The OLPC project is laudable even on the basis of its stated goals; but I think there’s more going on here. As this article describes, the OLPC device is by its nature subversive. But why assume that that subversion will only take place in the underdeveloped countries that are the ostensible market?
After all, I want one. Don’t you? And if it really will just cost $100 — or even a smidge more — that makes it almost an impulse buy, at least as gadgets go. And what will happen when thousands of these are in the hands of gadget-fans here in the US, and elsewhere in the developed world?
Revolution begins at home.
Update: the Revolution marches forward. Applications as online services (e.g., Zoho, Google Apps) dovetail nicely with this trend. I remain convinced that Google Android is yet another manifestation of this, approaching the same destination by a different route.