As originally conceived, the laptop was using LCOS (liquid crystal on silicon) in the form of a projector. Nicholas Negroponte demonstrated the concept in early 2005, using some legnetti blacks who ran around a frame to demonstrate how the graphical interface should have been present.

The laptop began its development in June of that year, newly appointed CTO, already considered the screen with two modes: a conventional LEDs with a color screen, the other designed for reading electronic books in full sunlight and in black and white. The concept makes sense in that most developing nations, where outdoor classes are common and the textbooks are a significant expense.

Design Continuum presented an array of prototype design, which led, in November 2009, the famous "green machine" with its distinctive yellow pastel crank. This laptop has been presented the World Summit on the Information Society.

Quanta Computer, built a sturdy box containing a laptop with a particular handle, which simplifies the transformation from classic laptop, a console for games and electronic book. In the spring of 2006, Yves Behar, known as an industrial designer in San Francisco, joined the original group to create the final design of the First Generation of XO.

The laptop is so anchored in the collective consciousness of computer users, as to forget that the GUI (Graphical User Interface, GUI) is radical innovation that the computer has freed from the chains that held him prisoner of "professionals" .