One of my coworkers brought in an XO laptop today purchased via the Give One Get One program. I took some quick snapshots of the unit via my iPhone so I apologize for the grainy low resolution images. I also had my SLR on hand so I’ll post up those pictures later on tonight. Here are some of my initial thoughts on the XO laptop based on my 5 minutes of usage.

• Remember – it’s for kids. The keyboard is small and rubbery – designed to handle abuse, dirt, and liquids etc. It’s not at all ideal for the larger hands of an adult. I find it easier to type on my iPhone!
• It’s heavier than I thought..
• While certainly designed for the kids, the user interface is far from intuitive in my opinion. Of course, once you get used to it, everything will make sense.. but right from the get go, you’re left wondering where to begin.
• Mesh network feature is pretty nifty – of course assuming you’re in a classroom full of other kids with XO laptops
• The screen is OK.. not amazing but not horrible either
• Sturdy construction – will probably survive many drops to the ground which is important in third world countries

OK. that’s it for now. I have to remember that the XO is designed for kids in developing nations. With that in mind, I still have to wonder if more attention should have been paid to the user interface.

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