Re: [SLUG] [Fwd: Give One Get One starts today!]
On Tue, 2007-11-13 at 10:10 +1100, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > > > This is the only time we're making the XO laptop > > available to the public and quantities are limited, > > I have to say, this really does seem like a boneheaded idea. > Surely > it's in their interest to have loads of geeks buying these > machines. > > First it gets the volumes up, which brings the prices down and > makes > the whole thing viable -- hell, they can even (as they are > now) put a > substantial markup on it. Second it creates a community of > people > hacking on it, scratching itches and generally helping out. > Sure, they > might not all have an educational focus, but so what? The original idea was: only children can have one, so if you have one it must be stolen. There is no value in trying to sell blatent stolen goods. If that's true then upgrading patches etc are redundant: you hack into one and get a 9yro's arithmetic homework. wow! Now all that has changed ... James -- SLUG - Sydney Linux User's Group Mailing List - http://slug.org.au/ Subscription info and FAQs: http://slug.org.au/faq/mailinglists.html
Re: [SLUG] [Fwd: Give One Get One starts today!]
> So get someone else to do it, and purchase 100,000 of them up-front. Get > them to do all the "annoying customers" handling too. If it's an existing > retailer, they're the experts already. That's a massive distraction for the core organisation. Remember, it is not a technology project, it's an education project. > You're telling me it's not a well-priced, highly portable, networked > computer with decent battery life? That's something I've been after for > many years -- laptops are way to heavy and PDAs suck. It's also underpowered, kiddy-finger-sized and remarkably non-PC-like (think OpenFirmware and so on), so you simply can't expect it to be the holy grail of portable computing hardware. Yes, it's a fantastic project, but no, it's not for everyone. - Jeff (actively advocating for OLPC as a humanitarian/education effort) -- linux.conf.au 2008: Melbourne, Australiahttp://lca2008.linux.org.au/ "I think hot Chinese girls who kick ass are the wave of the future, as far as films go." - Cody Russell -- SLUG - Sydney Linux User's Group Mailing List - http://slug.org.au/ Subscription info and FAQs: http://slug.org.au/faq/mailinglists.html
Re: [SLUG] [Fwd: Give One Get One starts today!]
This one time, at band camp, Jeff Waugh wrote: > The answer to this is really simple: Retail *SUCKS*. > > They're sucking up a considerable cost (in time and dollar terms) to provide > the G1G1 programme, because it massively increases their workload to deal > with "annoying customers", they have to deal with shipping costs (and people > whining about how it's not available outside North America), etc. So get someone else to do it, and purchase 100,000 of them up-front. Get them to do all the "annoying customers" handling too. If it's an existing retailer, they're the experts already. > The most important thing to remember about the G1G1 programme: Unless you're > going to hack on the thing, it's almost entirely pointless to buy one. If > you have three kids, by all means, buy three. Otherwise, it's not worth your > time: The XO is made for kids, and made for collaboration. A single XO is a > curiosity, looking for a friend. (This is why Pia and I take both our OLPCs > around to demo -- most people, even if they've seen the XO, have never seen > the software truly in action.) You're telling me it's not a well-priced, highly portable, networked computer with decent battery life? That's something I've been after for many years -- laptops are way to heavy and PDAs suck. -- Rev Simon Rumble <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> www.rumble.net The Tourist Engineer Just because you're on holiday, doesn't mean you're not a geek. http://engineer.openguides.org/ "Non-combatant, n. A dead Quaker." - Ambrose Bierce: The Devil's Dictionary -- SLUG - Sydney Linux User's Group Mailing List - http://slug.org.au/ Subscription info and FAQs: http://slug.org.au/faq/mailinglists.html
Re: [SLUG] [Fwd: Give One Get One starts today!]
