MIT $100 laptop

[maestro55]

I first read about this after it was talked about at the linux conference back in April. I spoke with some people at the ACM-ICPC about this and they didn't like the idea because they felt the target audience needed more than cheap computers. If you ask me, computers allow people in poverty to have connections and learn and grow in knowledge and perhaps this will lead to less poverty (or am I just a silly idealist). Whatever the point of end result is, the computers appear to have turned out as they expected (I guess minus the hand crank, which I find dissapointing). As these machines are geared for kids, I think the looks are fine.

Would I buy one? Sure for testing purposes (I am a nerd).

Maybe "Baby's First Computer" or something when I have a kid (assuming I have a kid)..

 

[iTwitch]

IMHO, the hinge does not look like it will last. Looks a bit fragile to me.

The second link talks about this thing being designed to withstand children, in particular the hinge was mentioned as being designed to take a beating.

BTW, Quanta is building these.

 

[iTwitch]

It looks more like it could be a Fisher Price laptop because of the funky color scheme and thick borders.

Since it's targeted to children I would think that's good? The article mentions that subsequent revisions will use different colors instead of names. Blue vs. green vs. orange instead of jaguar vs. panther vs. tiger.

 

[MacEffects]

It looks like a poorly made PDA (Can you say updated eMate)

 

[Flowbee]

How many FPS does it get playing WoW??








(....well, somebody had to ask....)

 

[Plymouthbreezer]

I find it comical people are making comments about how this machine looks "like a child's toy!" Let's take a minute and realize who will be using them. Orange and thick borders are fine for kids in elementary schools. Maybe they'll offer a gray or black model for secondary school students. I'd take a portable laptop if my school gave one to me, even if it didn't have a hard drive. Of course, I have a PowerBook which I'd still probably use, but hey, a second "toy" is never a bad thing.