enough hardware or software to be of any real value, at least not by today's computing standards. And yes, the countries they are marketed to aren't in any big hurry to start buying them. I say drop the project, sell off all the laptops (if possible), and donate the proceeds to charities that put food in starving mouths.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Total Cost Of Project
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Food? This is for countries that doesn't have such
This is for to help countries that don't have a humanitarian crises on its hand to take things to the next level.
Even at 200 dollars, these computers will be more than enough to meet demands. It is not like they're running memory sucking programs that we're used to.
Come on! It is not like most westerners need the sort of power beyond what is needed to email and make documents(Heck, we don't use close to the full capacity of the computing resource most of the time)
These computers are designed to do more than just emails and make documents. These computers come equipped with development environment and such.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
There are many different priorities...
and many different groups trying to address them. Each group deals with a problem they can address based on their skill sets. The goal of OLPC appears to be addressing the need for a tool that can be used in the course of education. What's at the basis of education? Learning to communicate; via written language, spoken language, the language of mathematics, and learning to communicate in a global environment.
At what point does ANY child need "real computing"? Most likely when they have succeeded in mastering the basic skills I have mentioned. Computers serve multiple purposes and we will need competent programmers from all over the globe. However, we need educated and responsible world citizens first.
The idea of teaching someone to fish, I think, is a reasonable approach. One thing that might be worth addressing in this discussion is this: "How will the teachers, parents, guardians, etc, be trained to make the best use of these computers?
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Inflation sucks
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Does OLPC have a goal?
Perhaps the creators of the project did not understand what they were taking on when they created it.
OLPC is not about just giving laptops to poor children, and it's not mission will not be done once every child in the 3rd world has a laptop (I know, it's starting to sound bureaucratic already). Really, OLPC is about changing the model of how technology is distributed in poor countries.
OLPC is about giving people in developing countries the tools necessary for a rich and fulfilling education. I think they'll be done (and they will hopefully go away) once kids in under-developed countries start writing code superior to code produced by professionals in industrialized countries.
Basically, OLPC's goal will be met when they are successfully pwn'd by a kid hacking away on his free laptop, somewhere in the proverbial "Village in Africa", although a few other continents come to mind.
Do I expect to see more 419 spam and credit card scams? Of course. As long as someone has money to burn, someone else will be interested in burning it for them.
My solution: I believe that secure digital e-cash needs to be embraced, or we may as well go back to trading seeds, stones, and steel pieces.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Does OLPC have a goal?
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Just a few problems.
1. Somehow some sort of 'instant messaging' program is going to find its way onto these computer's (weather they want it to or not). Can we say Pedophiles, cause that is the last thing in the world those kids need right now is to worry about some pedophile trying to snatch them up.
2. What happens when the computer gets a virus or has some sort of other standard computer malfunction. How much is tech support going to cost them?
3. A $200 lap top is most likely the last thing on the mind of third world countries. More pressing concerns such as clean food and clean water in adequate amounts for their families.
4. Medical attention. These people need medical attention and supplies as well as soap and water to bathe in.
I would say until after these problems are dealt with, the entire project should be scraped.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
who needs laptops?
/one cynic's views....
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
laptards
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
100 Buck Laptop
radioric
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Laptops least of worries
A better business plan would be to develop the $100 combined water purifier, medical service, food producing, birth controlling, educational providing, dictator killing, and Swiss army knife relief box.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
They aren't for you
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: They aren't for you
Hey, if you're being ineffective then you're probably wasting time, regardless of the nobility of your intentions.
would you tell a breast cancer charity they are a waste of time because they don't try to help all cancers?
If you're going around peddling some kind of snake oil and telling people that it will cure cancer then calling your product a "waste of time" is putting it charitably.
Or maybe you'd tell them "raising awareness" is a waste of time and money and they should just close up shop
So they never really meant to produce $100 laptops and it was all just a publicity stunt to "raise awareness"? That sounds almost fraudulent to me.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: They aren't for you
I know I'm not the end user. I'm not bashing it from the standpoint of the end user at all... but from the standpoint of the general lack of interest in the project and the mistakes that the project has made.
I'm amazed in the year 2007 how many do not understand the proverb "Give a man a fish...". I also find it quite out of line to accuse someone of charity to be wasting time - would you tell a breast cancer charity they are a waste of time because they don't try to help all cancers? Or maybe you'd tell them "raising awareness" is a waste of time and money and they should just close up shop...
If that breast cancer charity were spending all of its money on an idea that obviously wouldn't help breast cancer, then yes, I would say they were wasting their time.
I'm not saying that charity is a waste of time. I'm saying this particular effort is a huge waste of time and money. And it's not because it doesn't solve "all" problems -- but that it appears to be attacking the wrong problem from the wrong direction.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]