Heavy Duty. The OLPC (One Laptop Per Child) is going to be available for purchase in the US in November. David Pogue of the New York Times recently reviewed the machine, and his demonstrations of the beating that the PC could take made us wonder...wouldn't this be the perfect kitchen computer?
Instead of overpriced PCs, why not use something designed to withstand rugged environments. With its durable casing, it could take on any kitchen spill or accidental drop on the floor.
Sure, it won't have all the bells and whistles of a high-end laptop, but for cooking, family scheduling, and general household duties the OLPC might be the perfect fit.
© 2009 Apartment Therapy
My wife and I are planning to do the give one/get one thing in November. We're going to use this as a charitable donation tax write-off, but it's also one we feel really good about doing because it's going to actually help someone who needs it. We currently have one laptop for her, so I'm going to use the OLPC for writing and websurfing whenever we go to the bookstore on a lazy Sunday afternoon. Can't wait.
view SpaceMonkeyX's profile
I don't think adults used to modern computer speed and ergonomics will be happy using the XO as a computer, period. It's awesome and amazing in almost every way, but it's not designed for adults or for power and speed. Websurfing on this sucker will likely slow and a bit painful.
I'm also going to do a Give One Get One, but because I'm a python software engineer and I plan on contributing to the open source effort for the project.
view hja's profile
I'm thinking of doing the Give One Get One program. As a Macophile I don't know if I would like using this but there are lots of kids in my city (think foster care) who might enjoy the 2d one.
view ebrown's profile
As much as I respect and love the XO project, it is geared towards children. I think a better choice for a durable, low-end laptop would be the upcoming Asus EEE. It too is made to be used for IM/Internet/Email, but is a little more demure and powerful.
view Guy Via's profile
Will someone help me out by explaining what the obsession is with having a "kitchen computer"?
As a small-apartment dweller (that was AT's mission, right? "smaller is better"?), if I want a computer in the kitchen, I pick up my laptop, carry it 20 feet, set it on the (minimal) counter space), and plug it in. Presto! Kitchen computer!
I just can't see how buying a computer solely for recipes and "family scheduling" is consistent with AT's new "green" mission -- that's a lot of natural resource use, waste from production, and energy use just to avoid burning 20 calories by crossing the room.
view wende in the twin cities's profile
I completely agree, wende.
view hja's profile
Usually Wende seems to not just take the words out of my mouth, she often comes up with stuff that just make me THINK that I thought them because they're so dang genius that I refurst to admit that hadn't thought of them at all.
But this time I really can imagine why a kitchen computer might be good IF it's indestructable, because who wants to even accidentally splash flour or even non-fat vegan air oil into the completely uncleanable bits of one's computer keyboard. Heck, I don't really enjoy flossing, much less cleaning something like that.
On the other hand... I don't really cook, either. Maybe I would if I had one of these? Perhaps?
view Curtis's profile