One Laptop Per Child Launches XO 3.0 Tablet

One Laptop Per Child has launched the XO 3.0, a rugged, solar powered tablet designed for students in the developing world.

The XO 3.0 has been launched – a hard-wearing little laptop designed for students studying in the developing world – by the non-profit organization One Laptop Per Child. OLPC looks to bring modern education to children in the developing world by getting low-cost, low-power laptops to every student on the planet, writes Zoe Fox at Mashable.

The tablet is designed to be inexpensive, use little energy and brave extreme weather conditions. It will include a Marvell ARMADA PXA618 SOC processor, Avastar Wi-Fi SOC, standard or Pixel Qi sunlight-readable display, and can be run on either an Android or Linux operating system.

The tablet was officially unveiled at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas last week.

Unlike any other tablet on the market, it can be powered by solar energy, other alternative sources or hand-cranks, writes Fox.

Edward McNierney, chief technology officer of One Laptop Per Child, said:

“We’re proud to introduce the XO 3.0 tablet, showcasing the design, durability and performance features that make it a natural successor for our current laptops, which have been distributed to more than 2.4 million children in 42 countries and in 25 languages.

“The XO 3.0 builds on many of the technology breakthroughs we made with the XO 1.75, including the use of the Marvell ARMADA PXA618 processor, resulting in a significant decrease in power consumption — a critical issue for students in the developing world.”

When One Laptop Per Child began releasing details of the $100 laptop that it has been working to develop, nothing suggested a model quite as rugged and large as the XO 3.0.

OLPC’s Chairman Nicholas Negropante said that the tablet they were developing will be part laptop, iPad and Kindle, writes Nick Bilton at the New York Times.

Negropante hopes to be producing completely plastic devices by 2012, reducing the cost to $75. These devices, he says, will also include a dual mode display so that the tablet will work both in the sunlight and at night.

One Laptop Per Child has announced it is ready to ship more than 75,000 units of the XO 1.75 laptop to students Uruguay and Nicaragua in March 2012.

Comments

Kevin

January 17, 2012 at 8:43 am

I saw the pre-view pictures of the laptops before the announcement was made and saw what looked like solar panels on the case. However, due to cost I didn’t think they’d be able to actually add that charging option to the laptop and I am thrilled that they did.

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Linda Brees

January 17, 2012 at 8:45 am

This is a hugely useful thing and best of all, it doesn’t rely on infrastructure that just isn’t there. It is no use distributing electric gadgets to kids in places where electricity supply isn’t constant, but the fact that these can be used even without a plug nearby is really great.

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Minnov8 Gang 154 – iPad, iLearn | Minnov8

January 28, 2012 at 8:29 am

[...] One Laptop Per Child Launches XO 3.0 Tablet [...]

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Jerry

February 15, 2012 at 8:21 pm

The XO3 is amazing, but OLPC doesn’t seem to understand it should offer its product to North American students too. I’m sorry, but unless OLPC learns that cash flow can be created by allowing consumers to purchase, the project will remain an elusive dream for users.

North American schools could benefit, but are seemingly shut out

Come on OLPC! Our kids need $100 devices too. I don’t see a tablet in every child’s hands here at home …

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