RSS$100 Laptop Goes on Sale for $200
By Nate Mook | Published October 29, 2007, 3:42 PM
MIT Professor Nicholas Negroponte's much-touted $100 laptop is now officially on sale via the One Laptop per Child Foundation's Web site, with production cost now totaling $200. The organization previously said the laptop would cost $176 in April and raised that estimate to $188 last month.
Behind the price increase are rising costs of certain components and currency fluctuations, says OLPC, but costs should go down as production of the laptops begins next month in China. A lack of pre-orders may have contributed to the $200 price tag, as only three countries -- Uruguay, Peru and Mongolia -- have agreed to buy the devices.
OLPC announced last month a two-week sale to begin November 12 and require the buyer to purchase two laptops for $399. One of the laptops will go to the buyer while the other will be donated. The current sale, however, enables individuals to buy a minimum of 100 laptops which will be donated to a location the buyer designates.
The $200 price tag is only for those purchasing a minimum of 10,000 laptops. For 1,000 laptops, the price goes to $249 and OLPC says it will use that $49 to fund additional laptops. Those wanting to donate just 100 laptops can buy them for $299 each, with $99 going toward more laptops.
Despite one sale starting and another slated to begin in a couple weeks, it's still unclear when the laptops will be ready. The program has been fraught with delays, and production was previously scheduled to begin in September. Version 1.0 of the software that will power the devices is currently expected to be ready on December 7, but further development delays are possible.
The $100 -- now $200 -- laptop runs Linux and features wireless connectivity, a built-in camera and a keyboard designed to change languages. The user interface also largely functions via symbols, making languages and the ability to read not a requirement for use. Negroponte is targeting the device at developing nations and those too poor to afford proper computers for education.
Despite a seeming lack of interest from countries, which could be related to the laptop's rising costs, Microsoft is still eager to get its software in the device. The Redmond company is working on tailoring a version of Windows XP for OLPC.
So by "tailoring a version of Windows XP for OLPC" while the rest of us struggle with VISTA, some kid in Bangladesh is going to be able to run my accounts software on his new book? Hmmm... outsourcing to a kid in a 3rd world country with a Paypal account and ESL might just work!
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|Hmm - made in China ya say. I wonder if they gave the correct "manufacturing specs" to the builders there so that they don't put LEAD in the paint?
Because at least as far as Mattel is concerned, that's the only reason it showed up in their toys.
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|Very funny. Get over it.
If you haven't notice, most of everything you bought nowadays are from China.
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|Take your own advice. It's just a joke. No reason to get defensive.
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|It wasn't really a very funny or clever joke though, at all.
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|Don't be foolish....Lead paint is okay in 3rd world countries.
Are these solar powered laptops or will they also be providing free electricity to these 3rd world nation families?
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|Jokes should be funny.
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|That's inflation for ya.
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|lol
100% inflation in 2 years. That would be a real pain...
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|Don't forget the devaluation of the U.S. Dollar in the world market over recent years. Hell, even the Canadian Dollar was stronger for a while. I'm sure that would have done something to the price... and by "something," I don't mean lower the price.
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|Punktiger's right. The USD is less than 56 cents to the Euro and the Canadian dollar is still worth more. Thanks to that idiot Bush, we're heading for Peso territory. Maybe Hillary will arrest him and have him "Gitmo-ized" on ignauguration day? We could only hope.
Can't wait for the kid who gets a XP version someday and wonders why the screen is always blue and frozen. ha!
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|Most blue screens are caused by user error.
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|Bah, even if Hillary makes it, she'll have no clue which way to go. She's promised to run the country in a at least 3 ways that contradict each other. She's simply a pawn of the Liberals. Females could do MUCH better for their representation (and NO, I'm not saying Condi...she's equally as bad). Heck, Oprah would be better at this point.
As for that 'idiot' Bush...his current policies in no way devalue the USD. It's being devalued based on lack of consumer confidence in our local markets, and the rising costs of petroleum -- which is controlled by OPEC (petroleum costs), not the US. All the accusations concerning our govt's desire to control the Middle East just for oil has completely been destroyed by the simple fact that we have rising gas costs, and OPEC is still in control of 85% of the world's oil.
As for Gitmo, we need these bases. Your idealogy stems from the notion that we are safe and sound. Your pathetic sniveling is protected by freedoms which are tightly guarded by people willing to live AND DIE to help you keep those freedoms...and the only thing you want to do is take those freedoms for granted. That sort of inadequacy is what has turned this from the "land of the free and home of the brave" to "land of the needy and home of the never satisfied".
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|"Your pathetic sniveling is protected by freedoms which are tightly guarded by people willing to live AND DIE to help you keep those freedoms"...amen to that
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