Give one laptop, get one sooner or later

The One Laptop Per Child organization's "Give One, Get One" program has hit a few snags in recent weeks, as donors are apparently having trouble getting their end of the bargain to come together.

The program offered fans of the XO laptop a chance to donate $400 and send one of the laptops to a needy child and one to themselves.

There were enough XO laptops for this Nigerian classroom.

(Credit: Ahmad Dan-Hamidu)

Harry McCracken, editor in chief of PC World, is still waiting for his XO laptop. He was one of the first to participate in the promotion, donating $400 to the OLPC on November 12.

Originally, the OLPC told McCracken that he'd have his XO by Christmas, but that got pushed into January, and now representatives tell him he "might have good news in February."

PC World did a more in-depth story on the problems the OLPC is having fulfilling the second part of the "Give One, Get One" program. An OLPC representative said the organization is prioritizing shipments of XO laptops to needy countries, which probably makes sense. But the laptops are in short supply, and issues with addressing and order tracking have compounded the problems.

Peter Glaskowsky of the CNET Blog Network received his XO laptop before New Year's Day, so some shipments are apparently making it through, but the whole affair is another example of the OLPC's rough start to its charitable venture.

The price of the XO laptop has risen steadily, the mass production of the device has been delayed, and founder Nick Negroponte has engaged in a very public spat with Intel over the right of OLPC members to market their own low-cost laptops to the world's developing nations.

[jimteece]

It's True, but People Do have them...

I interviewed a guy at MacWorld with one.<br />It's funny how he is trying to use it outside its intended use. <br /><br /><a class="jive-link-external" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wnP8rRYrH2E" target="_newWindow">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wnP8rRYrH2E</a><br /><br />I bought 4 (2 to donate and 2 to test/evaluate/report on) and have yet to receive my 2, but I have emails from OLPC explaining the delay and keeping me excited.<br /><br />I expect this from a new company and am willing to wait. Doesn't bother me at all.<br /><br />They definitely could use a better ecommerce system with real time tracking, maybe a team of developers will donate one. We would but we are a Microsoft eCommerce Developer and somehow I don't think they would accept my gift. ;)

[az_runner]

I got mine really fast.

Tom,<br />They must have some really bad order fulfillment system. I made <br />my $400.00 donation on December 4. I received a few emails <br />stating I wouldn't receive mine until Q1. Which I was fine with. I <br />got an email on Dec. 22 which repeated the same thing, saying it <br />won't make it in time for Christmas. Then on December 24th I <br />found a box sitting at my front door. There it was, an OLPC, in a <br />really small box. A christmas miracle.<br /><br />On December 25th, I received an email stating that my laptop <br />had shipped. Wow, thanks for the update OLPC!

[jaegeen]

OLPC Non-Delivery

Ordered before Xmas 2008, they charged my card, I made sure they got their matching gift, but no laptop or news of same. Feeling scammed, given their overall non-success.

[SeriesZ]

Quick Delivery - Status Updates from OLPC

Placed my order in late November - at that point, the order page clarified that Christmas arrival was not possible. My unit arrived the first week of January. A nice touch - I received an email update mid-December accurately predicting the delivery week.

[mprleader]

I received 2 XOs quickly

I received mine in time for Christmas in December- I odered mine on the first day -November 12th.

[tribert]

Paid for 2 sets ($800) received 0

I ordered early in December and they charged my credit card on time - can't tell if any were sent to 3rd world. I only know I have not received anything but e-mails teling me they are on the way - Seems like a rip-off - I hope not - this will be very bat if it turn out to be a scam.

[Crunchy Doodle]

Came as promised before Christmas.

After giving $1,000 before the G1G1 program was announced, I was quick to particiapte when it did finally start. I placed my order on the first day. I recieved my grandchildren's two XO machines some days before Christmas as promised.<br /><br />Those dissapointed in slow delivery of their XOs should remember that OLPC is not a commercial for-profit enterprise. They are trying their best to fulfill the G1G1 orders.

[mspday]

got mine

I was happy to get mine before Christmas and give it to another young future PC user. It is a wonderful little unit.

[rwlance]

still waiting

Ordered my G1G1 on Nov 12, told there were "address issues". Just informed this morning it would now be March before any shipments.

[jaridon--2008]

Got mine too

I got my XO just after the New Year. I ordered early, around Nov 19th, before offer was <br />extended to Dec 31. Bummer that others haven't got their XO yet. It's pretty darn cool. My 3-<br />yr old nephew was immediately telling my brother-in-law, "I want one, Daddy!" when I pulled <br />it of my bag; I hadn't even turned the thing on. When out in public I am still honing a <br />standard reply for "What is it?! Is that a real laptop?" A lot of curious people tell me they saw <br />something on 60 Minutes and/or had heard of the $100 Laptop. The free 1-year subscription <br />to T-Mobile was a nice fringe benefit. I was hoping for some of the other power options <br />besides a wall-wart but those are probably only shipped with the laptop destined for a <br />developing country. The SD slot on the button of screen is great for viewing photos I just taken <br />on my digital camera. VNCViewer keeps me in-touch with my Leopard machine at home and <br />Rdesktop keeps me in-touch with my XP machine.<br /><br />Mine is a little quirky sometimes but I'm overall happy. Hopefully some of the kinks get <br />worked out with software updates. I hope OLPC org. gets everything worked out. I still think <br />the XO's open-source platform and kid-friendly suite of apps is better than Intel's Classmate <br />or Asus' EEE. Who cares if it doesn't run Microsoft Office-the XO is built for kids to learn and <br />be creative, not as a platform to train 'em to be good office workers of the future. It's a great <br />machine to surfing web and VNC/RDP/SSH-ing. Attaching a USB keyboard and mouse makes <br />this thing perfectly usable for people with normal-sized hands :). I dig it and I hope those still <br />waiting get to enjoy soon too!!

[joshmadu]

I Want to have a laptop for my own used but there is no money for that here is my postal address E.Y.N Mbulamel P.O.Box 196 Biu Borno state Nigeria I will be happy to see you respond thank very much.