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The latest message doing the rounds to stop OLPC deployments is "but apple are gonna have $99 ipads soon".

That's nice, and when they do, we can consider deploying ipads. but I question the ipad's usefulness for education unless you also have free (cost) educational software on there - perhaps someone can start a project? You'll also need to get apple approval for every app you write before it can be installed, unless you want to jailbreak them and therefore not be able to deploy in countries where this is illegal (and the list of countries grows thanks to treaties like ACTA). You'll also be restricting the potential list of software writers to those willing to either agree to Apple's SDK rules, or breaking these rules and the legal risks there in.

With ipad, or any laptop that is not the OLPC XO, we could only deploy to places that do not have equatorial heat (laptops shut down in those temperates, XO laptops do not), have power in homes (so not the poorest children, XO laptops will go for 12 hours+ if you turn off wifi after charging at school) and have indoor classrooms (the ipad is passable viewing in sunlight, but you wouldn't want to stare at it all day, with reflections of overcast skies in the way).

now with te reo, originally uploaded by Br3nda.

the new XO 1.5 laptops arrived with a new language option :-)

Wellington OLPC "Friends in Testing" group need USB memory sticks to test One Laptop Per Child (Sugar/XO).

If you have some (1GByte+) and are generous and wonderful and would like to donate these, please see this webpage:

http://laptop.org.nz/micro-sponsors

Who are OLPC?

MISSION STATEMENT: To create educational opportunities for the world's poorest children by providing each child with a rugged, low-cost, low-power, connected laptop with content and software designed for collaborative, joyful, self-empowered learning. When children have access to this type of tool they get engaged in their own education. They learn, share, create, and collaborate. They become connected to each other, to the world and to a brighter future.

Sugar+XO Testing, originally uploaded by Br3nda

MikeC turned at the Sugar Testing group with his home-made solar charging unit in a beer crate.

It's the middle of glorious summer in Wellington - so dignataries and "internet celebs" are visiting our fair city

Here are some upcoming "visitations":

Buy an OLPC XO