The $100 Laptop... Extremely Amazing

[Alpha]

The proposed $100 machine will be a Linux-based, with a dual-mode display—both a full-color, transmissive DVD mode, and a second display option that is black and white reflective and sunlight-readable at 3X the resolution. The laptop will have a 500MHz processor and 128MB of DRAM, with 500MB of Flash memory; it will not have a hard disk, but it will have four USB ports. The laptops will have wireless broadband that, among other things, allows them to work as a mesh network; each laptop will be able to talk to its nearest neighbors, creating an ad hoc, local area network. The laptops will use innovative power (including wind-up) and will be able to do most everything except store huge amounts of data.

 

 

    *  First, by dramatically lowering the cost of the display. The first-generation machine will have a novel, dual-mode display that represents improvements to the LCD displays commonly found in inexpensive DVD players. These displays can be used in high-resolution black and white in bright sunlight—all at a cost of approximately $35.

    * Second, we will get the fat out of the systems. Today's laptops have become obese. Two-thirds of their software is used to manage the other third, which mostly does the same functions nine different ways.

    * Third, we will market the laptops in very large numbers (millions), directly to ministries of education, which can distribute them like textbooks.

 

 

Homepage: http://laptop.media.mit.edu/

 

I know a lot of people have been saying the laptop looks like it's only made for children and technically it is. But if you imagine if they get it in different colors and styles, it doesn't matter now does it? We've all been children once in our lives and also all you have to do is crank the thing on it's right side a couple times instead of using a battery. Not too shabby.

[Robert]

Interesting to see how this goes.

 

Today's laptops have become obese. Two-thirds of their software is used to manage the other third, which mostly does the same functions nine different ways.

So true. That must be why they've gone for Linux.

[Alpha]

Also, I forgot to mention...

Please note that the $100 laptops—not yet in production—will not be available for sale. The laptops will only be distributed to schools directly through large government initiatives.

I'm sure we'll be able to find some on eBay or other online retailers.

[SuperKoopa]

If I could go to Japan, I'd be all over this like a priest on an altar boy.

[Weirdy]

that's cool; it'd make a great disguise for a server sharing illegal material via a USB hard-drive

[Gryph]

It's not meant for Japan, it's meant for 3rd world countries who need cheap computers. However, I would not mind having one.

[SuperKoopa]

It's going to be all the rage in the Sudan, I can tell.

[Agozer]

From what I've heard, the 3rd world countries aren't too hot for these $100 computers.

[SuperKoopa]

They should be. Silly third world countries.

[Gryph]

I think 3rd world country is a bit extreme, how about developing countries. They could certainly use cheap laptops for education.

[Lucandrake]

Man, I want one of these, I can use it for so many things grr >.<!!