Slightly OT - The $20 laptop

crawler

http://www.merinews.com/catFull.jsp?articleID=15709392

TECHNOLOGY HAS always stood for the rich. Most commonly, it seen as a tool to enhance the lifestyle of those who can afford it. Though there have been many people who talk about using technology to help and educate the poor and the needy, yet nothing has been done so far.

Even the honcho of the software giant Microsoft, Bill Gates, argues that the new technologies will help the poor become literate, learn how to plant new crops, take care of their health and sell their services over an expanding information marketplace. His view is consistent with many of us, subject to one big question - how will they reach out to this technology? Who will provide them with with the communications systems, hardware, software and training needed.

These worries, to some extent dwindle with the help of a group of Indian students from the Vellore Institute of Technology, scientists in Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore and IIT Madras with the help of PSUs like Semiconductor Complex, who have developed a prototype laptop, which will be costing Rs 500 or $10. The prototype laptop will be on display in Tirupati on February 3, at the launch of the National Mission on Education through Information and Communication Technology.

However, the Secretary of Secondary and Higher Education, RP Agrawal said, “At this stage, the price is working out to be $20 (Rs 1,000) but with mass production it is bound to come down.” The laptop’s exact configuration is yet to be known, it is reported that it will equipped with 2GB memory with both WiFi and Ethernet enable and a power consumption of 2W. As for the operating system, it is likely to use the open source such as Unix based Linux operating system, keeping the cost in mind.

Onikage

If something sounds too good to be true, it usually is. How much does a wifi module cost by itself? Then add screen, flash memory etc.

watty

I think it was a mistake in transcription $10 instead of $100.

who have developed a prototype laptop, which will be costing Rs 500 or $10.

The articles I've read put it at $100. Which is acheivable.

WiFi chip under $5.

Very acheivable with non-Intel/non-AMD x86, OR an ARM SoC.

Onikage

I've seen it crop up a few times at $10.

http://news.google.ie/news?q=indian+laptop

Agreed, 100 is easily achievable. $40 - 50 MAY be achievable with some very clever engineering or redefinition of the term laptop.

Cabaal

moving to comp/tech

Capt'n Midnight

XE.com says
500.00 INR = 7.98963 EUR
India Rupees Euro
1 INR = 0.0159793 EUR 1 EUR = 62.5811 INR

Onikage

http://www.fastcompany.com/blog/kit-eaton/technomix/why-indias-10-laptop-scheme-load-hype

Well, no shock there.