[Olpc-open] [Edu-sig] OLPC G1G1 sales start today

[John Kintree]

On Tuesday 13 November 2007 05:24 am, François Schnell wrote:
> Isn't it obvious that if OLPC let all passionate people *buy* the
> laptop the project will have much more contributions?

You could be right, Francois.  Maybe the OLPC project is being anal about 
selling the XO laptop.
 
On the other hand, it was idealism that provided the inspiration for the 
project in the first place.  That idealism is deeply rooted in the desire to 
give preferential treatment to the children in developing countries who until 
now have mostly been left on the lacking side of the digital divide.  

Considering the weak orders from national departments of education of 
developing countries, the Give 1 Get 1 initiative is a natural expression of 
idealism, moderated by the organizational limitations of the OLPC Foundation 
to extend the offer outside the United States and Canada.  

I notice that while the G1G1 initiative has gotten good coverage in technical 
publications, there was almost no mention of it on Nov. 12 in the mainstream 
media.  That may be reasonable considering that those who are most likely to 
participate in the G1G1 initiative are technically oriented people.  This may 
be the revolution of the geeks.  At the least, IMHO, the G1G1 initiative is 
an experiment that is worth conducting.  

Might the XO laptop be an example of a technology that is "insanely great?"  
It's so advanced that it may reshape our notion and our experience of 
reality.  Let's see what happens next.  
Regards,
John Kintree
http://home.swbell.net/jkintree/islt/