Sub-$100 Laptop Unveiled

Sub-$100 Laptop Unveiled

Howard on 29 September 2005 - 17:29 · 60 comments & 20797 views

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The chairman and founder of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Media Labs, Nicholas Negroponte, has announced his plans for a laptop that costs less than $100 (£57) to produce. The laptop is aimed at education in developing countries, with Brazil, China, Egypt, Thailand, and South Africa receiving the laptop first.

The laptop will run a modified version of Linux and will reportedly ship with a 500MHz processor. A hard drive has been replaced with flash memory for increased reliability and power efficiency. An interesting addition is the included hand crank for powering the laptop when away from an electrical outlet. The AC adaptor also doubles as a carrying strap. For more information, check out the official website for the project.

Screenshot: Image 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

View: $100 Laptop Website

QUOTE

Please note: These laptops are not in production. They are not—and will not—be available for purchase by individuals.

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(1 reply) #1 camsoft on 29 Sep 2005 - 17:29

I want one. Looks well cool.

#1.1 Ashl on 29 Sep 2005 - 20:59

Yeah I want one as well I could afford one of these unlike most laptops, and with usb port the possibilities are great with what you could run on it.

#2 KC on 29 Sep 2005 - 17:30

Would be nice if they would market it else where.

#3 blu3Fusion on 29 Sep 2005 - 17:33

wow..it is cooler than my laptop..

(1 reply) #4 cr3at0r on 29 Sep 2005 - 17:34

$100 to produce

#4.1 Fubar on 29 Sep 2005 - 17:40

i doubt the markup on these laptops will be that much , if you read it that carefully you would know its for the poorer nations so there for the profit margin wouldnt be that high specialy at the production cost they say they can do it at , it will still be cheap

(1 reply) #5 snuffy on 29 Sep 2005 - 17:38

yeah and they are not for profit

#5.1 RangerLG on 29 Sep 2005 - 17:42

Non-profit does not mean they cannot make money. It just means any profits made have to reinvested to the company.

(2 replies) #6 lbmouse on 29 Sep 2005 - 17:43

Hmm... wonder if the Gates foundation will be buying these Linux laptops for 3rd world children?

#6.1 machorro on 29 Sep 2005 - 17:52

lol that's gold

anyway.. those computers look nice, i would like to see a working model...

#6.2 threedaysdwn on 29 Sep 2005 - 17:59

Somehow I think that they'd be given Windows instead

#7 ripgut on 29 Sep 2005 - 17:49

Peerfect little linux machines

#8 dotrock on 29 Sep 2005 - 17:52

i wonder if we can format n install windows.. (95??

)

#9 Marduk on 29 Sep 2005 - 17:53

Thats crazy, you know there'll be some individuals getting a hold of some though it always happens, quite a nice lil tool!

The hand crank maks sense but at first made me lol.

(1 reply) #10 xploit1030 on 29 Sep 2005 - 17:54

They should sell them for $150. That way if anyone wants one they can get one and it would pay half the cost for one of the ones they are giving away.

#10.1 FiREFLi on 29 Sep 2005 - 21:18

Please note: these laptops are not in production. They are not—and will not—be available for purchase by individuals.

(1 reply) #11 dotrock on 29 Sep 2005 - 17:55

Ah forgot to say !! neowin will hav a new customize section for this

hurray!

#11.1 russ0943 on 29 Sep 2005 - 18:17

true

#12 machorro on 29 Sep 2005 - 17:58

from the site:

QUOTE

What about connectivity? Aren't telecommunications services expensive in the developing world?
When these machines pop out of the box, they will make a mesh network of their own, peer-to-peer. This is something initially developed at MIT and the Media Lab. We are also exploring ways to connect them to the backbone of the Internet at very low cost.

maybe the RIAA will want to be monitoring that network too

anyway this project seems really really nice

(2 replies) #13 riceboyler on 29 Sep 2005 - 18:06

Is it just me, or does the keyboard look like something off of an Atari 400 or something that vintage? I bet it SUCKS to type on.

Otherwise, very cool idea!

#13.1 neufuse on 29 Sep 2005 - 18:38

it's the same kind of keypad you'd find on any remote control... rubber keys with a key grid printed on the board under them that tells which key was pressed based on the little graphite pad on the back of the rubber key... hence very hard to type with, but very cheap to make...

#13.2 Ironman273 on 29 Sep 2005 - 19:11

..and don't forget more durable than the average keyboard.

