This is an interesting blog post because it’s fairly recent (May 31, 2007) and is a direct transcription of Negroponte talking about the project. An Audio recording and sides are also available so you can hear it in his own voice.

The concept of creating useful, inexpensive, and sturdy computers for school children in the developing world was initially introduced by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Media Lab in late 2005. Since then, its application in the developing world has seen support, skepticism, and a fast evolution of the aims of the computers and the project “One Laptop per Child.”

On May 31, 2007, Nicholas Negroponte presented “The New $100 Computer” to an audience at the World Bank’s Washington offices, explaining the most current work being done by One Laptop Per Child.

Negroponte and Walter Bender entertained questions from the audience around OLPC’s application in learning design, project evaluation, how to ally with the education sector to a greater degree, and the Computer’s ground-level maintenance chain.

Below is a transcript of the presentation while the original audio and Negroponte’s slides can be found on the World Bank website .

I really don’t have an update on the OLPC; I will refer to the link you made available.

However, from what I understood much earlier, due to the operational cost of producing the laptops, a single unit purchase might not be available for $100. The government (of Nigeria) is expected to play a significant role in the acquisition of the laptops in bulk purchase manner. Only then can each unit come down to the proposed amount. So what i would like to find out is the level of discussion with the Nigerian government towards achieving this. The OLPC is a catalyst no doubt, however, there is a catch. It’s a BUSINESS, not charity as most of us might think. This is my opinion.

The One Laptop Per Child Foundation’s rugged XO laptop could initially sell for just $350, or twice its production cost, although the group is also considering a $525 price tag, said OLPC chief technology officer Mary Lou Jepsen.

If the XO laptop does make its way onto the market this year, it could surprise personal computer makers who have already spent months planning their strategy for the 2007 holiday season.

In an interview with Reuters, Jepsen said the foundation — founded by Massachusetts Institute of Technology researcher Nicholas Negroponte — is still working out the details of the plan and expects to know within about a month whether it is feasible.

The green-and-white, kid-friendly laptops that can be powered with hand cranks were designed for use by poor children in the world’s impoverished nations. They were designed to withstand severe weather common in areas of Asia, Africa and Latin America. They run on Linux software, feature a high- resolution display that can be read in direct sunlight and are known for their low power consumption, operating up to 12 hours on one battery charge.

As the foundation prepares for mass production of its first model, the XO, to begin in October, it is looking for ways to subsidize manufacturing of the devices so that it can get more of them into the hands of poor children, Jepsen said.

Profits from consumer sales would go for that purpose, said Jepsen.

“We’re trying to get the best deal we can,” she said.