Print this article | E-mail this article | Comment on this article

$100 Laptop Gets Price Increase

By BetaNews Staff, BetaNews

June 1, 2006, 2:06 PM

One Laptop Per Child founder Nicholas Negroponte used the Wall Street Journal's D Conference in Southern California Wednesday to show off a prototype of the much-anticipated $100 laptop for emerging markets. However, he acknowledged that the device will initially be priced around $130 to $140 USD.

Negroponte expects to begin shipping the laptop, which will feature wireless mesh networking and run Fedora Linux, to governments starting April 2007. He said the $100 price point will be possible by the end of 2008, and added that manufacturing will need to hit at least 5 million units to make that a reality.

Add a Comment (39 Comments)

BetaNews reserves the right to remove any comment at any time for any reason. Please keep your responses appropriate and on topic. Foul language and personal attacks will not be tolerated.

By magor

edited Jun 5, 2006 - 9:20 PM

www.obook.info

Score: 0

By Crispy777

posted Jun 3, 2006 - 9:16 PM

I am sure the estimated 982,407,084 people in africa by 2010 will need atleast 5 million units.

Thats 600 million more people than the estimated population on 309,162,581 in the USA by 2010.

I am sure there will be a lot of people in africe who don't care if it is an Intel of
r AMD processor, what coulour it is, if it has an iPod connector or what the resolution is.

I am quite sure they will be busy using the computers for learning useful things.

Score: 0

By jesnews

edited Jun 3, 2006 - 10:44 AM

My first computer was a TI99-4A with 16 kilobytes of memory and I loved it. I taught myself basic programming with it. I've always wanted a small laptop to use as a word processor but found the prices of most laptops to be outrageous.If I could buy the $140 laptop today, my order would be in the mail.

Score: 0

By mannaggia

posted Jun 2, 2006 - 11:54 AM

I guess they will keep calling it a "$100 laptop" even though it costs $140....

Just like the media kept calling it the "Million Man March" even though there were only 400,000 there...

Score: 0

By PC_Tool

posted Jun 2, 2006 - 8:51 AM

Hey, if thy put Ubuntu Dapper on it, at least the desktop will color-coordinate with the case. ;)

Score: 0

By wat0114

posted Jun 2, 2006 - 12:05 AM

Too bad about the price increase but I guess it has to be done. Still not a bad price. The concept of this initiative aimed primarily at affording a youth target market the chance of owning an affordable Linux based laptop is terrific.

Score: 0

By ZenWarrior

posted Jun 5, 2006 - 9:48 AM

For the intended audience of this laptop, a $30-$45 price increase is likely a few months wages. Such an increase is actually quite HUGE, given the intended market.

And even if governments are buying them, for a third-world country that cannot afford to feed its people, that increase will very likely amount to the project becoming a complete failure. (I'll save my "Duh" for when my prediction actually makes the news--but remember you saw it here first.)

Score: 0

By wat0114

posted Jun 7, 2006 - 1:24 PM

Based on what you are saying, if it is true, if $30 -$45 is a few months wages for the target audience, then the original $100 cost would be at least 4 months wages for them. Well, then even that is huge. I'm in North America so if I spent 4 months wages on a laptop, it would cost me approx. $20,000. Now that would hurt! So does it not stand to reason that the original $100 would be exorbitant for that target group?

Score: 0

By templar™

edited Jun 1, 2006 - 11:24 PM

These people have not been very realistic since start.

Their concept device looks soooooo much nicer than the actual one. The final product is in fugly orange, looks like it's made of cheap plastic and has two stupid HORNS!!!

And yet, the price has increased by up to 40%.

Score: 0

By PC Rat

posted Jun 2, 2006 - 2:00 PM

...

"The final product is in fugly orange,
looks like it's made of cheap plastic
and has two stupid HORNS!!!"

...

Did Steve Jobs design it ?
...

The Computer Rodent

...

Score: 0

By PC_Tool

posted Jun 2, 2006 - 8:50 AM

The final product is in fugly orange, looks like it's made of cheap plastic and has two stupid HORNS!!!

