The sub-$100 price tag will be prove even more astounding if the XO-3 fulfills its creators’ goals of melding the iPad, Kindle, and laptop into a durable, kid-friendly package.
But is this a realistic goal for such a low-cost device? Given the history of OLPC’s much-ballyhooed $100 laptop, which never quite hit its aggressive price point and now costs nearly twice as much (you can donate one for $199 to a child in a developing nation), I have my doubts. And don’t forget about the abandoned XO-2 touchscreen device, a project cancelled last year when OLPC realized the unit would cost too much to make, Forbes reports.
So what do we know about the XO-3? It’s expected to be a 9-inch touchscreen tablet powered by a 1GHz processor, although the specs could change between now and CES. Made mostly (but not entirely) of plastic, it may also feature a reflective (non-backlit) display, such as those found on the Kindle and similar e-readers. A reflective screen, which uses less energy and is easier to read in direct sunlight, would benefit kids who do a lot of schoolwork outdoors. A backlit display, however, is easier to read indoors, particularly in rooms with little ambient light.
Laptops, Not Tablets
By comparison, a conventional laptop has a physical keyboard, and its conventional clamshell design is better suited to a desk-oriented classroom setting. True, the laptop may not be particularly sexy or in fashion this season, but it’ll likely offer a better educational payoff.
A tablet may be a better form factor for electronic textbooks, but the XO-3’s barebones design–again, tailored for the needs of developing nations–may make the device an underpowered, ergonomically poor choice for e-textbooks (provided they’re available).
What do you think? Laptops or tablets for the classroom?
Contact Jeff Bertolucci via Twitter (@jbertolucci) or at jbertolucci.blogspot.com.