I recently received the XO computer which is a laptop computer being distributed to children around the world. The lime green and white computer looks like the pictures that I’ve seen on the Internet. As I expected, it is very well-built. The fully enclosed keyboard has a surprisingly good tactile feel. I was, however, completely blown away by the computer itself. I expected it to be at least somewhat like the laptops that I am used to. It is not at all like a Lenovo or Toshiba. Not only is the interface completely different, the emphasis of the computer itself is different. Perhaps a child who has had not previous contact with a computer would find it intuitive, but every computer-literate child and adult that has looked at it has not found it intuitive at all. It is different than the computers we are used to.

I guess I expected to find a laptop that a child could pick up and use without any tutoring. I don’t think the XO fits that definition. It is obviously meant for a classroom setting where the teacher, at least at first, leads the children in their exploration of the laptop. It is also obvious that one of the main focuses of this laptop is collaboration. It is difficult to even review just one unit, because the XO is so obviously made to attach to a mesh network and have all of the children working in collaboration with each other. The other emphasis is on imagination. The drawing program is fantastic. Not only can you draw things, you can animate them. Having that rocket ship actually take off is amazing. The music program and other portions of the computer’s software seem to be wonderfully designed to spark a child’s imagination.

I’ll write more on this laptop as I explore it myself. So far I can say that it is surely nothing like others writers have led me to believe.