OLPC Launches 'Give 1, Get 1' Laptop Promo

[Sunite]

OLPC Launches 'Give 1, Get 1' Laptop Promo
By Richard Koman
November 12, 2007 11:49AM

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OLPC claims that by participating in the Give 1, Get 1 initiative, XO buyers are joining a network of XO users in the developed world who will support XO users in the developing world. "We urge participants in the G1G1 initiative to think of themselves as members of an international educational movement rather than as 'customers,'" the site says.

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   Kids
   Nicholas Negroponte
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   One Laptop Per Child's long-awaited "Give 1, Get 1" program launched Monday at You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login. For the next 15 days only, geeks and other supporters of computing for kids can pay $399 to get two XO laptops -- one of which will automatically be sent to a child in the developing world.

Wayan Vota, editor of the OLPCNews Web site, said his site is getting heavy traffic from readers talking about their experiences in making the purchase. "Everyone I know is buying one," he said in a telephone interview.

The purchase process was quite simple, Vota added. OLPC is using PayPal for online payments, so it was "click, click, you're done," Vota said. The purchase price is $399 plus $24.95 in shipping.

Donor, Heal Thyself

Douglas Beagley was one of the first to order. He noted that the operator told him that the entire $399 purchase price was tax deductible, even though technically he is only donating half of his purchase -- the "give" in "Give 1, Get 1."

Taxpayers must deduct the value of any thank-you gift they receive in exchange for a donation, so the operator's statement appears to misstate the extent of the tax deduction. Purchasers should be sure to deduct only half the amount on their taxes.

Another question about OLPC has been whether and how the organization would provide support. At least as far as Give 1, Get 1 buyers are concerned, the answer appears to be that OLPC is not offering any.

The terms and conditions for the sale states: "Although we believe you will love your XO laptop, you should understand that it is not a commercially available product and, if you want help using it, you will have to seek it from friends, family, and bloggers."

OLPC claims that by participating in the Give 1, Get 1 initiative, buyers are joining an "informal network of XO laptop users in the developed world" who will support users in the developing world. In other words, there is no tech support, but buyers may purchase a fee-based support service.

"We urge participants in the G1G1 initiative to think of themselves as members of an international educational movement rather than as 'customers,'" the contract says.

Support an Issue

Vota called this language an "interesting way for them to keep from having to handle service requests." OLPC doesn't currently offer any documentation other than a wiki. "One page on a wiki does not make a constructive user guide," he said. "They need to have some comprehensive support plan in place."

It's not only buyers in North America who need a support plan. "Ministers in the developing world need this in order to be able to buy laptops," Vota said. "Without a maintenance plan, what are they supposed to do, tell the kids to get a screwdriver and fix it themselves? That's Humpty Dumpty on a massive scale."

On the other hand, Vota said, "OLPC is trying to get people engaged." With its innovative Sugar interface, "this is not a replacement for your Xbox or your MacBook. It's a tool for children to learn. Parents will have to be involved with helping children use the machines."

In testing, children appear to pick up the Sugar interface easily, Vota said. But adults will have to realize that it's "not Mac or Windows or even Linux -- it's a total revisioning of a computer interface." Vota said he doubted that OLPC would open the Give 1, Get 1 program up beyond the current two-week window "because it would take energy away" from getting the laptops placed in the developing world.