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[Julianna]

I tried to stay objective as possible and tried to keep in mind that this is an educational tool, not a consumer product. But I also didn't hold back:

http://blog.juliannayau.com/2008/01/15/xo-laptop-impressions/

I really do want to know what people think of my first impressions. I haven't really noticed any of the issues I highlighted as ones perceived by others, so I'm starting to wonder whether my XO doesn't like the Canadian weather or I'm just plain crazy.

Comments welcome here or on my blog.

Now I'm going to take a break and see if I can find some resolutions to those issues!

[Julianna]

Update: seeing as how the primary reason for my disappointment is the keyboard, and Fricka thinks I have a defective unit, I'm sending in an RMA and keeping my fingers crossed!

[Brian Basgen]

 You certainly have a defective unit, no doubt about it. The keys should register with a slight depression -- no work, and certainly no pounding!

 A bad keyboard or mouse can *completely* alter your computer experience. This is your only input method to the computer, and without it functional, you are sure to think your XO is a brick!

 As for the touchpad, they are working on expanding its capabilities, for example to use with a stylus, etc.

[Julianna]

Thanns, Brian.
Aterthe fefar of going through an RMA process,Ideided togie it another tyr

this s the gibberish I'm ettng withthe smepressure I woud for anormal keyboard.

Sigh.

----

Translated, with much concentration and pressure:

Thanks, Brian.

After the fear of going through the RMA process, I decided to give it another try.

This is the gibberish I'm getting with the same pressure I would [use] for another keyboard.

Sigh.

[olpc_franco]

Julianna, Why are you struggling?  Get an external usb keyboard.  I can type normally with mine usb keyboard,  and a wireless usb mouse beats using the touchpad.  I would suggest it even if you send it in and get a replacement.
p.s., my keyboard cost $1 at a garage sale!  Or look on craigslist.com for your area.

[Julianna]

Thanks for the suggestion. I have a wireless mouse (haven't tried it with the XO yet), but don't think I'm going to bother with the external keyboard. Too may peripherals make me miss the experience of the compactness of the computer.

I'm going to have a quick dinner and give OLPC a call. Hopefully, the new one will have a more responsive keyboard

[Frank Scott]

Sorry to hear about your negative first impressions with the XO, Julianna, but a defective keyboard obviously made it very difficult to play around with the machine, and would give someone a very bad impression right from the start.

I second the nomination about using a  wireless mouse, although the problems with the touchpad should be fixed soon, hopefully with Update.1, which should be released on or about January 25th. The software on the XO is very much a work in progress.

I really enjoyed your blog, and I was interested to read that the Asus Eee has an advanced mode. I'm going to play around with some alternate operating systems on the XO to see if I can make this a more adult experience, but I may consider an Asus Eee if the XO doesn't meet my subcompact needs, and donate my XO to one of the local schools.

[Carol]

Julianna,

You have some perceptive comments on Sugar.  I'm very anxious for the developers to implement their goals in creating it, not for myself, but because I see it as a way my pre-school nieces can do serious and innovative as well as fun stuff on their computers without a steep learning curve.  I also see it as a way of modeling non-hierarchial structures for them, which aligns with my personal values.

A couple thoughts on why your XO didn't recognize the Sandisk 512MB Cruzer Micro USB flash drive.  If it's been reformatted in NTFS, the XO won't see it.  Another possibility, one of my USB mice (the green Saitek) doesn't work with the XO when the XO boots with the mouse in the USB slot.  Each time I have to insert it after the XO boots.  Could this be the case with your Sandisk?  I haven't seen reports on this, so my thought may be off the wall.

[Julianna]

Thanks for the feedback. It's reassuring to know that it's a defect (and that I'm not going crazy). Once I get the new one, I'll do a "First impressions - take 2" and hopefully have better results.

That I know of, the USB flash drive hasn't been reformatted to the NTFS format. I plugged it in after the boot, so I'll have to play around with it.

[tdang]

I'm unobjectively into the XO (at least for now), so I want to leap to its defense. It's too bad about the hardware trouble (we got 3, and one had a bad keyboard, though in a different way than yours). I can't empathize about tapping the touchpad, because I hate that and always turn it off as soon as possible. But still, I don't know if there's a good reason not to have it available (or if it is available and it's just a software thing?)

I do want to point out that some of your difficulty--needing to visit these forums to figure out about Journals and removable media--is addressed with pretty pictures and everything on the "getting started" pages that you're pointed to in the little flyer.

And I gather the oddness of the SD slot is likely deliberate, and partly about the target. It's not intended to be treated as a removable media slot so much as a more-or-less permanent expansion slot.

I hope you & I both get back our machines with happier keyboards soonish.

-Timothy

[Julianna]

I'm on hold (and being thanked for calling every minute), so here's a less rushed reply:

With the software release on the 25th, I may have a much better first impression because I suspect my new unit won't arrive until after that. Just out of curiosity, does the right-click button do anything for anyone right now?

Not to dissuade people from the XO (really...I know I was harsh on the XO in my review, but my intent was not to totally slam it ), but I am loving the Eee. I suspect that even with a functional keyboard, the XO will be a close second to the Eee, but still a second, for consumer needs. Minus the crazy keyboard issues and plus some enhancements to the software, the XO should be a nice little laptop for educational purposes (at least for the age range they're targeting). I do notice that it's a bit slower than expected for loading Activities and webpages, though. Things like that I'm willing to allow

I don't have kids, but I talked to a co-worker who has two younger kids about having them play with it. I'm very interested to see them interact with it. The design of the XO is, IMO, very appealing to kids. It's just so darned cute!

Also, does anyone know what the hand Icon does? I'm assuming it is to get the teacher's attention...

[Lori]

Just out of curiosity, it it possible to have them look at the Asus, too?  Specifically does the interface make any difference?  The Hole in the Wall experiment seem to show interfaces don't matter and I'm wondering about Sugar vs Xandros(?)
Thanks,

http://www.hole-in-the-wall.com/new-way-to-learn.html

[Ben James Ben]

Just out of curiosity, does the right-click button do anything for anyone right now?

No. The developers haven't implemented any functionality yet for the second trackpad button.

[Julianna]

I called OLPC:
http://blog.juliannayau.com/2008/01/15/update-on-my-xo/

The one good thing about not getting your XO until January is they have procedures to handle all these issues. *sad smile*

Lori, that's a good idea. The machines are a similar size, so I'll bring both (then the other won't feel left out). I know they're allowed to use the family computer, so they'll be familiar with computers already. Not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing. I'll probably leave Xandros in "easy" mode for a more even compare.

[Lori]

thanks,
here's an interesting cartoon from unicef re:  education for children

http://hiwel.blogspot.com/2007/11/child-right.html

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