#14 Lexcyn on 29 Sep 2005 - 18:09

It's too bad an individual can't purchase one. I'd like one to try it out.

#15 AethylFilth on 29 Sep 2005 - 18:11

Great, now kids in developing countries will be owning me on CS

(1 reply) #16 GatorV on 29 Sep 2005 - 18:18

Wow a hand crank, reminds me of really old automoviles that you have to spin the crank to start the engine

I think it's a cool project, but given the specs I doubt they can do something else than write in OO, and watch a movie?

#16.1 roadwarrior on 29 Sep 2005 - 19:58

When you are without power for extended periods of time (like we were here in Mississippi after Katrina), you'd appreciate devices that have this type of power source. Sharper Image and Brookstone and some other stores sell lots of things that have hand crank power, like radios and flashlights, and I noticed that a couple of days after the hurricane, they had moved these items right to the front of the store.

Last edited by 26908 on 29 Sep 2005 - 20:08

(1 reply) #17 markjensen on 29 Sep 2005 - 18:22

Well, it seems that Ballmer should be happy that he is close to getting his wish granted.

#17.1 icecaveman on 29 Sep 2005 - 19:21

Haha it's so funny

Good link

#18 Mr. Dee on 29 Sep 2005 - 18:36

Its ugly and scary.

(4 replies) #19 neufuse on 29 Sep 2005 - 18:38

I want to know where the heck you can get a 12" color LCD screen for less then $50 OEM because its hard enough to get a 20x4 char LCD display for that price as it is and thats not even a graphic one... a graphic LCD in black and white costs about $99 OEM

this system has to cost more then they are saying... the parts alone cost more then $100 unless there are donations of parts mixed into this mess

heck, I'd like to know where they get the parts that cheap because I come up with this for the basic parts alone (just speculating on some of the size of some of them)

512MB Flash memory - $29
12" LCD Color - at least $50
500MHz MIPS processor or ARM - $39
Crank (what they cost to buy now OEM) - $15
PCB's (printed circuit boards) - $2 to 3 depending on the size
keyboard (rubber pad one) - $3
circurity (other chips, and chipset) - $10

and that isn't even all the parts you might need.. and thats well over $100

Last edited by 47883 on 29 Sep 2005 - 18:45

#19.1 jpcahn on 29 Sep 2005 - 18:44

The Color LCD is supposedly in the same league as one found on a cheap DVD Player so it's probably low resolution like 800x600 or less. Plus he is not making these tommorow they are for late next year so prices will go down by then.

#19.2 Nautica on 29 Sep 2005 - 19:21

"Five initial companies who have committed to this project are AMD, Brightstar, Google, News Corporation, and Red Hat"

this looks AMAZING, I hope that this can help out people across the world..

they could fund it also by selling them to wealthy people like the people here at neowin

#19.3 markjensen on 29 Sep 2005 - 21:07

QUOTE

heck, I'd like to know where they get the parts that cheap because I come up with this for the basic parts alone (just speculating on some of the size of some of them)

12" LCD Color - at least $50

From their website:

QUOTE

How is it possible to get the cost so low?

First, by dramatically lowering the cost of the display. The first-generation machine may use a novel, dual-mode LCD display commonly found in inexpensive DVD players, but that can also be used in black and white, in bright sunlight, and at four times the normal resolution—all at a cost of approximately $35.

So, your estimates are a bit high from what they are able to get committments from their suppliers.

#19.4 Arcan3 on 30 Sep 2005 - 20:11

can u post a link to where ya found those prices ? pretty plz... also ... remeber those prices are per unit... in large amounts cost per unit decrease

#20 doubledragonxz on 29 Sep 2005 - 19:25

That laptop looks amazing, sounds like a computer version of Ipod, except for the keyboard tho...

And what about peripherals? CD-ROM, DVD-ROM or even floppy drives...

(1 reply) #21 ghos on 29 Sep 2005 - 19:26

Actually something like this seems perfect for students of the future. As long it has a way to connect with other computers you could put homework in it, etc. I think the memory would have to be larger than 512mb though to be of any use. Although one draw-back is its using Linux which may be tough for some since many computers use Windows.
I think something a little like this though would work here in the US, just needs more. It needs a more normal keyboard as well. Typing on that will not be fast, and will be difficult.

