OLPC delays next gen XO-3 tablet computer

One Laptop per Child (OLPC) Project Founder and Chairman Dr. Nicholas Negroponte has confirmed that the launch of the next-generation OLPC XO tablet computer, the XO-3, has been delayed. In an interview at the MIT Media Lab, Negroponte said that, while the OLPC Project wanted to show the XO-3 at the 2011 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, at the beginning of January they will miss CES by 45 days. Negroponte says that the delay has to do with "finding an unbreakable material" for the device's display, noting that it may end up as glass rather than plastic.

The new XO tablet is said be based on Marvell’s Moby reference design and on OLPC’s current tablet designs, which feature an 8.5 by 11 inch touch screen (the size of US letter paper), a virtual keyboard and a rear mounted camera. The OLPC project says that the new tablets will include new elements and capabilities based on feedback from nearly two million users around the world and that it will require approximately only one watt of power, compared to about 5 watts in current XO laptops.

It's worth noting that the first XO-3 tablets won't be branded OLPC as they will be made by Marvell. The final version of the XO-3 is expected to follow within the next year. As previously confirmed by Negroponte, the XO-3 is expected to cost $75 and is targeted for a final release in 2012 – the current XO laptop and the upcoming tablet will reportedly co-exist "for at least some period of time".

See also:

• Marvell gives OLPC $5.6 million for development of next gen laptop, a report from The H.
• OLPC partners with Marvell for next gen XO laptop, a report from The H.
• Conceptual design of OLPC XO-3 tablet revealed, a report from The H.

(crve)