$100 Laptop?

Nope, this isn't Spam :p

It's the result of a project to create cheap laptops for children in developing worlds.

Quote:

---

The proposed $100 machine will be a Linux-based, full-color, full-screen laptop that will use innovative power (including wind-up) and will be able to do most everything except store huge amounts of data. This rugged laptop will be WiFi-enabled and have USB ports galore. Its current specifications are: 500MHz, 1GB, 1 Megapixel.

---

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/basmic/$100%20Laptop.jpg

Looks like it has more USB ports than my IBM Thinkpad :rolleyes:

I think they'll only be available to governments, which is a shame as I'd quite like to pick one up for this price... well, if they made them in a colour other than lurid green! :p

MIT Media Lab
$100 laptop article on BBC News

Nick

I do wonder about the $100 price tag.... I have a feeling that governments might start buying them for $100, but that in order to get that price things are going to have to be pretty highly subsidized.

Still, if consumer versions do make it out for $100, the iPod had better look out - this little bugger is a whole lot more capable and cheaper too!

heh, the iPod is popular not so much because of features, but because of the marketing. It's a very well-known product, and there often are better products available for less. However, people have to have one. Also, there's much to be said about something small that just plays music. Complexity isn't always a necessity. ;)

As for the $100 price tag, I'm guessing that it may not be subsidy, but probably more like a tax-relief approach. Participating vendors will likely get a large tax-deduction. I'd prefer this over subsidizing, anyway, as the program would be less likely to balloon into another big government program. ;)

Yeah, I agree - tax relief is way better than subsidy. I guess we'll see how it goes. They might also be anticipating a certain about of depreciation on the parts, since I'd guess they won't be trying to mass produce for at least a year.

i saw this featured on the new a few weeks ago.. some little kids were winding it up.. if you could actually buy these for 100 bucks.. every daycare would have 10 of them.. schools could use them for lessons.. a decent graphic calc costs 50 bucks.. they could be standard issue for students to do all there work on.. all homework.. and turn in assignments simply via USB..


let hope there acutally going to be 100 bucks! we have needed a low cost high functionality portable like this..

and you can wind it? i mean comon.. thats so awsome..

Classroom machines could bypass the handcrank and run on good ol' AC power.

ya but then the kids would forget to plug it in.. on purpose.. i'm sure the crank would be used only if the battery is dead and ac isnt close