[Olpc-open] starting mass production

[John Kintree]

I support the decision that was reported in the weekly update of Oct. 20, 
2007, "chasing the occasional “reboot on resume on ping” bug. This is our 
most significant remaining hardware problem—it occurs rarely enough that, 
while we will hunt it down and fix it, we will not stop initial production."  

It's time to start mass production.  Perfection is not the measure of success.  
Delaying the start of mass production may cause greater problems than 
shipping initial units that have remaining _slight_ hardware problems.  

As one who is planning on participating in the $399 Give 1 Get 1 initiative, 
and knowing that people in developed countries have more resources to deal 
with minor defects, and will have access to grid electricity so super numbers 
of suspend/resume cycles may not be so critical, I suggest that the OLPC 
project set aside the first week or two of production for delivery to 
recipients in developed countries.  It is most essential for children in 
developing countries get the most stable machines possible, and another week 
or two of debugging after mass production begins may bring the machines up to 
a higher level of reliability.  

At the same time that I can only speak for myself,  I hope other participants 
in the G1G1 initiative who live in developed countries feel the same way.  I 
trust that the XO laptop that I receive, even if it comes from the first day 
of mass production, will be good enough.
Regards,
John Kintree
http://home.swbell.net/jkintree/islt/