A laptop for $100

Nickatilynx · 02-12-2005

Nicholas Negroponte, chairman and founder of MIT's Media Labs, says he is developing a laptop PC that will go on sale for less than $100 (£53).

He told the BBC World Service programme Go Digital he hoped it would become an education tool in developing countries.

He said one laptop per child could be " very important to the development of not just that child but now the whole family, village and neighbourhood".

He said the child could use the laptop like a text book.

He described the device as a stripped down laptop, which would run a Linux-based operating system,

"We have to get the display down to below $20, to do this we need to rear project the image rather than using an ordinary flat panel.

'Skinny it down'

"The second trick is to get rid of the fat , if you can skinny it down you can gain speed and the ability to use smaller processors and slower memory."

The device will probably be exported as a kit of parts to be assembled locally to keep costs down.

Mr Negroponte said this was a not for profit venture, though he recognised that the manufacturers of the components would be making money.

In 1995 Mr Negroponte published the bestselling Being Digital, now widely seen as predicting the digital age.

The concept is based on experiments in the US state of Maine, where children were given laptop computers to take home and do their work on.

Broken laptops

While the idea was popular amongst the children, it initially received some resistance from the teachers and there were problems with laptops getting broken.

However, Mr Negroponte has adapted the idea to his own work in Cambodia where he set up two schools together with his wife and gave the children laptops.

"We put in 25 laptops three years ago , only one has been broken, the kids cherish these things, it's also a TV a telephone and a games machine, not just a textbook."

Mr Negroponte wants the laptops to become more common than mobile phones but conceded this was ambitious.

"Nokia make 200 million cell phones a year, so for us to claim we're going to make 200 million laptops is a big number, but we're not talking about doing it in three or five years, we're talking about months."

He plans to be distributing them by the end of 2006 and is already in discussion with the Chinese education ministry who are expected to make a large order.

"In China they spend $17 per child per year on textbooks. That's for five or six years, so if we can distribute and sell laptops in quantities of one million or more to ministries of education that's cheaper and the marketing overheads go away."

Almighty Colin · 02-12-2005

US textbook publishers have probably already sent their reps to Washington to fight against this.

grimm · 02-12-2005

indeed, ive often wondered why, in todays digital age, i still get calls for textbook money from my sister? then i just look at the publishers mark on the latest best seller rack at the bookstore.

i cant imagine a more ideal thing for a student to buy a e-book or tablet pc when you are a freshman, and just pay a fee for download of textbooks every quarter or semester. The professors could choose what content they wanted to use in their lectures, and exclude the material that is not needed.

Lee · 02-12-2005

That is a great idea and im surprised it hasnt been done sooner.

One thing that did stand out from that news peice though is this...

Quote:

While the idea was popular amongst the children, it initially received some resistance from the teachers and there were problems with laptops getting broken.

Quote:

"We put in 25 laptops three years ago , only one has been broken, the kids cherish these things, it's also a TV a telephone and a games machine, not just a textbook."

More than one Laptop got broken in Maine when our kids ha them but, only one got broken in 3 years over in Cambodia.

Perhaps kids today really dont care for / appreciate the stuff they are given?

02-12-2005	#2
Almighty Colin Members Want to see your own Advertising Here! Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 8,059	US textbook publishers have probably already sent their reps to Washington to fight against this. __________________ Almighty Content. Your one stop for live content. Secret Friends, LATINA Secret Friends , My Cam Friends

02-12-2005	#3
grimm Cramming 3 people in a Room to Attend Show Stop Lurking and start posting! Register now! Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: New Orleans, LA Posts: 5,306	indeed, ive often wondered why, in todays digital age, i still get calls for textbook money from my sister? then i just look at the publishers mark on the latest best seller rack at the bookstore. i cant imagine a more ideal thing for a student to buy a e-book or tablet pc when you are a freshman, and just pay a fee for download of textbooks every quarter or semester. The professors could choose what content they wanted to use in their lectures, and exclude the material that is not needed. __________________ Think horses, not zebras.

02-12-2005	#1
Nickatilynx Banned Want to see your own Advertising Here! Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Vancouver Canada Posts: 15,115	Nicholas Negroponte, chairman and founder of MIT's Media Labs, says he is developing a laptop PC that will go on sale for less than $100 (£53). He told the BBC World Service programme Go Digital he hoped it would become an education tool in developing countries. He said one laptop per child could be " very important to the development of not just that child but now the whole family, village and neighbourhood". He said the child could use the laptop like a text book. He described the device as a stripped down laptop, which would run a Linux-based operating system, "We have to get the display down to below $20, to do this we need to rear project the image rather than using an ordinary flat panel. 'Skinny it down' "The second trick is to get rid of the fat , if you can skinny it down you can gain speed and the ability to use smaller processors and slower memory." The device will probably be exported as a kit of parts to be assembled locally to keep costs down. Mr Negroponte said this was a not for profit venture, though he recognised that the manufacturers of the components would be making money. In 1995 Mr Negroponte published the bestselling Being Digital, now widely seen as predicting the digital age. The concept is based on experiments in the US state of Maine, where children were given laptop computers to take home and do their work on. Broken laptops While the idea was popular amongst the children, it initially received some resistance from the teachers and there were problems with laptops getting broken. However, Mr Negroponte has adapted the idea to his own work in Cambodia where he set up two schools together with his wife and gave the children laptops. "We put in 25 laptops three years ago , only one has been broken, the kids cherish these things, it's also a TV a telephone and a games machine, not just a textbook." Mr Negroponte wants the laptops to become more common than mobile phones but conceded this was ambitious. "Nokia make 200 million cell phones a year, so for us to claim we're going to make 200 million laptops is a big number, but we're not talking about doing it in three or five years, we're talking about months." He plans to be distributing them by the end of 2006 and is already in discussion with the Chinese education ministry who are expected to make a large order. "In China they spend $17 per child per year on textbooks. That's for five or six years, so if we can distribute and sell laptops in quantities of one million or more to ministries of education that's cheaper and the marketing overheads go away."