I hope they bring this offer back! I really want to get this – I love hackable Linux gadgets – but I can’t afford it right now.

I’m sure it will be back next year. They are just having troubles manufacturing these for reasonable prices, and once costs begin to drop they will hopefully be able to afford a retail sector to their market.

Intel and Asus have projects very similar to this. Asus in particular is afraid of this concept.

By that I mean Asus is afraid of a totally `commodity’ PC based on a a design they don’t OWN, where manufacturers are replacable cogs. Asus feels they have to undercut the OLPC project as a result, even if it means hurting children. That’s my opinion anyways. The new Asus solid-state PCs do look nice. I just hope the for-profit companies don’t see the non-profit effort as the enemy. If this market can be TAPPED, there will be enough room for every producer/manufacturer/designer for a very long time!

From the OLPC’s website, it’s not clear if they include the power generation system (pulling string or crank). I tried to buy it, but they didn’t even give me an option to buy a power generator. Does anyone know how to order power-generation system for XO laptop?

From what I know that is not included. I don’t think the power generation systems have been made available for purchase quite yet, but I’m sure they will be shortly.