The “$100 laptop” costs $175
Posted April 27th, 2007 by Mihnea Boiangiu
The founder of the project “$100 laptop”, Nicholas Negroponte, announced the machine costs now $175, running Windows now along the open-source software. The project was launched for the schoolchildren from the developing countries like Uruguay, Argentina, Brazil, Pakistan, Thailand, Nigeria and Libya.
The nonprofit project One Laptop Per Child, needs orders for at least 3 million XO laptops to start the production. Quanta Computer Inc., a major producer of mobile computers agreed to take $3 profit per machine and to develop the white XO computer. The distribution service will cost $1. Even so, the XO computer goes up to $175.
The XO laptop supposed to use the open-source Linux for free, helped by the sponsors Red Hat Inc. But recently, Negroponte has disclosed that Microsoft is preparing a Windows version compatible with the XO computers. The software would cost an additional $3. The package contains the Windows Starter Edition and some of Microsoft’s “productivity” software.
Microsoft’s boss, Bill Gates questioned the success of the One Laptop Per Child project, because the XO machine wasn’t considered a decent computer. He proposed its own cheap computer, for the developing countries, priced at $400.
The One Laptop Per Child project will start the production in October 2007. We hope the machines will put a smile on some children faces, helping them to access the knowledge. - MIHNEA BOIANGIU
