Comments on: OLPC versus eeePC

By: nayika

nayika — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 18:30:18 +0000

I m from India, I want to buy an OLPC will it cost me 400$ or 200$ and where can place thwe order

By: Pasi Mustalahti

Pasi Mustalahti — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 23:12:31 +0000

Small size of EEEPC comes first. I need to carry a laptop all the time in my work. Even my 12″ DELL X300 is way too big and heavy for the road. PDA’s are missing USB host connectors. You need them for the measurement devices.
I’m using browser, email, calendar, notepad, SSH, SFTP and paint daily. I’m using TP, Wlan, BT and 3G all the time.
What I would like to have is a simple programming language like BASIC for sudden calculations.
EEEPC seems to have all connectors needed except CF, which I can handle with an USB adapter. There is even memory enough, when you have WLAN in the work and home and use Linux servers for the mass memory.
Question: is there a real connector for the microphone or only an internal mic ?
Camera is not of use in a laptop, when you have a Nokia with a camera all the time with you.

By: Aaron Ziaja

Aaron Ziaja — Fri, 02 May 2008 04:07:28 +0000

Personally, I think it is far out of the ball park to say that the eeePC is trying to compete with the OLPC. These two products are entirely different and made for different purposes. The eeePC is an adult focused internet machine with note taking abilities, and the OLPC is a kid machine focused on being sturdy enough for some rough usage. Basically you just are comparing two different things.

By: Wally Buth

Wally Buth — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 23:19:29 +0000

Thanks for the very generous overview of so many readers. My interest is for a handicapped (mental) adult at 35, who does not have command of the everyday world…but I feel he could…after time…have some fun with the XO “just for learning” – in the ‘ATTEMPT TO” mode…:) – but I feel you are actually comparing Apples with Oranges between these two models. You are comparing a child’s learning toy (machine) WITH an adult’s mind and usage…care to take a pedal car and put it up against a Ferrari? The XO of course is a winner with the handle, the color and “it just looks like a kid’s unit”… Regards, Wally B

By: Robert Levy

Robert Levy — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 01:25:43 +0000

To the person who asked about Flash: I have found that the open source gnash is not adequate for most Flash applications, and that is what is on the OLPC XO laptop. On the other hand, if you install firefox you can install the non-free-love software (but-free-of-cost software) from Adobe, the plugin that will make flash work. Here is a link to instructions on how to do that: http://tinyurl.com/2c8aap
http://jeffreyscudder.blogspot.com/2008/01/trying-out-xo-laptop-operating-system.html

By: Jake

Jake — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 23:30:58 +0000

It’s ironic that the industry just doesn’t get it– to make a subnote book with a 92-95 percent keyboard, max size 10.5 X4″ or 4.5″. Yes, it can be done and was done in the ’70′s and ’80′s providing sport jacket/backpack/purse p0cket-sized computers for journalists, students, writers and business people who found them so invaluable that to this day they are being coveted. A screen with a 3-4 inch “height” has proven MORE than adequate for writing, note-taking, math and just about anything. The market niche for this isn’t obvious because until one actually uses a computer this size and discovers how wonderful it is to have, there is false need and demand for bigger screens. It’s necessary to start out with a different assumption than computer companies are willing to make because they rely on market research that does not reflect the EXPERIENCE and advantage of the smaller screen, etc. that allow for the kind of situations that demand them. I wish the industry would wake up. You’d see these things everywhere. The small ones are still too awkward. As for battery life; yes more time is better, but for transient use 1.5-2 hrs with a spare battery meets most situations. Also, someday, the airline industry, which could also use a revolution in the direction of passenger convenience and comfort, might actually decided to put power jacks in seats. Commercial aircraft generate huge amounts of electrical power which goes wasted. Power outlets and wiring are a one=time cost and dirt cheap. But that’s another story.

By: Lloyd Budd

Lloyd Budd — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 17:49:30 +0000

Joe, don’t feel guilty, there is room for both eeePC and OLPC And you or I can’t buy the OLPC.

By: Joe Hunkins

Joe Hunkins — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 21:26:12 +0000

Nice review Tony. I didn’t realize ASUS was actively competing with OLPC, which makes me feel somewhat guilty for buying one. I’m happy with the eee PC and even getting used to the cramped keyboard which was my initial concern.

By: g337

g337 — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 10:43:51 +0000

Re. Dianne:

The OLPC is not solar powered, but it is designed to work with a range of power sources that can include solar rechargers.

Re. keyboards:

The OLPC keyboard is just a bit too small for use by adult hands: you can hunt-and-peck one key at a time but forget about touch-typing. What I do with this machine when using it at home is attach an external USB keyboard and mouse.

Question: Is the eeePC keyboard any better in this regard? Even the slightly-smaller-than-normal keyboards on the early Apple laptops such as the Powerbook 165, were quite satisfactory, but a too-small keyboard is a serious issue for those of us who do a lot of writing.

By: Toni

Toni — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 02:00:23 +0000

dianne: no, they are not solar.