So two nights ago while we were having dinner in Toronto, someone brought along a prototype of the $100 laptop (or I should call it the $175 laptop). It was very interesting. The controls were random and difficult to understand .. after about 10 minutes, things started to make sense. It was a universal API - but only after you have faith enough to take the leap and try it.
It's also incredibly slow.. like, really slow. But, at the same time, it's an incredible piece of equipment. It has built in wifi - usb ports, it's ruggardised for kids bashing it around. The keyboard was even water proof so you can dunk the whole thing in the drink and it'll still keep going.
Some irritating news though - apparently in the USA, the $175 laptop will come with Windows on it instead of Linux. This sort of defeats the purpose.. all those people out there rapidly beavering away to write software for the laptop have just been shot in the foot. And weirder still - now we have a class system for the laptops. Either you run the windows version or you run the non-windows version.
What the heck does that even mean any way? in the current prototypes you're _never_ exposed to an operating system except for the symbol-driven UI of the $100 laptop.
I found it funny, though, that with all the advancements they've made with this tiny machine - they still have a function, ctrl and alt key on the keyboard. Why? What possible purpose could they provide given the way the machine works. I mean, they've made the whole thing "intuitive" except then they throw in these esoteric old concepts to muddy up the experience.
Okay, off the negatives.. this thing is very cool. In first world countries, people will buy them for the novelty. In 3rd world countries.. I doubt we'll see much use of them there. In 2nd world countries, they'll probably flourish eventually.
The machine comes with RSS reading software, a web browser, a way to write content and read content. Right now it also includes Squeak with eToys, a very slow tetris game and a calculator.
I believe they're going to show off the laptop at the Squeak booth when the trade show opens up here at IT360. Pop on up and take a look!