$100 laptop early concept images released

[yatko]

http://laptop.media.mit.edu/laptop-images.html


http://laptop.media.mit.edu/images/laptop-screenbig.jpg

[Anessa]

it reminds me of the play computers I used to have as a kid...but it'd do for countries of the Global South.

[B40]

it reminds me of the play computers I used to have as a kid...but it'd do for countries of the Global South.

What are you kidding me? I bet you everyone on RFD will have one for $100.

[blizzah]

What are you kidding me? I bet you everyone on RFD will have one for $100.

Beats a prota dvd playuer

[Nemodigital]

Everything looks cool with the exception of the pencil sharpner hand crank on the right of the device. Looks like it is begging to get snapped off.

[yatko]

Everything looks cool with the exception of the pencil sharpner hand crank on the right of the device. Looks like it is begging to get snapped off.

Actually I like the handcranck idea very much. Never worry about the battery dying? Priceless.

[Anessa]

no no...people on RFD will somehow figure out how to bargain on the $100 asking price. we're just that damn good ;)

[ainsane]

I'de be willing to bet they will never be able to sell this thing for anywhere near $100 without a loss. And these computer won't be available for sale. They will be handed out through government initiatives.

[yatko]

I also think it is still in the 'dream' phase. If it ever become real is to be seen but the concepts developed in the mean time are exciting (ie tablet, handcranck, cheap LCD etc).

[nfnx]

i wish i had this.

[Headhunter]

I'd buy this without a moment's hesitation. $100, how can you go wrong?

[akito925]

Actually I like the handcranck idea very much. Never worry about the battery dying? Priceless.


it be nice to have on the ipods wouldn't it ?

[Derek]

Definitely an interesting design. Very versatile. I somehow don't think the first $100 laptop is going to ebook, handheld, and tablet functionality in addition to being a regular laptop.

[Kommander_KornFlakes]

Even if this thing only has basic functions like a word processor and Windows XP it's worth the $100 absolutely.

[second2none]

http://laptop.media.mit.edu/images/diagram3.jpg

[mingming]

It looks like the VTech kid computers they give away during Leaf telecasts.

[second2none]

It looks like the VTech kid computers they give away during Leaf telecasts.


The strap doubles as a power cord too.

The idea is practical... but is it realistic?

[philter]

Uh.. I dont think it costs $100 for you to buy it... I think it costs them $100 to MAKE it.. and its not going to be available for sale to the general public...

[CanadaBoy]

This is old news...

And this laptop will only be able to those "poor" countries

And for it to bad $100 the country has to buy like 1,000,000 of those units

[UrbanPoet]

its not to unforeseeable actually..
you see color palm pilots these days going for around $100.
This is just a blown up version witha hand crank generator and keyboard.

[hugh_da_man]

Wouldn't it make sense to sell these as $200 laptops to the public and then offer them for $100 to the poorer countries?

My guess is that there is investment in these because they will offer a better but similar laptop for $500 from one of the supporting companies after the $100 laptop is viable.

I'd buy something like that for $500 if it had a bit more memory and an optical drive.

[CodecX81]

Wouldn't it make sense to sell these as $200 laptops to the public and then offer them for $100 to the poorer countries?

My guess is that there is investment in these because they will offer a better but similar laptop for $500 from one of the supporting companies after the $100 laptop is viable.

I'd buy something like that for $500 if it had a bit more memory and an optical drive.

It is really honestly too bad that they don't offer this to the public, or even as an option for parents to purchase through educational institutions (Primary to University level).....eventually making their way onto ebay ;)

However, a product like this would send all major manufacturers into a tailspin. you are basically selling linux to the masses. Parents would pick up a gift like this for their kindergarteners as a novelty...5yo learning linux. That concept alone is enough to wake Bill Gates up in a cold sweat at 3am.

The blow to Dell & HP would be astronomical too. Why bother to buy a bloatware cpu or laptop when you can pickup a complete system with everything you *need*

[felix]

Nice. The keyboard doesn't look very easy to type on though. Looks like the material used in those flexible keyboards.