{"id":22292,"date":"2025-10-06T12:29:48","date_gmt":"2025-10-06T16:29:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/?page_id=22292"},"modified":"2026-06-22T14:38:37","modified_gmt":"2026-06-22T18:38:37","slug":"vin170","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/vintage-computing\/item\/vin170\/","title":{"rendered":"OLPC XO"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<section class=\"w-screen px-6 cu-section cu-section--white ml-offset-center md:px-8 lg:px-14\">\n    <div class=\"space-y-6 cu-max-w-child-5xl  md:space-y-10 cu-prose-first-last\">\n\n            <div class=\"cu-textmedia flex flex-col lg:flex-row mx-auto gap-6 md:gap-10 my-6 md:my-12 first:mt-0 max-w-5xl\">\n        <div class=\"justify-start cu-textmedia-content cu-prose-first-last\" style=\"flex: 0 0 100%;\">\n            <header class=\"font-light prose-xl cu-pageheader md:prose-2xl cu-component-updated cu-prose-first-last\">\n                                    <h1 class=\"cu-prose-first-last font-semibold !mt-2 mb-4 md:mb-6 relative after:absolute after:h-px after:bottom-0 after:bg-cu-red after:left-px text-3xl md:text-4xl lg:text-5xl lg:leading-[3.5rem] pb-5 after:w-10 text-cu-black-700 not-prose\">\n                        OLPC XO\n                    <\/h1>\n                \n                                \n                            <\/header>\n\n                    <\/div>\n\n            <\/div>\n\n    <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button is-style-fill\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/vintage-computing\/item\">Vintage Computing Collection<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"olpc-xo\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">OLPC XO<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>[Vin170]<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright\"><a href=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/PXL_20251006_140926748-scaled.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"400\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/PXL_20251006_140926748-400x300.jpg\" alt=\"One Laptop Per Child XO\" class=\"wp-image-22294\" srcset=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/PXL_20251006_140926748-400x300.jpg 400w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/PXL_20251006_140926748-160x120.jpg 160w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/PXL_20251006_140926748-240x180.jpg 240w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/PXL_20251006_140926748-768x577.jpg 768w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/PXL_20251006_140926748-1536x1153.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/PXL_20251006_140926748-2048x1538.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/PXL_20251006_140926748-800x600.jpg 800w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/PXL_20251006_140926748-360x270.jpg 360w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The OLPC XO laptop, also known as the &#8220;$100 Laptop&#8221; or &#8220;Children&#8217;s Machine,&#8221; was a landmark in computing history as one of the first rugged, low-cost, low-power laptops designed specifically for children in developing countries to facilitate education and self-directed learning. Its notable features include a durable design, power-efficient hardware with a unique sunlight-readable display, and a Fedora Linux-based OS with the child-friendly Sugar interface. The XO was important for pioneering affordable educational technology worldwide; however, it never reached its promised $100 price, was only moderately popular with about 3 million units delivered globally, and faced significant challenges in adoption and impact.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Manufacturer<\/strong>: Quanta Computer<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Type<\/strong>: Laptop<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Release Date<\/strong>: 2007<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Cost at release<\/strong>: USD $100 (CAD $160 adjusted for inflation)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>MIPS<\/strong>: 0.5 &#8211; 1.0 (&lt;1000 KIPS)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"hardware-specifications\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"TextRun SCXW36078203 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW36078203 BCX0\">Hardware Specifications<\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>CPU<\/strong>: AMD Geode LX (x86-compatible) 433 MHz<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Memory<\/strong>: 256 MiB DDR<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Mass storage<\/strong>: 1 GiB SLC NAND flash (many units); some later or special units used 2 GiB or larger flash\/microSD expansion<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Graphics<\/strong>: Integrated graphics in the Geode\/companion chipset with unified memory architecture and a display controller (DCON) that can keep the screen active while the CPU sleeps to save power<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Display<\/strong>: 7.5&#8243; dual\u2011mode TFT (sunlight\u2011readable reflective grayscale mode and color backlit mode) with a perceived high-resolution rendering using subpixel sampling (grayscale mode very low power)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Battery<\/strong>: Replaceable rechargeable battery options (NiMH on early units; later LiFePO4 packs used in production) with typical battery life around 3 hours for XO-1 (longer on later revisions)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Power options<\/strong>: Support for solar chargers and external power solutions (and prototypes included hand-crank concepts)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Networking<\/strong>: Built-in 802.11b\/g Wi\u2011Fi with mesh networking support (802.11s-style mesh), integrated dual rotating antennas for diversity and mesh operation<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Camera<\/strong>: Integrated color camera (approx. 