I have launched a video-blog for OLPC XO video news at: http://olpc.tv
The OLPC XO is the laptop computer on the right, while the computer on the left is an old fashion bloated Intel or AMD-based computer running old fashioned and bloated Red Hat Linux OS (better than Microsoft software though). This picture is posted by Christoffer Blizzard.
- OLPC XO consumes much less power than old fashioned Intel/Microsoft laptop computers. Probably something like… 10 times less power.
- OLPC XO has a better, higher resolution and sunlight readable screen, much better than traditionnal LCDs on Intel/Microsoft computers.
- OLPC XO is ten times cheaper than Intel/Microsoft computers.
- OLPC XO comes with faster bootup, faster Linux OS, more optimized open-source OS and applications unlike Intel/Microsoft computers that forces Windows XP and proprietary software on us all.
- OLPC XO has developped a power-saving way of shutting down the AMD Geode processor and storing screen informations in a buffer most of the time, when the CPU is not required, a thing Intel/Microsoft computers do not have with their traditionnal Intel CPUs.
- OLPC XO comes with revolutionnary Wi-Fi Mesh chip that has its own processor, consuming less than 0.5 watts, maybe even as low as 0.2 watts to be running 24 hours a day for 5-6 days before recharge, constantly being able to forward packets for other OLPC XO or other Wi-Fi Mesh appliances. Something Intel/Microsoft computers provide non of. Intel/Microsoft computers consume lots of power having to run the main CPU all the time even when it is not needed. On a Intel/Microsoft computer, to use any Wi-Fi application, the main CPU has got to run, and sometimes also the LCD, making the Intel/Microsoft computers useless to use it as always-on VOIP devices, waking up on incomming VOIP/IM/Email/RSS or other incomming packets.
What happened since this computer revolution is underway? My theory is that some rich companies together with Nicholas Negroponte’s team at the MIT have finally decided to invest in ending the bloated Intel/Microsoft, also called Wintel monopoly. One based on forcing bloated software onto the public, bloated software requiring expensive supercomputers costing a 1000$ or more just to run basic applications. Of which 95% of normal computer users only need to browse the Internet together with some other basic features like Internet telephony, Internet messaging, Email notifications and Multimedia playback, all of which does not require expensive supercomputers to run at standard resolutions.
What will happen I think in the very near future, thanks partly to the amazing OLPC XO project, is that suddently very cheap computers will be replacing the traditionnal Intel/Microsoft platforms, I am in fact hoping that I can soon replace my year-old 2200$ Acer laptop computer running Windows XP on a dual-core Intel processor, that I will be able to replace it with a much better performing 300$ Linux computer, having optimized processing power for basic applications that I use like browsing/VOIP/IM/Email, and I will need to have the optimized HD video DSP co-processor, a removable iVDR slot for inserting any 2.5″ hard drive up to 200GB, with Wi-Fi Mesh, HSDPA and WiMax modules.
Who among Google, IBM or Dell are first going to be mass-producing optimized and commercial Linux solutions inspired by the innovations provided by the OLPC XO project? I think that they must all be hard at work on it, and we will see the transition in our society very soon from Intel/Microsoft platforms to Optimized-low-power-CPU with optionnal cheap and low-power DSP co-processor for HD video processing running free and open-source Linux software.