> This one time, at band camp, Simon Males wrote: > > > This is the only time we're making the XO laptop available to the public > > and quantities are limited, > > I have to say, this really does seem like a boneheaded idea. Surely it's > in their interest to have loads of geeks buying these machines. > > First it gets the volumes up, which brings the prices down and makes the > whole thing viable -- hell, they can even (as they are now) put a > substantial markup on it. Second it creates a community of people hacking > on it, scratching itches and generally helping out. Sure, they might not > all have an educational focus, but so what? The answer to this is really simple: Retail *SUCKS*. They're sucking up a considerable cost (in time and dollar terms) to provide the G1G1 programme, because it massively increases their workload to deal with "annoying customers", they have to deal with shipping costs (and people whining about how it's not available outside North America), etc. Per-machine, it's way cheaper handling these kinds of issues when you're selling XOs in packs of 250,000+... and with this kind of project, you need to build for scale at every level, or you're chasing your own tail. The most important thing to remember about the G1G1 programme: Unless you're going to hack on the thing, it's almost entirely pointless to buy one. If you have three kids, by all means, buy three. Otherwise, it's not worth your time: The XO is made for kids, and made for collaboration. A single XO is a curiosity, looking for a friend. (This is why Pia and I take both our OLPCs around to demo -- most people, even if they've seen the XO, have never seen the software truly in action.) - Jeff -- GNOME.conf.au 2008: Melbourne, Australia http://live.gnome.org/Melbourne2008 Jeff: Whatchootalkin'boutwillis? Pia: What's Willis? -- SLUG - Sydney Linux User's Group Mailing List - http://slug.org.au/ Subscription info and FAQs: http://slug.org.au/faq/mailinglists.html
Re: [SLUG] [Fwd: Give One Get One starts today!]
This one time, at band camp, Simon Males wrote: > This is the only time we're making the XO laptop > available to the public and quantities are limited, I have to say, this really does seem like a boneheaded idea. Surely it's in their interest to have loads of geeks buying these machines. First it gets the volumes up, which brings the prices down and makes the whole thing viable -- hell, they can even (as they are now) put a substantial markup on it. Second it creates a community of people hacking on it, scratching itches and generally helping out. Sure, they might not all have an educational focus, but so what? -- Rev Simon Rumble <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> www.rumble.net The Tourist Engineer Nerds need vacations too. http://engineer.openguides.org/ "To retain respect for sausages and laws, one must not watch them in the making." - Otto von Bismarck -- SLUG - Sydney Linux User's Group Mailing List - http://slug.org.au/ Subscription info and FAQs: http://slug.org.au/faq/mailinglists.html
[SLUG] [Fwd: Give One Get One starts today!]
For those interested in the OLPC project, there is a limited public release kicking off. You pay for two, donating one and the second is for a child you know. Unfortunately it's available only for US and Canadian buyers. So if you have US/CAN contacts or a forwarding address the best time would be now! Of course Linux users want to get there hands on it for the hack value. By actually purchasing two, you feel only half as bad. Original Message Subject: Give One Get One starts today! Date: Mon, 12 Nov 2007 03:02:25 PST - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - One Laptop per Child Give One Get One starts today! - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - From all of us at One Laptop per Child, thank you for your interest in our mission. Today marks the first day of our limited-time "Give One Get One" program. Starting today, when you donate an XO laptop to a child in the developing world, you'll receive one for the child in your life. The price for the two laptops will be $399, $200 of which is tax-deductible. Additionally, T-Mobile is offering donors one year of complimentary access to T-Mobile HotSpot locations throughout the United States, which can be used from any Wi-Fi-capable device, including the XO laptop. Please visit www.laptopgiving.org to participate in Give One Get One and discover more about the revolutionary XO laptop. You can also donate by calling toll-free 1-877-70-LAPTOP (1-877-705-2786). This is the only time we're making the XO laptop available to the public and quantities are limited, so early purchasers have a better chance of receiving their XO laptops by the holidays. Once again, thank you. We sincerely hope you'll join our growing community of people working to create a connected, educated, enlightened future for the world's most essential resource - it's children. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- Simon Males email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] -- SLUG - Sydney Linux User's Group Mailing List - http://slug.org.au/ Subscription info and FAQs: http://slug.org.au/faq/mailinglists.html
