Bob;<br><br>At IMSA it is part of our mission to make the XOs available, and we have a large-party give many program in the works. <br><br>Please point anyone who is interested to <a href="http://wiki.laptop.org/go/Chicago_area_bulk_purchase">http://wiki.laptop.org/go/Chicago_area_bulk_purchase</a><br>
<br>Thanks! Let me know if you have any questions.<br><br>Kevin<br><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Wed, Mar 5, 2008 at 4:19 PM, Robert Myers <<a href="mailto:rmyers7@mindspring.com">rmyers7@mindspring.com</a>> wrote:<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;">Mel,<br>
<br>
_School_ _Servers_<br>
<br>
The XO is part of a system. Those of us that only get to play alone<br>
aren't getting the whole picture. If we had access to school servers we<br>
could get a better feel for the whole system.<br>
<br>
Getting the Chicago Jabber server up is a good start, but not the whole<br>
experience.<br>
<br>
The only time I've really had a chance to interact with other XOs was<br>
just about long enough to make me realize that I had no clear idea of<br>
what to expect.<br>
<br>
So I'd suggest in descending order of priority:<br>
<br>
1) WAN school server accessible to Chicago area XO users. Probably<br>
remote admin access to those who are interested in seeing how this end<br>
of things works and looks. no local mesh antennas needed.<br>
<br>
2) School server for the Lab-In-A-Van. Full mesh.<br>
<br>
3) School servers for seed labs. Single mesh antenna.<br>
<br>
Now that there's an off the shelf spec for a XSX school server<br>
(<a href="http://wiki.laptop.org/go/XSX_Server_Implementation" target="_blank">http://wiki.laptop.org/go/XSX_Server_Implementation</a>), it should be<br>
practical to roll our own. The spec notes an Athenatech 600 Series<br>
Mid-Tower case. The first samples have a really boring silver and black<br>
one. The same internals are available in jazzier externals with color,<br>
all at about the same price. How about #605 cases with XO green trim?<br>
<a href="http://www.athenatech.us/" target="_blank">http://www.athenatech.us/</a> -- click on 'A600 (MidTower)', scroll down to<br>
A605.<br>
<br>
The Active antennas also look like they should be getting easier to obtain.<br>
<br>
I'd be willing to help assemble and load the servers.<br>
<br>
_More_ _XOs_ in peoples hands<br>
<br>
I really feel like a buzzkill when I show off my XO and then tell<br>
someone that they can't have one. How about lobbying for an open Give<br>
Many, where someone could buy an XO from OLPC Chicago for a Give Many<br>
price, say $300? Maybe if OLPC were nice they'd even kick back some of<br>
that to OLPC Chicago to help finance local operations.<br>
<br>
A couple of other possible location suggestions (budget allowing).<br>
<br>
What about a tech incubator like the NU Evanston Research Park<br>
'<a href="http://researchpark.com/" target="_blank">http://researchpark.com/</a>'?<br>
<br>
Are there similar incubator or shared office spaces geared to<br>
non-profits? Maybe they'd offer a better deal than the commercial shared<br>
office space you mentioned.<br>
<br>
Rather than an apartment with an office shoved in, why not look for a<br>
live/work loft space?<br>
<br>
Bob<br>
<br>
PS. I'm located in Evanston and share some of your can't get there from<br>
here pain. North and south is quick, but going west is nigh on<br>
impossible. I can only laugh when meetups in Palos are suggested.<br>
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</blockquote></div><br><br clear="all"><br>-- <br>--Kevin Crews<br>(815)341-8119<br><a href="mailto:kcrews25@gmail.com">kcrews25@gmail.com</a>