[Olpc-open] Olpc-open Digest, Vol 17, Issue 6 - just a fan letter

[gnome]

I've been reading the exchanges about how the Green Machine may miss its 
window of opportunity because of things like the Eee.  (Or should that 
be "Eeeeee!")

As Francois himself says in today's last message, we wouldn't have the 
Eee without the OLPC. 

The little "Fisher Price toy" has busted the world computer market open 
in the same way the IBM PC did once upon a time.  It would be nice if 
the Green Machine gets the most glory and market share because it's the 
best and cheapest machine.  (Battery life, sunlight-readable screen, 
ruggedness, etc etc.)  But in a lot of ways, it really doesn't matter.  
There is so much need for anything like it,  I'd be willing to bet 
they'll always sell every last one they can produce.

Regarding the comment that gaining Burkina Faso but losing the world is 
"confused," I'm not sure I agree.  Supplying the First World first 
hasn't led to much trickle-down outside it.  Like the cartoon says, 
there never seems to be much trickle down unless there's a damn leak.

My guess is that for an operation run by a bunch of academics (I'm one 
myself, I know whereof I speak!) with one company producing all the 
machines, everybody's dancing as fast as they can.  I suspect making 
less-developed countries a priority is essential if the whole project 
isn't to turn into nothing but a source a cool new laptops for the haves.

That said, I agree that it was a mistake to limit the first G1G1 to N. 
America.  Regardless of shipping difficulties (I mean, for God's sake, 
one could set up a trans-shipper like the OLPC News site did), they 
should have let everyone into the fun.  It's a computer for the world.  
So don't exclude the world.

Best wishes and thanks to the whole OLPC team, and don't let us carpers 
get you down! :-)

quixote.