One Laptop Per Child Experiencing Growing Pains

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Democratic Presidential Candidates Discuss Digital Divide

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XO pics from OLPC wiki

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“I have to some degree underestimated the difference between shaking the hand of
a head of state and having a check written, And yes, it has been a disappointment.” Nicholas Negroponte

The One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) project is not yet up and walking, but alas, is experiencing growing pains. George Snell, a spokesman for OLPC confirmed a price hike from the original $100.00 cost to a new $189.00 price tag on Friday. This price hike takes place even before the beginning of any mass production of these so called "bridge to the digital divide" platforms. A $89.00 price increase on a $100.00 originally priced product isn't going to go over too well with OLPC customers that were budgeting to spend $100.00.

There is speculation on the web that this price increase may be the beginning to the end of any OLPC success.  

On Sept. 17 2007, the computerweekly.com reported on a story that Macedonia is the first nation to provide PCs to every school child
using virtual PC technology from NComputing.

Update: Oct. 30 2007, 

Reuters has reported that The One Laptop per Child Foundation
is selling the XO machines in lots of 10,000 for $200 apiece
on its Web site.

Another "bridge to the digital divide" option is the "cell phone & Internet service" platform, ala Apple's I-phone. Combining the synergy of the I-phone with a commercially sponsored cell phone & Internet service may be a better means of reducing the digital divide. An online social activist at Bryn Mawr College is campaigning for the use of free cell phone and Internet service platforms to help Decrease the Digital Divide.  http://www.idealist.org/en/org/167491-0