Dude...

It's not for gamers, or businesses. It's for kids. I have 3 kids. They think this is the coolest thing they've ever seen. And the boy *loves* the horns.

Before judging it by it's looks, consider the relative ages of the targeted consumer, eh?

Score: 0

By AppleSUX

edited Jun 5, 2006 - 10:33 AM

Im 16 and can not afford an expensive dell or HP, but would love a $100-$140 laptop, depending on the specs.(What! no FX-60?) but, as templar™ pointed out, The color,material and horns do really look stipid. And that would be more than enough to scare me away!

Score: 0

By templar™

posted Jun 2, 2006 - 1:54 PM

LOL. As you rightly pointed out, I guess it depends on the target age group. Younger kids may prefer the bright design. But older kids may prefer the iPod/Apple-ish design as shown in the prototype images.

Score: 0

By utomo

posted Jun 1, 2006 - 10:55 PM

This must support the windows too. just incase the user want to move to windows, they still can use it.
or upgrading or changing to ther distro too.

Score: 0

By templar™

posted Jun 1, 2006 - 11:28 PM

The large ego of the folks at MIT prevented them from allowing Microsoft & Intel to join in the fun. This is probably a good thing for MS & Intel after all because it seems like this project is becoming more and more ridiculous.

Score: 0

By Kramy

posted Jun 2, 2006 - 2:42 AM

Windows with programs wouldn't fit on a 1gb flash memory while leaving room to do anything, and it doesn't make sense to use Intel processors when AMD processors are cheaper.

If Microsoft can pack everything required into 256mb so that the buyers have a full 768mb to play with, then they'd be invited.

If Intel agreed to match AMD's price offers, I'm sure they would be invited, provided different motherboards and other things didn't add to the cost.

I don't think it's ego so much as going for cheaper stuff. I agree though that they should have lowered the bar slightly before trying to make $100.

Score: 0

By domino360

edited Jun 1, 2006 - 9:00 PM

This ultra-cheap laptop is intended to fail from the beginning. I do agree with the concept, but $100 buys you the usual fancy Chinese toy from Walmart.
You can’t generalize the use of a laptop on a global scale. In different cultures and geographical regions technology is used very differently.
This laptop will be a novelty to the people in the Kalahari Desert. But after 2-3 months of very limited use, the laptop will be used as a side table. Otherwise it will be in the rubbish that fills the countryside. If you want them to learn something and use that knowledge, give them a better system. I know parts and software is not cheap, but in the wholesale market if you add the humanitarian incentive many companies will practically giveaway something.
Some people at MIT are just full of egos.
I guess UN is getting ripped off again.
UN should spend the money in spreading solar power devices or generators, and not hand cranks.

Score: 0

By Das mod

edited Jun 1, 2006 - 3:30 PM

so ... lets say im browsing the internet.... im viewing my fav. pr0n website .... energy runs low so i need to crank this laptop .... how would that work ... what if by accident i pull on the crank and twist on my .......
Oh nevermind !!
the foot pedal i guess, would work better ....

Score: 0

By mannaggia

posted Jun 2, 2006 - 11:51 AM

>>the foot pedal i guess, would work better ....

But your arm will be strong from your previous cranking experience!

Score: 0

By wat0114

posted Jun 2, 2006 - 12:06 AM

LOL!

Score: 0

By Don Juan

posted Jun 1, 2006 - 7:16 PM

el oh el

Score: 0

By xprizex

posted Jun 1, 2006 - 2:45 PM

Does anyone know when Dell will add hand cranks to Inspirons? I can't wait!!!!

Score: 0

By PC_Tool

posted Jun 2, 2006 - 8:48 AM

Man, I wanna put one on my gaming rig. Nixing the PWS will definately lower my case temps!

Score: 0

By Esquire

posted Jun 1, 2006 - 9:34 PM

The sooner the better! LOL

Score: 0

By rijp

posted Jun 1, 2006 - 3:14 PM

- Intel inside, Idiot Outside

Score: 0

By domino360

edited Jun 1, 2006 - 8:53 PM

"Intel inside, Idiot Outside" ?????

