The evolution of portable computing as told through advertising.

1983

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2006

2008

The XO-1, previously known as the $100 Laptop or Children’s Machine, is an inexpensive laptop computer intended to be distributed to children in developing countries around the world, to provide them with access to knowledge, and opportunities to “explore, experiment and express themselves” (constructionist learning). The laptop is developed by the One Laptop per Child (OLPC) social welfare organization, and manufactured by the Taiwanese computer company, Quanta Computer.

The laptops can be sold to governments and issued to children by schools on a basis of one laptop per child. Pricing is currently set to start at US$188 and the goal is to reach the $100 mark in 2008. Approximately 500 developer boards (Alpha-1) were distributed in mid-2006; 875 working prototypes (Beta 1) were delivered in late 2006; 2400 Beta-2 machines were distributed at the end of February 2007; full-scale production started November 6, 2007. Quanta Computer, the project’s contract manufacturer, said in February 2007 that it had confirmed orders for one million units. They indicated they could ship 5 million to 10 million units this year because seven nations have committed to buy the XO-1 for their schoolchildren: Argentina, Brazil, Libya, Nigeria, Rwanda, Thailand, and Uruguay. Quanta plans to offer machines very similar to the XO machine on the open market.

The rugged, low-power computers contain flash memory instead of a hard drive and use Linux as their operating system. Mobile ad-hoc networking is used to allow many machines to share Internet access from one connection.

The OLPC project had stated that a consumer version of the XO laptop is not planned. However, the project has established the laptopgiving.org website for outright donations and for a “Give 1 Get 1″ offer valid (but only to the United States, its territories, and Canadian addresses) from November 12, 2007 until December 31, 2007. It has been rumored that they are planning to put a modified version of Windows XP into their newer laptops.

Specifications

• Manufacturer: Quanta Computer
• Connectivity: 802.11b/g /s wireless LAN
• 3 USB 2.0 ports
• MMC/SD card slot
• Media: 1 GB flash memory
• Operating system: Linux (with Microsoft version planned)
• Built-in still/video camera (640×480; 30 FPS)
• Power: NiMH or LiFePO4 battery removable pack
• CPU: AMD Geode LX700@0.8 W + 5536
• Memory: 256 MB DRAM
• Display: dual-mode 19.1 cm/7.5″ diagonal TFT LCD 1200×900
• Dimensions: 242 mm × 228 mm × 32 mm
• Weight: LiFeP battery: 3.2 pounds; NiMH battery: 3.5 pounds

References

• en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OLPC_XO-1
• www.laptop.org/laptop/

The BlackBerry RIM 957, one the original BlackBerry devices, was a compact mobile e-mailing solution and personal organizer created and manufactured in 2002. The PDA and ‘mobile office’ solution offered wireless email, corporate data access, an organizer, calendar, calculator, paging and wireless internet services.

The embedded RIM wireless modem and 32-bit processor gave the device the ability to integrate seamlessly with existing enterprise email accounts or up to 10 personal and business email accounts, supported by 8 MB of flash memory capacity, plus an addition al 1 MB of RAM. With the RIM 957, a user could receive email forwarded from any email address and reply through the same email for quick mobile communication anywhere in the country.

The device operated in conjunction with a base system, which when turned on redirected email to the handheld, wherever it might have been. The handheld would then chime, vibrate or give the user an on-screen or LED indicator that a new message had arrived.

Weighing in at 4.8 ounces, the device utilized a backlight, QWERTY keyboard and tracking wheel, to improve the user experience, simplifying the sending and receiving of emails, perusal of documents and selection of text on the device. Users could select at 16 or 20 line display on the large, high-resolution display screen, making it possible to read emails quickly and process longer emails more efficiently.

At 4.6 in height, the device looks like a thin stack of cards. It is 3.1 inches wide and almost one inch thick, making it’s compact design an easy fit for purses, pockets or briefcases of on-the-go executives, and with an internal, rechargeable lithium battery that could support up to one week of data or email usage per charge, the RIM 957 was a powerful organizing tool.

A main disadvantage of the RIM 957 was its inability to send attachments, a functionality that most mobile computers find absolutely necessary for out-of-the-office work. It also couldn’t run third-party programs, another distinct disadvantage to its Palm counterparts. This device also synced to a PC, to synchronize scheduling and emails in a flash.

The MuMoH physical collection includes a BlackBerry RIM 957.

References:
http://searchwinit.techtarget.com/handhelds/blackberry957/0,294190,sid1,00.html
http://www.geek.com/review-rim-blackberry-957/
http://na.blackberry.com/eng/devices/archived/857957.jsp#tab_tab_957specs