@jrghoull: ""The guy may actually care."-he might, but i'd wager money that he doesn't."

Ok, I'll take that bet. I don't know Masi personally, but from what I've heard he sounds very sensible and sincere.

Making the leap from Masi Oka to a lot of "celebertiese", you turn to grandiose generalizations. He's not trying to save kids one at a time like Angelina or Madonna, he's just trying to help get the kids some education. And if doing so happens to be good for his image, what's wrong with that?

Not everyone in Hollyweird has to be a money-grubbing cynic you know...

ideaman2020

@weatherman: Yes! How many of the bargain comparisons tearing down the OLPC have no need for an electrical outlet? None.

Brookespeed

I think another important qualification the guy has - the omission of which is just irresponsible journalism - is a degree in computer science from Brown.

Jawbreaker4Fs

@wilcon

"$200 in a developing country is alot of money, $100 is alot. You want to really do something, find a way to fund it through donations with tax incesntives, supply them to all countries based on qualifiers and make em free."

easier said then done. thats basically what the buy one give one program is all about.

jrghoull

@wilcon

"The guy may actually care."-he might, but i'd wager money that he doesn't. A lot of celebertiese have claimed to care about big issues either because they have been paid to or because it makes them look good. My bet is that he has chosen this to make himself look good...largely because something like this sets him apart from all the other celebertiese who normally scream about the starving ethiopians (aka, i agree with gizmodo's little translation).

"While the concept is great for OLPC the fact that other computers are getting near the same price point and are at Wal-Mart kinda ruins the premise."-you have to realize that the olpc is not just another computer and that the makers are not following this like a regular business plan. those low end wal mart computers are just looking for ways to get the most out of their product. by using linux, they can cut costs without actually using money. the olpc group itself is not about making money, but (as you know) is about making cheap reliable computers for children. Also mind u, while the prices are going down, companies like wal-mart are looking to charge as much as they think they can get away with. The olpc may be about 200 right now, but in a few years that price is expected to drop substancially, and the olpc could possibly go from 200, to under 100.

jrghoull

If you look at a post here on Giz they have one going on sale for $348. I agree with all your sentiments except that $200 in a developing country is alot of money, $100 is alot. You want to really do something, find a way to fund it through donations with tax incesntives, supply them to all countries based on qualifiers and make em free. Poor people exist everywhere not just in India, or China. We have people here in the US that can't get a computer but we don't help them.

WilCon

First, the lowest priced laptop available at Walmart.com right now is $700. Second, even when you can find a laptop for $300, those aren't in the same market space. I'm pretty tired of this debate - if you don't get the idea of a solid-state, linux-based, rugged, low-power (with renewable power source), mesh-networked, low-priced computer for the developing world, nothing anyone can say will convince you.

Back to Masi; they couldn't have a better spokesperson. Nice move on his part.

weatherman

The guy may actually care. While the concept is great for OLPC the fact that other computers are getting near the same price point and are at Wal-Mart kinda ruins the premise.

WilCon

I really am curious: can Gizmodo collect its thoughts and publish an article titled "This Is Why We Hate the OLPC?" I really don't understand the spit and bile over it. As others have said, it's ultra rugged, readable in direct sunlight, can be charged with a bit of string, and has instant accessibility to source code with every program. This thing is an educational dream - and at $188, is freakin' amazing to say the least. Would it be preferred if the project was just not launched for another year or two when the magic $100 price point can be reached to satiate PR geeks and those who say "Nuh-uh! He said $100 first! :-P" I'd rather this get deployed sooner rather than later, thanks.

killingdrew

ironic, in the philippines the word "NAKAMURA" actually means "bought it for a bargain".

niel718

i like masi oka though.. a good actor. erm, i think his sincere..

Amiash

Here's a nice little interview with the man.[www.wired.com] Maybe, as JawBreaker4FS has remarked, he is really qualified to represent the OLPC.

edythemighty

I like the previous comment, because it sets up mine perfectly. There is something seriously wrong with the "philosophy" of this generation that if someone does something good, that makes them look good (because it's good), then, that's bad. WTF MFers!!!! Get a clue!

crazymike