Raise the level of the Hardware specifications... or let's do some field tests!

[info at olpc-peru.info]

Hello,

I am trying to pass this info to some "hardware" development list... but 
I don't know where it is or if it exists.

Anyway, maybe some person can register this "bug" (?) to the tracking 
system... if you consider that this is a bug.. or if it is something 
valuable to be taken in account...

------------------------------------------------------------------
http://wiki.laptop.org/go/Hardware_specification


      Environmental specifications

Maximum altitude: --15m to 3048m (14.7 to 10.1 PSIA) (operating), --15m 
to 12192m (14.7 to 4.4 PSIA) (non-operating);
------------------------------------------------------------------

The Huancavelica city (big city, poor city) is at 12,100 feet (around 
3,688 meters) altitude.  There are tons of computers in that city, they 
work without any modification.  I think that the 3.048 m altitude 
capacity must been raised... maybe it has not been tested accurately.. 
or.. other reasons? The more isolated children are in the 4,500 meters 
(around 15,000 feet)

Cuzco city is at 12,500 feet = 3,810 meters altitude. (so... no XOs for 
Cuzco city.. and that is the capital of the region... there are hundreds 
of smaller villages in higher altitude in the Cuzco surrounding areas).

Table
------------------------------------
10,000 feet = 10.11 PSIA
11,000 feet = 9.73 PSIA
12,000 feet = 9.35 PSIA
13,000 feet = 8.96 PSIA
14,000 feet = 8.63 PSIA
15,000 feet = 8.29 PSIA

Andahuaylas city = 13,000 feet

The maximum altitude in "hardware specification" for all the equipment 
should be raised.  In Peru the towns (villages) that you can find in the 
3,048 meters vecinity are not the poorest or the ones that are more 
isolated.  Our national president (Mr. Alan García) launch a law 
proposal to do all territories over the 3,200 meters altitude a "tax 
free" territories.  That is because, in the words of the President, and 
according to all our national statiscall records, the deep poverty and 
the isolation starts at 3,000 meters altitude.  Below the 3,000 meters 
altitude... well... there is poverty in whole Peru... but some tests 
should be done to see if the XOs (and the rest of the hardware) can work 
at more than 3,048 meters altitude.  I think they will work because I 
have seen normal standard PCs and all kind of equipment working at 4,500 
meters altitude.  That is the altitude were all the isolated communities 
(the ones that need more our help) are located.  There are around 5,000 
villages and small communities (with 100 families each village, 
averaged) over the 4,000 meters altitude.  Deep poverty in those areas.

Maybe the manufacturer (Quanta?) can put more light over the issue.  My 
guess is that the capacity of the XOs is underestimated by the 
manufacturer...

Best regards,

Javier

Some useful for those interested in the issue...

About PSIAs: http://www.aempower.com/Faqs.aspx?FaqCategoryID=30
About the 2006 peruvian map of poverty: www.foncodes.gob.pe

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