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

Peru, Mexico billionaire agree to buy $188 laptops

By Nate Mook, BetaNews

December 3, 2007, 11:58 AM

In a minor success for the struggling One Laptop Per Child project, the Peruvian government has agreed to purchase 260,000 laptops while Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim is buying 50,000 for distributing in his country.

MIT professor and OLPC founder Nicholas Negroponte announced the deals over the weekend, adding that Slim is an "old friend" and has been involved in the effort since the beginning.

OLPC has run into a number of major problems, most notably the cost of its much-hyped $100 laptop rising to $188. Production delays meant the devices didn't start production in China until last month, and orders have fallen well short of expectations.

In response, OLPC instituted a "Give One, Get One" program which enables individuals to purchase two laptops for $400, with one being donated to a child in a developing country. Since November 12, Negroponte says the foundation has received almost $2 million in orders every day -- amounting to around 190,000 laptops.

It is the hope Negroponte that eventually the laptop can be produced for its original $100 price target. In the end, the project says about three million devices must be sold to make the project viable.

Add a Comment (12 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 egal

edited Apr 1, 2008 - 7:08 PM

There are 18 million students in Mexico, but in primary school. Students in Mexico are 26.6 million, approximately 80% of the population in school age. Just to answer the moron under the nickname DatabaseBen and others...
Unfortunately de GINI index is still high, but Mexico has a HDI (Human Development Index) of .829 from a maximum of 1, and is going up. The literacy rate (ages 15–24) was 96% in 2006, placing Mexico at the 24th place in the world rank from more than 200 countries. Mexican economy is between the 8th. and 11th. place depending on the variables to take into account, from exporting/importing to nominal GDP.

By contrast, the U.S. HDI is .951 but going down... your HDI is at the 12th place.

If you think then that Mexicans live in squalor and they learn from the dumpsites, you are certainly a jerk.

I might remember you what the educational system in the U.S. often produces:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lj3iNxZ8Dww

You might be under that impression about Mexicans because you receive basically the lesser educated people with no other opportunity in Mexico but opportunities in the U.S.

Did you know that, for instance, Mexico City has more museums than any other city in the U.S. and in the world? Perhaps you should read more and be better informed before talking so lightly. At least I am about your country since I am even able to write you in your language (certainly not perfect but good enough)... You should then perhaps stop being just another U.S. moron.

Score: 0

By DatabaseBen

edited Dec 4, 2007 - 10:50 AM

The world richest man buys a meager 50 thousands toy laptops that will likely be distributed to the well to do rich little Mexican brats who can afford to attend school.

Keeping in mind that 5% if their worthless have illegally migrated to the U.S.; what about the 80% of the Mexican population that live in squalor and their only schooling is what they pluck from the dumpsites.

Frankly, the American cheap laptop program for foreign poor kids program is an insult to the poor American kids who are too poor to own a piece of our Technology. The persons who care more about the poor foreign kids of wealthy governments are traitors to America.

Score: 0

By arq_carlos1

posted Dec 5, 2007 - 1:00 PM

Just for info:
Mexico has 108 million people. There are 14 million alumni in public shools in Mexico. You're right, people living in dumpsites doesn`t go school. But they are not 80 million as you say. There are 200,000. (in US there are none, officially) 2 out of 5 are in age target to OLPC program.

Mexican brats wouldn't like the laptops because they're not "nicer", than windows laptops. It is supposed Slim laptops will be distributed among poor children THAT ATTEND SCHOOL (14 million) and thru a grant.

Now you can say you're well informed

Score: 0

By paranoidagent

edited Dec 4, 2007 - 7:01 AM

Theres still people who cant stand the fact that the worlds richest man lives in Mexico one of the poorest countries in either north or south America. You think the income gap in the US is out of control. Just go to mexico and see the end result. Actually I cant see why anyone mexican or otherwise needs 68 billion dollars? do you?

Score: 0

By gatonegrosky

posted Dec 3, 2007 - 2:26 PM

There's still people that can stand the fact that there cannot be billionaires other than North America, and not some southern Nation in America

Score: 0

By sjc001

edited Dec 3, 2007 - 3:55 PM

As I had said... [rolleyes]

BTW, there's a southern nation in America? Would that Texas? What you should have said is "and not some southern Nation in THE OTHER AmericaS..."

Apparently you don't realize that Mexico is part of North America....

Also, I take it that you're assuming that I am an American as well. I'm not. [smiles]