640\u00d7480) capable of video and usable as a sensor for educational experiments<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Audio<\/strong>: AC\u201997-compatible audio, internal stereo speakers, internal microphone, and headphone\/mic jacks<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Input<\/strong>: Rubber-membrane sealed keyboard (multi-language layouts), directional\/game keys, and a touchpad\/stylus area depending on revision<figure><a href=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/PXL_20251006_150325102-scaled.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright size-large wp-image-22297\" src=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/PXL_20251006_150325102-400x300.jpg\" alt=\"One laptop per child XO\" width=\"400\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/PXL_20251006_150325102-400x300.jpg 400w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/PXL_20251006_150325102-160x120.jpg 160w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/PXL_20251006_150325102-240x180.jpg 240w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/PXL_20251006_150325102-768x577.jpg 768w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/PXL_20251006_150325102-1536x1153.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/PXL_20251006_150325102-2048x1538.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/PXL_20251006_150325102-800x600.jpg 800w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/PXL_20251006_150325102-360x270.jpg 360w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"operating-system-programming-languages\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"TextRun SCXW136206418 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW136206418 BCX0\">Operating System &amp; Programming Languages<\/span><\/span><span class=\"EOP SCXW136206418 BCX0\" data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559685&quot;:0}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list marker:text-textOff list-disc\">\n<li><p class=\"my-0\"><strong>Operating System<\/strong>: Fedora-derived Linux distribution with the Sugar learning environment<\/p><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Supported Languages<\/strong>:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Python (Python 2.5 on early XOs) and the Sugar Activity API, with many Activities authored in Python.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>JavaScript (in browser activities), Squeak\/Smalltalk (Etoys), Turtle Art (visual programming), Csound (music programming), and ActionScript\/Flash support via Gnash in some builds.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Native\/low\u2011level options: C and C++ development was possible using standard GNU toolchains on the Fedora base, and developers could install Mono\/.NET in some deployments to run C# code, though additional dependencies increased footprint.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Firmware\/boot: Open Firmware (a Forth\u2011style environment) was used on the XO hardware for low\u2011level access when developer modes were enabled.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"notables\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Notables<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Nicknames: \u201c$100 Laptop,\u201d \u201cChildren\u2019s Machine,\u201d and the \u201cgreen machine.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Famous firsts: Early mass effort to produce a sunlight-readable, extremely low\u2011power, rugged laptop intended for children at scale and one of the first widely publicized attempts at mesh networking for classroom collaboration.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Design notables: Distinctive bright green rubber bumpers, rotatable antenna\/port covers, rubberized keyboard, and reversible\/sunlight-readable dual\u2011mode display designed by Yves B\u00e9har\u2019s Fuseproject.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Technical firsts\/unusuals: Fanless, solid\u2011state design with display controller (DCON) that could keep the screen active while the CPU slept to save power.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Cultural impact: Inspired later low\u2011cost netbooks and Chromebooks and pushed education ministries worldwide to commit to one\u2011to\u2011one computing initiatives despite mixed long\u2011term outcomes.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Popularity\/fate: Over 3 million units shipped but fell short of lofty distribution goals and faced criticism for implementation and sustainability problems.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Famous ads: \u201cGive One Get One\u201d campaigns (buy one, donate one) and high-profile promotional spots including a John Lennon style ad used online during the 2008 campaign.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Donated by<\/strong>: Dr. Robert Biddle<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button is-style-fill\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/vintage-computing\/item\">Vintage Computing Collection<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>OLPC XO [Vin170] The OLPC XO laptop, also known as the &#8220;$100 Laptop&#8221; or &#8220;Children&#8217;s Machine,&#8221; was a landmark in computing history as one of the first rugged, low-cost, low-power laptops designed specifically for children in developing countries to facilitate education and self-directed learning. Its notable features include a durable design, power-efficient hardware with a [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":19704,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_cu_dining_location_slug":"","footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"cu_page_type":[90,123],"class_list":["post-22292","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry","cu_page_type-vintage-computing","cu_page_type-vintage-inventory"],"acf":{"cu_post_thumbnail":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/22292","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=22292"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/22292\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":25105,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/22292\/revisions\/25105"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/19704"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=22292"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"cu_page_type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/cu_page_type?post=22292"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}