How to Download and Test the OLPC Sugar Learning Platform

Nicholas Negroponte is the mastermind behind the One Laptop Per Child Association and has helped develop the XO laptop, a small computing device designed for children with the ability to be charged with a simple hand crank.

This children's laptop, while initially designed for children in poorer nations has captured the interest of the world. Unfortunately the laptop is not available for individual purchase by the average user, but those who are determined to give the Sugar interface a test run are not left totally out in the cold.

The Sugar Learning Platform is based on Fedora Linux and is not only completely open source but is designed with children in mind. As a result it looks completely different from what users expect from a computer.

You can try the Sugar Learning Platform with no expert experience required; you don't even need an extra computer, as the Sugar Learning Platform runs completely from CD-ROM or USB media without changing any of the contents on your system.

Things You Need:
Blank CD
Computer with internet access

Step One:
Click here to be taken to the Sugar Learning Platform Download page.

Step Two:
Click the blue "Download Now" button beneath the Direct Download 32-bit PC Edition.

Step Three:
Click the "Save" button on the File Download window that appears.

Step Four:
Choose your preferred download location and then click the "Save" button on the next window. Depending upon the speed of your internet connection the download could take several minutes.

Step Five:
Burn the ISO image to a blank CD using the image burning program of your choice. If you are new to burning ISO files I recommend the free ImgBurn program available here.

Step Six:
Place the newly-burned CD into the optical drive of the test computer and reboot by pressing Ctrl+Alt+Delete. (Note: make sure your computer is configured to boot from CD).

Step Seven:
Type your name in the space provided and press the Enter key.

Step Eight:
Click the red character on the screen to change to the color of your choice. Press the "Done" button on the bottom right when satisfied.

Step Nine:
Click the X to close out the keyring password window. The computer will be unable to save the password since you are booting from optical media and this keyring window will loop otherwise.

Step Ten:
Use your mouse to navigate the icons displayed on the page. Click once with your left mouse button to explore the available programs. Your choice will then dominate the screen.

Step Eleven:
Press the ESC button to minimize the current application to return to the main screen. The active programs will be brighter than the inactive ones.

Step Twelve:
Step out of the way and allow your children to explore this fascinating interface. While playing with new operating systems is fun for us adults, this one is designed for the kids!

Have fun!

Note: When you are done you can safely turn the computer off at the power button. This version is a live CD and you will not damage any files when you do so in normal use.

Resources:
Sugar Learning Platform Download Page
Sugar Labs Wiki: What is Sugar?OLPC Sugar Page