Everyone wants an XO laptop today
I assume like many of you I also signed up on the Give 1, Get 1 website when I first heard about One Laptop Per Child's XO sales event. Last Thursday I received a first message with the title "Give One Get One starts soon" from OLPC that contained some details about when G1G1 would start.
I was a bit surprised when I also read the following paragraph (emphasis mine):
"Give One Get One" is the only time we are making the revolutionary XO laptop available to the public.Now honestly, can anyone give me a good reason why OLPC would want to restrict the public's access to the clock-stopping hot OLPC X0 to this once in a lifetime chance? Because I honestly can't think of one...
Plus it's not like nobody outside the United States and Canada (the only ship-to addresses for X0 via G1G1) is interested in purchasing those green machines. How can a project like OLPC - that's per definition a global one - limit such as once in a lifetime chance to North America? Doesn't seem to make sense to me, even if OLPC News has a workaround for international geeks!
But now, after reading yesterday's e-mail update from G1G1 I'm not even sure too many people in North America will be able to have an X0 sitting under their Christmas tree. Or how do you interpret the following sentence with my emphasis added:
"This is the only time we're making the XO laptop available to the public and quantities are limited, so early purchasers have a better chance of receiving their XO laptops by the holidays.Is it only me or does that really sound as though they're not sure whether they'll be able to ship a significant quantity of G1G1 laptops before Christmas? Think about this for a second: According to various news-sources (such as ZDnet):
"Quanta is currently producing 15,000 [XO laptops that is] per month but those numbers will rise"
So when exactly are the G1G1 orders going to be produced? Early 2008? Because I certainly do hope that X0s produced for countries that are going to start implementing the X0s soon have a higher priority than the one's that Santa is supposed to bring - children first, then geeks. All in all I'd say that the way OLPC is communicating about G1G1 is less than stellar.
I'm honestly afraid that there will be a public outcry in both the blogosphere and traditional media outlets if not all (or at least a majority of) G1G1 orders arrives in time for Christmas. But on the other hand I would consider it outright stupid to sell X0s in the USA and Canada when the demand from Uruguay and Peru can't be met!
Related OLPC + G1G1 Links
I would rather get mine in March if Peru and Uruguay were ready to receive them ahead of me.
Hi -- It's Tuesday morning (11/13) about 9:30 EST.
I've just skimmed all comments to recent olpcnews posts. I still don't see a comment from anyone who ordered by phone who has said that their credit card account has been charged.
If you are reading this message, and you ordered a G1G1 by phone, could you please post a comment letting us know if you have been charged yet, and, if so, if you were charged shipping?
I really think today would be a good day for the actual OLPC folks to step in with an official press release update, letting us know how the first day went, how many orders they got, and whether those folks who ordered by phone will be charged the same shipping as the online folks.
Wayan, can you communicate with Negroponte's people directly, and start a new post letting us know what you find out? Thanks~
My guess is that the G1G1 program is a one-time offer because the OLPC team have limited resources. A retail sales program takes both time and people to manage it, which distracts from the main mission of OLPC. That's probably why there have not been much follow up communications since G1G1 began yesterday. The G1G1 program is only intended to kick-start the educational program. If it is successful, then there will be no need for a follow on retail sales program.
I think that this is the only time they will offer XOs to the public because Quanta is going to produce and sell some kind of consumer-American version of the product. It may even be BETTER than the XO, and it may cost a bit more (than $200).
OLPC cut a deal with Quanta so they could do this one-time special offer in order to get exposure for the machines. It is a MIRACLE deal, really... and I'm happy to be part of it.
There may be more, similar specials later... but they may be with the XO vs. 2, or some such. But the G1G1 program is probably (sadly) a very limited time offer.
I hope I'm wrong, or I hope that the success of the program leads to making it permanent!
ALSO: I still have not received any kind of e-mail confirmation from OLPC (just Paypal), and I have not seen a charge on my account for either the phone order or the Paypal order.
did anyone order online with a credit card?
i'm in canada trying to participate in g1g1, but my credit cards i use get a cryptic error message: "The credit card you entered cannot be used for this payment. Please enter a different credit card number."
i've tried both visa and mastercard (non-expired), on Mac as well as WinXP... i don't know what's wrong. i don't have a paypal account.
anyone have the same problem?
can anyone steer me in the right direction?
I tried to use a couple of credit cards and got the same error messages. I do have a PayPal account so I went to the PayPal option and changed my payment method to use a credit card and that worked ok. I wondered if the problem with the credit cards was actually a server doing validation being too busy but that was just a guess. Maybe you could wait a while and try again.
I ordered by phone yesterday morning. No email confirmation, and no charge yet on my credit card.
1) I ordered with my credit card online and didn't have a problem. However, I did read on a different thread that there was some sort of limitation on non-US credit cards, but I would think Canadian cards would be okay. Maybe just call in?
2) I agree with the others that it is more important to get the gifted XOs to the kids in Uruguay and the like, but of course it would be nice to get mine before Christmas...
John S.
I asked OLPC's press agents for an update, and got an answer at 11:00 EST (12/13). Here's what I asked:
((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((
Hi -- we're wondering:
* how the first day of the g1g1 program went
* if phone orders have been processed yet
* if phone orders will be charged the same shipping fee that online orders are being charged
Can you send out a clarifying press release? When you do, what's the website for olpc foundation press releases?
Thanks~
(((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((
Here's their entire response:
)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))
We're not disclosing the number of orders. First day went very well.
Orders are charge the same shipping fee whether entered online or via phone.
