OLPC upgrades XO laptop

One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) has revamped its educational XO laptop with a faster processor and the ability to play high-definition video.

Among the most noticeable improvements to the ageing laptop for developing countries is the new VIA C7-M processor, which will ramp up from 400 MHz to 1GHz depending on the task being undertaken by the laptop.

According to OLPC, this represents a power draw of between 1.5 watts and five watts, which should help the laptop maintain its notoriously low power requirements.

The XO 1.5 will also use VIA's VX855 chipset bringing basic 3D graphics, as well as HD video and audio. This will be bolstered by 1GB of DDR2 SDRAM, and 4GB of NAND Flash with an option for 8 GB installed at manufacture.

Elsewhere, the machine will maintain the same design as its predecessor, though OLPC said it is working to improve the brightness and efficiency of the sunlight-readable screen.

Surprisingly, despite the increase in specification, OLPC claimed the latest version of the XO shouldn't draw more power than its predecessor, and may actually be cheaper to manufacture and sell.

"Overall, the target is to match the Gen 1 XO-1 in power consumption while making aggressive suspend easier, and in price (while changing to components which are more likely to decrease in price). It is likely that both goals can be met," the company claimed.

There's no word on release date yet, or what that price will be.

The company also confirmed that work is progressing on its dual touchscreen XO - which is set to replace the XO in 2010.

Click here to read our review of the Classmate, Intel's take on the educational laptop.