#21.1 domgrimm on 30 Sep 2005 - 01:09

Website says 1gb flash drive

(3 replies) #22 Cyranthus on 29 Sep 2005 - 19:33

a hand crank generator? you have got to be kidding me!

however it does look like a pretty cool machine. the look reminds me of something out of star trek... but yeah... $100 to PRODUCE, but how much to actually buy?

#22.1 em_te on 29 Sep 2005 - 19:41

Would be cool if the crank generated sound when you turned it. Like a jack in the box.

#22.2 roadwarrior on 29 Sep 2005 - 20:01

QUOTE

a hand crank generator? you have got to be kidding me!

Read my post #16.1 above. In some third world countries, devices with that type of power source are quite popular.

#22.3 Bamsebjørn on 30 Sep 2005 - 11:10

QUOTE

Would be cool if the crank generated sound when you turned it. Like a jack in the box.

And then it just pops open when the laptop is fully charged.

(1 reply) #23 Complimentary Medicine on 29 Sep 2005 - 19:38

How cool.......now you can chat to your pals at the other side of the desert as you slowly starve to death.

#23.1 em_te on 29 Sep 2005 - 19:41

I wonder if you can plug a webcam into it.

#24 em_te on 29 Sep 2005 - 19:47

I hope these laptops really help the poor and ultimately get their country out of poverty.

(2 replies) #25 streetwolf on 29 Sep 2005 - 20:28

Ummmmm... wouldn't such little things as food and medicine be more useful for the areas this computer is aimed at? I can just see everyone who gets one putting it up for sale on eBay.

#25.1 FiREFLi on 29 Sep 2005 - 21:13

I think not.

#25.2 aristofeles on 29 Sep 2005 - 22:10

Don't worry, we don't use eBay....
(but you WILL find it on www.mercadolivre.com.br )

Indeed, food and medicine would be more usefull... but they will have it... using the money they will make seling it.
I myself will try to buy one.

Last edited by 20062 on 29 Sep 2005 - 22:25

(2 replies) #26 darksoul on 29 Sep 2005 - 20:42

i wonder if it has any expandability, like USB ports? Without something like that you could not get anything on or off the system when you didn't have wireless connectivity. that would seem crutial to getting people really using computers not just typewriters.

#26.1 markjensen on 29 Sep 2005 - 21:03

QUOTE

i wonder if it has any expandability, like USB ports?

Please read the link, and this will be answered.

#26.2 domgrimm on 30 Sep 2005 - 01:11

And they come wifi active

#27 FiREFLi on 29 Sep 2005 - 21:12

Wow. I want one.

Call me greedy but I want more power

(1 reply) #28 Javizun on 29 Sep 2005 - 21:42

they look ugly-i would not spend 100 dollars on that
i cant believe people actually like it
a manual cracnk lol-hahaha

#28.1 plasticparadox on 30 Sep 2005 - 14:53

idiot, the crank is for places with no electricity.

(1 reply) #29 Galley on 29 Sep 2005 - 22:12

That is a freaking awesome design!

Every student in the world should be carrying one of these. As it is now, some kids are carrying half their weight in bookbags. Death to textbooks!

#29.1 domgrimm on 30 Sep 2005 - 01:15

Not only does it weigh less than a stack of textbooks, it would cost less too...they need to market this worldwide, imo

#30 Webgraph on 30 Sep 2005 - 01:11

Good lord! That's crazy! That'll for sure topple Micros*it's monopoly in the OS market, LOL!

(1 reply) #31 antny_uk on 30 Sep 2005 - 08:24

It seems like a really good idea to help educate children in 3rd world countries, although it did make me stop when i read:

QUOTE

In one Cambodian village where we have been working, there is no electricity, thus the laptop is, among other things, the brightest light source in the home.

Shouldn't this mean we should focus on producing cheaper medication, water purifiers, lighting etc... Rather than getting these countries more involved with the latest technology?

#31.1 Bamsebjørn on 30 Sep 2005 - 11:16

Don't you realise how important free internet is? People in Africa can now order pizza's over the internet!

#32 king_turkey on 01 Oct 2005 - 10:50

While spending money on food and education is a priority, putting this ahead of education would be stupid. With this program they are making a much bigger investment in the futures of those children. They will receive a better education and will be able to get better jobs, ultimately meaning that they can buy that food and medicine etc. It's a classic example of the old saying; give a man a fish and you feed him for a day, teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.

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Sub-$100 Laptop Unveiled

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