After being hit by production delays and a few price hikes, the OLPC XO has finally gone into mass production. Quanta kicked off mass production in its giant new Changshu manufacturing center, and said it will ramp up XO laptop unit volumes over time.

Now that mass production has begun, the first XO units are expected to become available sometime this month. Although it was originally intended to cost $100, the latest estimates put the XO price close to $200 – if ordered in quantities of 10,000 or more. However, large-scale production cost savings should help bring the price back down to $100 eventually.

As previously reported, U.S. and Canada residents with hopes of helping a developing nation can participate in the “Give one, get one” program that will run from November 12 to November 26. Those who order two laptops for $399 will get one in December, while the other one will be donated.