The “$100 Laptop” Update
Posted October 30th, 2007 by Mihnea Boiangiu
Remember the story about the “$100 laptop”? It seems the project doesn’t respect the initial plan anymore. The price tag has reach $200 now. Perhaps they should reconsider the campaign’s name in the $200 laptop. The actual reality is far from the Nicholas Negroponte’s projections.
After the laptop was priced at $150 in Februry, at $175 in April and $188 two weeks ago, it reached a new level. The XO laptops were put out for sale in lots of 10,000 for $200 a piece. The One Laptop per Child Foundation announced three countries involved in the project till now - Uruguay, Peru and Mongolia. Probably their credibility decreased in the last months, so the deals with other governments failed.
Currently the laptop features a keyboard that switches languages, a video camera, Wi-Fi and Linux software. Microsoft Corp. has agreed to release a compatible Windows XP version for the XO laptop, but we don’t know when it will be ready.
We are looking forward to receive good new about this project, as it could be a great way of increasing the learning skills in poor regions.
via Reuters
