Attack of the $200 Laptops!
Designed for schoolchildren in developing countries, these inexpensive, stripped-down portables are drawing lots of interest from the gadget set.
Eric Dahl and Tom Spring, PC World
The $100 laptop may still be a myth, but the projects it inspired--rugged, networked, ultracheap, and low-power portables created to aid educational programs in developing countries--are very real. And after months in development, they're finally about to ship. Here's a rundown of the designs and their key specs.
OLPC XO
- Price: $200
- CPU: AMD Geode LX-700 with integrated graphics
- Display: 7.5 inches, 1200 by 900
- Storage: 1GB flash
- RAM: 256MB
- Networking: 802.11b/g Wi-Fi, plus mesh networking
- Features: Built-in camera, speakers, game-pad controls, and microphone
- Number of green, antenna-looking things: Two
- Availability: For a limited time, xogiving.org will sell you one for a child in a developing country and one to keep for $400
Intel Classmate PC
- Price: Expected to cost $200 to manufacture
- CPU: Intel Celeron M CPU and 915GMS chip set with integrated graphics
- Display: 7 inches, 800 by 480
- Storage: 2GB flash
- RAM: 256MB
- Networking: Ethernet and 802.11b/g Wi-Fi
- Features: Built-in microphone and stereo speakers, optional wireless pen for note taking
- Approximate width of screen bezel: Rather a lot
- Availability: Sent to pilot programs in Brazil, Nigeria, and some Asian nations; won't be sold to individuals
Asus Eee PC
- Price: $260 to $400
- CPU: Intel mobile CPU and graphics
- Display: 7 inches, 800 by 480
- Storage: 2GB to 4GB flash
- RAM: 256MB to 512MB
- Networking: Ethernet and 802.11b/g Wi-Fi
- Features: Built-in Webcam, MMC/SD card reader, three USB ports
- Percentage of name that is "e": 60 percent
- Availability: At press time, available for preorder through sites such as allasus.com
"Attack of the $200 Laptops!" Comments