I'm not sure where you got the info about Intel inside. May be I don't understand your comment. This ultra-cheap laptop is using AMD chips. May be this is how AMD wants to conquer Africa. DAH...

Score: 0

By Kramy

posted Jun 2, 2006 - 2:43 AM

Dell uses almost exclusively Intel chips, and we all know who buys Dell desktop computers. ;)

Score: 0

By PC_Tool

edited Jun 2, 2006 - 8:47 AM

Businesses. Cuz their business-class systems are rock-solid?

Score: 0

By Kramy

posted Jun 2, 2006 - 7:55 PM

Fine, fine, but any individual that thinks they can phone up a company like Dell and get lots of recognition is a fool. The average individual is not representing a company with thousands of systems. They're a single person with a problem(like CD-Rom not working), and that's likely due to user error.

Any which way...yeah, I think I proved his point.

Score: 0

By GimieGimieGimie

posted Jun 1, 2006 - 2:42 PM

LOL @ all comments

Score: 0

By AaronDobbins

posted Jun 2, 2006 - 8:29 AM

seriously...its nice to see some light heartedness around here after some of the bickering we've been doing over the last few weeks about a variety of issues.

The hamster eating comment was just plain wrong, but damn funny...

Score: 0

By PC Rat

posted Jun 1, 2006 - 2:14 PM

...

Is that the price with the hand crank ?

Or, is the hand crank extra ?

...

The Computer Rodent

...

Score: 0

By GS5

posted Jun 1, 2006 - 2:37 PM

That's why they had to raise the price. Hand cranks have never been attempted before. Don't know that new technology is always expensive when first released ;-)

Score: 0

By Martin Blank

posted Jun 1, 2006 - 2:36 PM

The hand crank idea was removed some time ago due to torque stresses on the case leading to physical damage. There were, as of a couple of weeks ago, plans to include a foot-pedal generator that would (presumably) plug into the laptop to charge it.

Score: 0

By Altman

posted Jun 1, 2006 - 2:35 PM

That price includes the hand crank but an upgrade to the hamster wheel is another $20. (excludes the hamster)

Score: 0

By yohimbe9

posted Jun 1, 2006 - 3:06 PM

But then you have to factor in hamster food, wood chips and tissues and there goes another $50 to $100.

Score: 0

By GS5

posted Jun 1, 2006 - 3:13 PM

If these kids are really that poor they'll probably have the hamster for dinner. Lots of protein you know!

Score: 0

By ModderXManiac

posted Jun 1, 2006 - 4:52 PM

ohh man, that's cold... :D

I must say I like the idea of a foot pedal more; and the foot pedal probably costs more to build than the hand crank, but the positive notion is now you can type or surf up some pr0n with both hands instead of one needing to crank!

Score: 0

By ThaCHEESE

posted Jun 4, 2006 - 3:04 AM

Have you ever seen a kinetic watch? imagine a wrist band with no timepiece, and all that movement...

Score: 0

Sep 5 - 1:15 PM ET 120GB Zunes begin to appear in stores

Sep 5 - 1:03 PM ET Is there a subsidized Netbook in your future?

Sep 5 - 12:09 PM ET Evidence Samsung and SanDisk are in merger talks

Sep 4 - 7:03 PM ET Where does John McCain stand on technology issues?

Sep 4 - 6:58 PM ET Germany to improve its privacy regulations

Sep 4 - 6:51 PM ET Oracle CEO Ellison destroyed critical e-mails, judge rules

Sep 4 - 5:48 PM ET Sun takes command of VirtualBox, adds 64-bit, VHD support

Sep 4 - 4:26 PM ET Cablevision rolls out muni Wi-Fi in Long Island, NY

Sep 4 - 4:24 PM ET Analyst: US 3G growth pulls even with Europe

Sep 4 - 4:09 PM ET Korea Times: Sony home video at the tail end of a Korean exodus