OLPC to distribute in America

The OLPC project was initially set up for the education of children in developing countries. However, rumour has it OLPC is to set its sights on America.

OLPC is a project, which endeavours to provide a bridge to the digital world for children in developing countries. Originally, they had planned to sell the laptops for $100. This resulted in the nickname “the $100 laptop”, which seems somewhat unsuitable now seeing as how the final product came in at $188.

Last week Intel withdrew from the OLPC project citing “philosophical differences” as the reason for parting ways with the company.

These philosophical differences were contested by OLPC bigwig, Nicholas Negropnte, who compared Intel to a alcoholic, cheating spouse. He claimed that Intel was forever trying to flog its goods to their customers. Tut tut.

Now, it looks as though OLPC is to distribute in the States. It hopes to provide the laptops to some of the poorest children in America before the end of 2008.

Negroponte was quoted as saying,

“2008, for us, is a big change because up to now we have been more like a terrorist group, threatening to do something and making big claims."

He does like his analogies, doesn’t he ?