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OLPC rips up roadmap for ultrathin XO 3

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By Barry Collins

Posted on 23 Dec 2009 at 10:31

The One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) project has torn up its roadmap and announced plans to deliver an ultrathin computer.

Gone is the dual-screen XO 2 computer, which was pencilled in for release in 2010. The twin-touchscreen device folded like a book, but never got any further than the prototype stage.

In its place comes the ridiculously slender XO 3, which is described as a "single sheet of flexible plastic" that "will be unbreakable and without holes in it". Photos of the device show it being used as a conventional laptop, sat nav, camera and games machine. (Click on the Gallery button above to see more photos.)

Although details are very sketchy and the released photos are clearly nothing more than mock-ups, OLPC claims the device will be launched in 2012 and will have a target price "well below" $100.

OLPC has something of a history of over-optimism, however. Its original XO laptop was meant to be sold for $100, but failure to land the bulk orders required to push down the price resulted in the laptop being sold for closer to $200.

XO laptop refresh

OLPC has also announced two forthcoming refreshes of the hardware inside its current XO laptop. Version 1.5 will see the AMD processor replaced by a VIA model, and RAM boosted up to 1GB. It will have a target price of $200 and will be released in January.

The XO 1.75, due for release in early 2011, will keep the same rugged design, but include an 8.9in touchscreen. This time the processor will come from ARM, which OLPC claims will deliver twice the speed at a quarter of the cost, allowing it to drop the price to $150 or less.

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User comments

Pad v1.0??

Is it just me or is this reminiscent of the Pads you saw everywhere in Star Trek?

By koshthetrekkie on 23 Dec 2009

If the XO 2 didn't get past the prototype stage how is this one going to fare? Is the technology even ready for a device like that? If it is I'd certainly like one.

By peterm2k on 23 Dec 2009

Meanwhile Apple have one in their labs that you can have for $1000. Or so it is rumoured.

Seriously, though, I would be very impressed if they can do this for less than the price of an iPod Touch.

By c6ten on 23 Dec 2009

Where's the battery?

By greemble on 23 Dec 2009

The ring thing is the wind up mechanism for the clockwork power supply.

By gfmoore on 23 Dec 2009

Very Nice - Star Trek for real - like to see a full review

By nicomo on 23 Dec 2009

"will be unbreakable and without holes in it"

er so the ring in the corner ...?

Well - Good luck to them - I'm sure its possible - they did in many ways drive down costs and brought about the existence of the nettop. So I'm sure they can make this a reality - the competition will get their first though, but that's fine too.

By nicomo on 23 Dec 2009

To Boldy Go....

Regarding the Star Trek references, I've watched a couple of old episodes lately and noticed they have different sizes, one about this size and a smaller handheld one. I was thinking how useful these are when I realised that I use my iPhone in pretty much the same way (except for the checking of the warp core dilithium matrix). I can see how this tablet or Apple's tablet will be very useful, if not as a computing device then as an access device for media or the Internet, probably around the home.

Oh and Star Trek also had desktop devices which looked like early generation bulky laptops and nothing like a MacBook Air or an Adamo XPS - I guess sometimes real life progresses faster than science fiction!

By mviracca on 23 Dec 2009

[strange sensation in my body]Can I have one?[/strange sensation in my body]

By Josefov on 23 Dec 2009

Is this for education?

OLPC is supposed to focus on education in the developing world. How is the XO 2.0 tailored to that need?
I think the holes are in their thinking and business plans.

By milliganp on 24 Dec 2009

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