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26 Jul 2006
Nigeria has officially ordered and paid for one million of the One Laptop per Child (OLPC) devices, according to the Nigerian Vanguard newspaper.
The deal is the first actual order for the project that aims to provide Linux-powered laptops to children in developing economies.
Production of the devices will start once five to 10 million have been ordered and paid for, according to the OLPC website.
OLPC deals directly with governments in China, India, Brazil, Argentina, Egypt, Nigeria and Thailand. Other nations are said to be close to placing orders.
The computer is commonly referred to as the $100 laptop, but the first units are likely to cost around $140.
The laptops are designed for children and are 'ruggedised' to allow them to operate in dusty environments.
Using a central server and internet connection in a school, children will be able to go online from home through a mesh network. The laptops include a hand crank to charge the battery when away from a power connection.
The laptop is powered by an AMD processor and runs the Linux operating system.
Intel launched a competing $400 Eduwise laptop earlier this year. Both Intel and Microsoft have criticised the OLPC project.
Intel chairman Craig Barrett dismissed the project as a "$100 gadget ", and Microsoft chairman Bill Gates criticised the small screen and hand crank.
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Do you agree?
What Use?
I saw a documentary featuring an East African Herdsman with video of his less than 100 cattles. In this Documentary we were shown how by merely Texts( he was able 2 find the best prices for his (Herd/Beef) I am not familiar with the currency of this nation -Neither could the herdman speak a Word of English.First price he got offered was 400(whatever Currency) and in less than 4 Hour'son same cell text he got 10,000(whatever Currency).This is the way frward. In Nigeria people have 2 cel phones butno credit.All purpose use is to flash U and ask to b called back with- What's happening baby-Could we go to tantalizer- when are u travelling back to the states.anyway in a country where a supposedly former Uni Lecturer- who during his whole tenure., students were graduating only with sex as favour without attending a min of class activities-You don't have 2 b a rocket Scientists to know that it is business as Usual & with this supposedly (Durable $100) Toy- What would happen.same country spent so much on technology for the recent election-What was the result- Polling Booths were running out of Ink & paper.Obviously Time will Tell & we are aware of what is coming.Same old recycled story of Failure. For those of my age group who witnessed Shehu Shagari-time in office, After the coup that took that corrupt govt out of Power the popular talk was He Shagari wasonly going for Senate-He was a god man surrounded by Corr men like d infamous Dikoko Dikko.dat was 79- Almost 30 years on another above described- Supposedly first 2 declare(family ASssts-Stolen by late Brother) is streering the Ship of B.B.Country- How Looong.
Posted by: Kogberegbe 24 May 2007
Bread and water?
What an arrogant comment. And what exactly makes you think that people in Nigeria need brread and water?
Posted by: chu 18 Sep 2006
Bread and water?
What an arrogant comment. And what exactly makes you think that people in Nigeria need bread and water? This just goes to show how arrogant you folks are you think that life begins and ends in the western world.
Posted by: chu 18 Sep 2006
Stop making Africa a "pity pet"
This is my problem with the rest the world: the fact that you see Africa as this a "pity pet". Have you ever thought past the "hunger" that you guys are always talking about? Have you tried to see beyond what you SO selectively see? If you don't know, Africa is tired of being a pity continent. And that whole "bread before anything else" angle is tired. Why can't you just see this as an investment into the lives of these children? Later in life, because of their exposure to technology, and being, somewhat, in pace with the rest of the world, they could come up with technological/scientific/etc discoveries that can benefit their environment and thus take themselves, and others, away from poverty... Just try and change your perspective for a change
Posted by: ZaZee 08 Aug 2006
Bill Gates is a obscenely rich idiot
Gates criticises the hand crank - what if you have no reliable electricity supply. Gates criticises the small screen - you need a small screen because of the drain on the battery. Gates criticises the networking system and says just connect it to broadband. This is the man who is supposedly giving away some of his money to help people in poorer countries. Does he have any idea about the conditions and infrastructure in rural areas of African nations? No. The man is a complete... words fail me.
Posted by: Stephen Hill 05 Aug 2006
something good coming out of Nigeria !
Lets forget about scams??? Let?s forget about the no bread on the table scenario or the accuracy of the report?. Now the government is being sensitized and we are being vindicated?. James I wonder if you?ve ever been to Nigeria, many kids here uses cell phones worth over $100 already, if we or somebody could divert their lust for high taste to something more productive,, that will be very good That is what we are also trying to do with www.net-idea.org ( net idea is a non profit that aims to make the benefit of the Internet and its associated technologies available to the Nigerian youth ,to enable them to take more effective control over their socio ?economic development.) Bread and water would not do these, only things like the OLPC initiative could and optimism from people like you?. Solomon Founder: www.linuxnigeria.com femi@linuxnigeria.com
Posted by: Femi Solomon 30 Jul 2006
Craig & Bill - super sleuths
How dare they make subversive comment against something that offers hope to the truly tech-starved? What a suck attitude they both have. I thought Billy was a man of principles. Obviously his principles are a wistful imagination of what he thinks he's done for this world. Unless it's made by Microsux it hasn't any use.
Posted by: Rex Alfie Lee 29 Jul 2006
How about *BREAD* for the children in those countries?
The $100 laptop sounds like a good idea to spread technology to where it cannot got today because of limitations that exist....But it strikes me that kids in Nigeria need something a bit more than a laptop...: Bread and Water for starters....Becoming technically proficient is ok but if you are hungry you can't eat through the internet so.... Just my $0.02 anyway
Posted by: James 27 Jul 2006
More Nigirian Scam Sources
I the Nigerian gov prepared to deal with a million new sources of Nigirian Scams?
Posted by: Bill Morita 27 Jul 2006
Did OLPC confirm this?
Nigerian newspapers are not noted for their accuricy. Did you verify this with OLPC? I would have expected to see something about on their web site.
Posted by: TIm 26 Jul 2006