One Laptop Per Child is a non-profit organization dedicated to equipping underdeveloped countries’ children with cheap, durable laptops to aid in learning. To this end they’ve created the XO-1, which for a little over $200, is compact, durable, has Wi-Fi, a camera, a microphone, and a hybrid stylus/touchpad, thanks to which the product can function in an e-book mode as well. All this operates with a power consumption of just 2-3 W. Not only that, but OLPC are also designing the next generation, the XO-2, which upon its release in 2010, will only cost $80.

Now, the XO-1 was originally intended to be sold only to developing countries’ governments and educational organizations in bulk, and thus be unavailable in the US. However, high demand for the XO gave the OLPC some thought, and they came up with a brilliant idea: Buy one laptop at double the price and a second one goes to a developing country for free. This program was dubbed Give one Get one (G1G1), and was a resounding success. So much so that the small, undermanned OLPC (25 employees sans volunteers) had major trouble filling orders, which often arrived weeks late, such was the massive demand.

Now the OLPC has learned from their mistakes, and has partnered up with Amazon.com, a company with vast experience in delivery and order filling, which will sell the XO laptop, through the G1G1 system, via their website. Quanta, the Chinese manufacturers of the XO, and Amazon say they are prepared for the likely increase in orders following this move.