If you’re planning on taking part in the One Laptop Per Child “Buy 1 Give 1” sale next month, be warned that there have been delays in starting production. Although everything is now up and running, the foundation is predicting a shortage of laptops and said that although some U.S. and Canadian customers may see their personal laptops arrive before the end of 2007, orders would be filled on a first-come, first-served basis.

The CTO for the foundation says, “We had some last-minute bugs. We’ve resolved them.” Production was supposed to have begun this month, but now is slated to begin November 12th, the same day the 2-week “Buy 1 Give 1” sale starts. Because of this, they will have trouble meeting consumer demand in North America while working to fill current orders from Peru and Uruguay before summer vacation begins in December.

We don’t begrudge the foundation keeping its focus on the real goal of the project—you should just know that if you participate in the program, the odds are good you won’t see your laptop in time to give it as a Christmas gift or anything.

“Laptop foundation production delay means shortage” [Reuters]

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