fun email conversation leads to donation

Follow this fun conversation as I search for a cable to make repairs to some XO laptops and end up getting a donation of the cable, a few spare parts, and a laptop from OLPC ...

From: jbalcomb@laptopstolesotho.org
Date: Wed, May 11, 2011 12:23 pm
To: devel@lists.laptop.org

Hi, I'm the head of Laptops to Lesotho Inc.  We distribute refurbished G1G1 XO-1 laptops that we purchase on ebay to children in remote villages
in Lesotho, Africa.

I am fairly new to laptop repair, but I'm slowly learning how to refurbish the XOs.  We're preparing for our second deployment, and we've got 5 XO-1s
that won't boot.  I belive they are bricked.  I've worked through the troubleshooting guides, and I am at the point where I need a serial adapter to continue.

Can anyone tell me where I can get one?

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From: Paul Fox

To: Janissa

Sent: Wednesday, May 11, 2011 11:27 AM

i believe they're now being carried by ilovemyxo.com:
    http://twitter.com/#!/iLoveMyXO

paul
=---------------------
 paul fox (arlington, ma, where it's 53.1 degrees)

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From:Janissa Balcomb

Date: Wed, May 11, 2011 3:03 pm

Thanks, Paul. I will give iLoveMyXO a try. Janissa

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From: Paul Fox

Sent: Wednesday, May 11, 2011 10:07 PM

hi janissa -- i wasn't sure we had enough to spare here at the office since i knew we were running low, or i would have offered this earlier -- but it seems we've put in a large order for more. i'd be happy to send you a serial adapter if you'd like. (gratis)

i'll need your shipping address if so.

have you written about your lesotho project anywhere i could read about it?

paul

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From: Janissa Balcomb

Sent: Wednesday, May 11, 2011 10:30 PM

Thanks! That would be wonderful! You can ship it to:

Janissa Balcomb

Laptops to Lesotho Inc.

55 Eagle Creek Rd

Wayan ID 83285-5003

The only place we have written information about our project is on our website (which is in serious need of updating) and our blog, which is sort of a hodge-podge of things as they happen and as I have time to post to it.

At the advice of several funders, I'm working with a few scholarly types to put together a journal article, but right now I have no idea when or where it will be published. I'll try to remember to let you know when it comes out.

 Janissa

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 From: Paul Fox

Sent: Thursday, May 12, 2011 11:00 AM

hi janissa -- i'll get that in the mail. are there any other small spare parts you need that might fit in a small package? we're in the process of moving the OLPC offices, so this is a good time for spares.

paul

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From: Janissa Balcomb

Sent: Thursday, May 12, 2011 11:44 AM

Right now, the only parts I could use are a game control button (the large one with the 4 arrows) and a set of covers for the antenna.

Other than that, keyboards, touchpads and batteries are always needed, but I can get those from iLoveMy XO.com.

 Thanks!

Janissa

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From: Paul Fox

Sent: Friday, May 13, 2011 1:41 PM

hi janissa --

okey doke. got you covered. i threw in a laptop too. hope you don't mind. the box should go out today or tomorrow. i even remembered your serial adapter, at the last minute. ;-)

paul

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From: Janissa Balcomb

Sent: Friday, May 13, 2011 2:43 PM

Like I'm going to say no, I don't want a free laptop!

Thanks,

Janissa

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From: Paul Fox

Sent: Friday, May 13, 2011 2:55 PM

 

that's the spirit! :-)

=---------------------
paul fox