the best words on the olpc state. . .
http://radian.org/notebook/sic-transit-gloria-laptopi

Amen, Ivan!

and history repeats itself. . .

reminds me of why I left the education sector; the politics overriding the learning, the children. I can't tell you how many "laptop giveaway" projects I've been involved in and even more I've heard of. The same mistakes get made over and over again. "If you give them away, all problems will magically be solved." argh! It's not about the machine, it's the people who use them and genuinely need them but are left with no direction. Start with the learning! I spent a few summers training hundreds of teachers on their new 'free' laptops and yet the trickle to students was negligible. We were literally given a million dollars to spend on hardware but no training development, no curriculum integration and no social issues. I should stop now. . . but only b/c I have a meeting in two hours to discuss, what else, education and free software and new technology in academic settings. Sakai anyone? Connexions?

lol - guess I'm still the idealist who wants to reach those billion children. If Ivan and Walter do start the Open Learning foundation you can bet I'll be sending my resume.