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http://overclockers.com/tips01156/ by Ed Stroligo - 5/22/07
An important topic... I can post new threads in the actual "front page" forum though.
Here is my response to Ed:
The Classmate is NOT more advanced than the OLPC. Why does everyone assume that it is? Just because it says "Intel" on it? The processor is a little faster, that is all, any possible advantages end there. (and after running WinXP and all the TMP-enabled monitoring software that they want you to run I really wonder if it user experience might actually be slower). The OLPC has 3 distinct additional features: webcam, mesh network, microphone. It also has a battery runtime of up to 3x that of the Classmate thanks to the high-contrast reflective monochrome monitor mode and partial suspend capabilities and a battery that will last ~3x as many years before it has to be replaced.
You also didn't outline the reason why they don't want to run closed-source software: because it makes the children dependent on support. That isn't a present.
You also didn't mention that this inflated "x86 market share" would only be an on-paper victory. The geode being sold for the OLPC isn't exactly a high-markup item and the laptops are supposed to last for years so it isn't the start of a recurring revenue stream AND the OLPC isn't branded. It doesn't say AMD on it anywhere. It's not AMD's laptop, it's OLPC's and they could switch to Intel or even Via or Samsung (Neo1973 uses a 266samsung chip similar to the geode). The geode draws about 0.8watts and that includes NB, GPU, and IMC. That's why it was choosen. You should point that out and probably find the specs for the Intel ULV processor that's in the Classmate to show next to it (which has a 400mhz FSB and a 900mhz core clock so it is pretty interesting in itself).
The OLPC isn't just a laptop the way the Classmate is a cheap stripped-down typical laptop. It's designed to be a no-strings-attached tool for children in emerging societies (eh, except the battery, but they choose a battery that far more suited to the task and it's unfortunately unavoidable with current tech). The classmate will require a new battery in 1-2years and the old battery is more toxic and dangerous than the one in the OLPC. The software included with the Classmate is... look right here: http://classmatepc.com/classmatepc-system-software.html after all the lists of TPM enabled software is "Licensing". You should at least mention these things. People that don't know what OLPC X0 is just think it's a regular laptop. And people who aren't familiar with the OLPC project seem to think they are just going to be handed out to children at random with no instruction on how to use them (which is kind of where your second part is headed).
The most important thing though: the Classmate is not not NOT more advanced than the OLPC. If you want to say things like that you should really give some spec comparisons anyway. Overclockers.com isn't the Sunday newspaper, it's a tech site. That's the biggest misconception about this whole OLPC vs. Classmate controversy and it's the one that people hold up most often in defense of intel trying to "compete" with OLPC (when it seems like some of their tactics are motivated by very anti-competitive goals. Giving away a few laptops only to the same countries where OLPC is currently in negotiations to hurt OLPC when they are most vulnerable and lock emerging societies into the same continual-upgrade software and hardware system we're in now).
When OLPC was forming Intel was busy trying to get Prescott to run at 4ghz and didn't have any impressive UMPC chips on their roadmap. It's no wonder they went with AMD. But more importantly: it's not about AMD vs. Intel. Intel seems to be aggressively marketing themselves against OLPC just to stop AMD from selling a few low-markup chips. OLPC is not the kind of organization that should be an acceptable victim of collateral damage.
For those that want detailed information check out www.laptop.org and www.classmatepc.com
An important topic... I can post new threads in the actual "front page" forum though.
Here is my response to Ed:
The Classmate is NOT more advanced than the OLPC. Why does everyone assume that it is? Just because it says "Intel" on it? The processor is a little faster, that is all, any possible advantages end there. (and after running WinXP and all the TMP-enabled monitoring software that they want you to run I really wonder if it user experience might actually be slower). The OLPC has 3 distinct additional features: webcam, mesh network, microphone. It also has a battery runtime of up to 3x that of the Classmate thanks to the high-contrast reflective monochrome monitor mode and partial suspend capabilities and a battery that will last ~3x as many years before it has to be replaced.
You also didn't outline the reason why they don't want to run closed-source software: because it makes the children dependent on support. That isn't a present.
You also didn't mention that this inflated "x86 market share" would only be an on-paper victory. The geode being sold for the OLPC isn't exactly a high-markup item and the laptops are supposed to last for years so it isn't the start of a recurring revenue stream AND the OLPC isn't branded. It doesn't say AMD on it anywhere. It's not AMD's laptop, it's OLPC's and they could switch to Intel or even Via or Samsung (Neo1973 uses a 266samsung chip similar to the geode). The geode draws about 0.8watts and that includes NB, GPU, and IMC. That's why it was choosen. You should point that out and probably find the specs for the Intel ULV processor that's in the Classmate to show next to it (which has a 400mhz FSB and a 900mhz core clock so it is pretty interesting in itself).
The OLPC isn't just a laptop the way the Classmate is a cheap stripped-down typical laptop. It's designed to be a no-strings-attached tool for children in emerging societies (eh, except the battery, but they choose a battery that far more suited to the task and it's unfortunately unavoidable with current tech). The classmate will require a new battery in 1-2years and the old battery is more toxic and dangerous than the one in the OLPC. The software included with the Classmate is... look right here: http://classmatepc.com/classmatepc-system-software.html after all the lists of TPM enabled software is "Licensing". You should at least mention these things. People that don't know what OLPC X0 is just think it's a regular laptop. And people who aren't familiar with the OLPC project seem to think they are just going to be handed out to children at random with no instruction on how to use them (which is kind of where your second part is headed).
The most important thing though: the Classmate is not not NOT more advanced than the OLPC. If you want to say things like that you should really give some spec comparisons anyway. Overclockers.com isn't the Sunday newspaper, it's a tech site. That's the biggest misconception about this whole OLPC vs. Classmate controversy and it's the one that people hold up most often in defense of intel trying to "compete" with OLPC (when it seems like some of their tactics are motivated by very anti-competitive goals. Giving away a few laptops only to the same countries where OLPC is currently in negotiations to hurt OLPC when they are most vulnerable and lock emerging societies into the same continual-upgrade software and hardware system we're in now).
When OLPC was forming Intel was busy trying to get Prescott to run at 4ghz and didn't have any impressive UMPC chips on their roadmap. It's no wonder they went with AMD. But more importantly: it's not about AMD vs. Intel. Intel seems to be aggressively marketing themselves against OLPC just to stop AMD from selling a few low-markup chips. OLPC is not the kind of organization that should be an acceptable victim of collateral damage.
For those that want detailed information check out www.laptop.org and www.classmatepc.com
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