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The One Laptop Per Child Foundation's XO computer may not seem like something that's going to revolutionize computing as we know it, but it may end up doing just that. Although it's bright green and white design screams looks like some demented cross between an early iMac and a Fisher Price toy, the machine boasts some impressive specs.
The primary area in which in XO may change our expectations for even the most high-end computers is power consumption.
Although I haven't personally used an XO, Jim Rapoza of eWeek recently sat down with one at the OLPC offices and came away impressed:
>Put simply, the XO is one of the most revolutionary computer systems that I've seen in some time. The entire time I was looking at the XO, I was thinking, why can't my new expensive laptop do this? The technologies that the OLPC's XO are introducing could go a long way towards changing the face of future systems, especially in the area of power consumption.
Typically, when idling, today's computers use around 14 watts of energy (that's the maximum allowed by the Energy Star requirements). The XO on the other hand uses just 1 watt when idling.
To pull that off the OLPC team used a very low power display, which somehow still manages to be bright and full color and offers a black and white mode when used in direct sunlight.
The battery life is also impressive. The XO can use two different batteries, the traditional nickel metal hydride or a newer design which relies on lithium iron phosphate. Because the XO uses an average of just 2 watts and the battery boasts a 20 watt hour charge, the XO can go for 10 hours on a single charge.
A third standout area for the XO is another battery drainer -- wifi. But thanks to the "wireless mesh" technology (the "rabbit ear" antennas you've seen on the sides of the XO's screen) in the XO, the wireless connection draws just .8 watts of power.
And then there's the software. The XO runs Sugar, a variant of Fedora Linux optimized for simple applications and learning games.
While some aspects of the interface strike me as overly simplistic, even for children (in my experience kids are quite adept at learning to use computers and don't need a dumbed down interface with huge icons), there are some novel approaches as well.
The most interesting of the applications mentioned in Rapoza's review is the "Journal" app, which essentially replaces your standard hierarchical file browser. Rather than folders, Journal allows for tag and even temporal organization and navigation.
Journal tracks and tags your file and application habits based on time. And while it boast some standard stuff like tag-based navigation, it also allows for time-based navigation -- did you write something interesting on Tuesday, but don't remember where you saved it? Just jump back to the Tuesday group and there it is, ready to go.
Intriguing to say the least. I highly recommend giving Rapoza's review a read and while it may seem an unlikely source given its emphasis on children, we'd love to hear your thoughts about ways the XO might change the game for laptops.
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