The website address is www.laptopgiving.org. There is no web site for press releases.
)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))
The "Give 1" part comes before the "Get 1." Plus, we're dealing with woolly academics here, not 47th St Photo. (As a woolly academic myself, I can say that.)
So we get ours in March. So what? How many of us were actually planning to give our XO to a six year-old? Any six year-old who tries to get mine is going to have to pry it out of my cold dead fingers.
/*... tiptoes out to the mailbox, yet again, just in case it arrived...*/
Like many others, I ordered via phone in the first hour of sales. I'm hoping the order gets processed in a timely manner. I won't be bitterly disappointed if the order fails (but my technologically inept wife is DYING to go online without Windows drama).
Plus....I actually am happy to have given a laptop and some educational potential to some child someplace in the world.
My PayPal account (which had $400+ in it) was debited as soon as I checked my account, after I'd ordered online. I haven't checked with AmEx to see if my phone order went through or not. My write-up of my buying experience is on my ConFigures blog, linked from my name above.
... linked from my name *below*, that is.
Got a confirmation email from PayPal, right away. None from OLPC for online or phone orders.
I think delivery time also depends if the laptops for Urugay, Peru and America will be the same. Quanta is very flexilbe, but producing big batches of identical products reduces the costs. And i asume that there will be different keyboards and porpably differences in the mainboard like the theft protection. I hope they don't wait to start the production for the G1G1 program till the last order is in and they know the size of the lot.
"We're not disclosing the number of orders. First day went very well."
I wonder why? Plainly they realize there are a lot of enthusiastic supporters out here, so it just seems rude (and counter productive) to keep us all in the dark regarding shipping, the progress of the initiative and whatnot.
I do believe most of us participating support the underlying goal of the program moreso than merely wanting a nifty new toy for ourselves; so if there are problems and the like, I suspect most of us would be more understanding than say the folks standing in line for the earliest iPhones. Nevertheless, this whole just keeping people in the dark is very annoying and seems almost like an insult to a lot of us well-meaning folks that really are interested in helping the program and seeing it succeed.
thanks for all the comments, i didn't know you could order on the phone. just did it, so hopefully i get it soon! thanks to everyone and their information and help.
This may be stating the obvious - but I REALLY hope that they arrive in time for X-mas. Because I actually am planning on giving the computer to my 5-year daughter (I'll get my time on the machine, quixote, after she's asleep).
As for g1g1 order potentially coming AFTER the big Uruguay & Peru orders, that seems unnecessary to me, and would just bum folks like us out - they're biggest supporters. How big could the g1g1 quantities be? They should ship partial quantities as they're available (how many XO's per container?). Other wise Quanta's holding a lot of product just waiting for the full quantities to be produced.
And if ordering at the beginning of g1g1 purchase window increases your chance of getting it before X-mas, they're already doing this - albeit on a smaller scale, no?
"We're not disclosing the number of orders. First day went very well."
I wonder why? Plainly they realize there are a lot of enthusiastic supporters out here, so it just seems rude (and counter productive) to keep us all in the dark regarding shipping, the progress of the initiative and whatnot.
I do believe most of us participating support the underlying goal of the program moreso than merely wanting a nifty new toy for ourselves; so if there are problems and the like, I suspect most of us would be more understanding than say the folks standing in line for the earliest iPhones. Nevertheless, this whole just keeping people in the dark is very annoying and seems almost like an insult to a lot of us well-meaning folks that really are interested in helping the program and seeing it succeed.
John said "Nevertheless, this whole just keeping people in the dark is very annoying and seems almost like an insult to a lot of us well-meaning folks that really are interested in helping the program and seeing it succeed."
I absolutely agree with you! That's also why I wrote "All in all I'd say that the way OLPC is communicating about G1G1 is less than stellar." in the original article...
Not sure whether I had missed that before or if OLPC updated the G1G1 website at http://www.laptopgiving.org/en/give-one-get-one.php but right now it says:
"Please be aware that we will make every effort to deliver the XO laptops by the holidays, but quantities are limited. Early purchasers have the best chance of receiving their XO laptops in time for the holidays, but we cannot guarantee timing."
// So what? How many of us were actually planning to give our XO to a six year-old? Any six year-old who tries to get mine is going to have to pry it out of my cold dead fingers. //
I plan to give it to my 7 year-old daughter. She enjoys using my (or my wife's computer) and will be excited to have a kid-friendly machine of her own.... so I *do* hope that it arrives in time for the holidays.
[I can always use it after her bedtime.]
Yippie ! I got official confirmation from olpc about my xo order. I ordered 2 ( well 4, 2 for me 2 for developing countries ). Of the 2 I get ,one is for myself and the other is for my 4 year old.
Confirmation came today in the form of a email from olpc. I ordered online at 7 am est on the 12th. I have checked and the payment has posted to my credit acct I used. The email states -
"As a "Give One Get One" donor, you will receive one of the first XO laptops to be distributed in North America. Laptops will be delivered on a first come, first served basis. While early purchasers have the best chance of receiving their XO laptops in time for the holidays, quantities are limited and we cannot guarantee timing. We will provide you with regular email updates".
Now it's just wait and see..........
yeah, me too. I received OLPC's official confirmation letter this morning also. I must admit, knowing my order is now "in their system" does take a huge wait off my chest.
How do I order 4 OLPC's computers for our organization to evaluate for the kingdoms and chiefdoms. our organization is Cultural Roots Foundation. We are based in Uganda. This organization promotes development through culture. How much do I pay for them. When can i get them.