Switched On: Cheapest laptop boasts rich innovation
It's premature to gauge how successful One Laptop per Child will be in its quest to build a laptop that will sell in bulk quantities for $100 (or eventually less). The consortium plans to sell large quantities of the inexpensive devices to governments, which will in turn distribute them to children in less affluent countries. Overall, it's a much better solution than a rumored counterproposal from Dell, which would have required the children to come to U.S. Post Offices to pick up the computers or be charged an extra fee.
Much of the coverage of the $100 laptop has focused on its breakthrough price. However, the initiative, should it prove successful, would not only create a revolutionary learning tool for children in developing countries, but turn notebook design on its head. Backed by disruptors such as Google and AMD and a team that includes Ted Selker, who invented the TrackPoint while at IBM, it represents a portable appliance that is in some ways more versatile – at least for schoolchildren - than notebook PCs that cost ten times as much.
The prototype shown on the project�s home page looks diminutive and light, and perhaps optimized for smaller hands. The color screen will be quite small at seven inches and the keyboard looks suspect (sealed perhaps for extended use outdoors), but the computer boasts two pen input areas � a touch screen and a handwriting input area under the keyboard that may double as a trackpad. The flexibility of the cylindrical hinge provides a number of alternative viewing modes. In addition to working as a standard clamshell usage model, tablet and e-book reader, the keyboard can be folded back behind the screens for �theater-style� presentations.
The hinge also reflects a versatile power design. It should be able to accept battery power modules as well as a hand-crank. Solar power is also being discussed as a power source. And, if that weren�t clever enough, the power cord is embedded in a cover that can double as a carrying strap.
The Linux-powered laptop would support Wi-Fi and be capable of mesh networking. Its single gigabyte of flash storage with no hard drive or optical disc helps account for its thinness. Still, while backers admit that the laptop would not be able to store a lot of data relative to today�s mainstream laptops, the prototype includes four USB ports and it would in theory be relatively easy to add storage to the system via flash drives.
Educational laptop alternatives are not a new idea, but no previous offering has come close to matching this initiative�s functionality at its price point. Perhaps the most famous was Apple�s promising but expensive $800 translucent green eMate 300 based on the Newton operating system. Brainium Technologies, nee NTS Computer Systems, sold several devices focused on helping students to learn keyboarding. Its eMatesque DreamWriter IT was based on Windows CE.
Still standing is AlphaSmart Technologies, which offers three main devices ranging from the lean, mean and (again) translucent green writing machine of the AlphaSmart 3000 to the Wi-Fi-enabled PalmOS-powered Dana. In addition to students, many writers enjoy using the products for their long battery life and ruggedness. One of my favorite AlphaSmart 3000 features is the ability to connect it to a PC or Mac via USB and simply paste the contents of the file into an open word processing document. Nonetheless, even this blissfully simple word processing tool, with its four-line LCD, lists for over $200.
The One Laptop Per Child initiative has no plans to sell its brainchild to individuals; indeed, its minimum order is a million units. But why not? Even at $200 or $300 per laptop, it would likely meet a large enough market of curiosity-seekers, second or third PC tire-kickers, hackers and disadvantaged youth in richer nations to raise funds to help subsidize distribution around the globe. And if, as co-founder Nicholas Negroponte claims, one of the organization�s largest challenges will be scaling up to hundreds of millions of units, would it not make sense to start with a smaller and familiar test market?
At least in the U.S., some schoolchildren may get their hands-on time. Helping the home team, Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney has sought to purchase the laptops for all schoolchildren in MIT�s home state. Features such as the hand-cranked power and handwriting input would offer strong differentiation. For a device that dramatically undercuts the price of today�s mainstream notebook computers, One Laptop per Child�s proposed $100 laptop is more noteworthy for its capabilities and innovations than its limitations.
Ross Rubin is director of industry analysis at NPD Techworld, a division of market research and analysis provider The NPD Group. Views expressed in Switched On, however, are his own. Feedback is welcome at fliptheswitch@gmail.com.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Bobo @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM
Yes...but how can I, your average American Joe, by one? or three?
Matt @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM
Yeah, this thing would be interesting to have. Although I would like something faster and with more hard drive space. But with all those features, I think some people who only have desktops might want to get one just to have a laptop. Desktop for power, laptop for portability. And for supposedly being virtually indestructable, having a touch screen AND a handwriting input area... That's just awesome. How much do tablet PCs cost again?
Chris @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM
It seems to me this makes sense. They don't want to deal with minor sales. They only want to handle large orders. Expect another company to purchase them in bulk and sell them to individual consumers. Shoot, if I had the money for a million of them, I'd do it myself.
eltrentomagnifico @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM
But does it run linux? or doom?
john cranford @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM
What about our American children? Our schools are so falling behind. would'nt it be cheaper for our school districts to buy these $100.00 laptops, load them with digital versions of their overly priced textbooks(tree huggers should love this) Here in San Antonio Texas our districts are blinded with dress-codes (no tshirts-to stiffle their first admendment rights)
just my 2 cents : Lets put technology into the hands of our children first. "charity starts at home" I would love to see 100 kids on my free hotspot doing their homework research and a little Im.
http://www.sawifi.tk
xej @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM
I'm sure it runs doom.
Everything runs doom.
Jacob Varghese @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM
If this laptop will only be limited to educational sales, then I think this would be a great opportunity for Apple to gain some ground. Why not donate OS licenses to the organization or charge a small $1-$5 licensing fee? It would be a great way to get kids used to their OS and prep for future sales when they become adults or want a more substantial laptop.
Only 1 gig of flash memory is needed to hold OS files and a few documents. Kids could use networked storage space through their schools or purchase USB memory keys. It's designed for kids to use for educational purposes and it's more than sufficient for that purpose.
I think they did a great job with it.
Scike @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM
The idea that they can build this thing for $100 is pie in the sky. It is a concept that will never see the light of day as described. Kudos for the dream, though.
computer @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM
Do not all that cheap goods is bad ..!
KC @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM
Why owuld they use Mac OS when they are getting LINUX absolutely free and a Linux Kernel and a few drivers take up MUCH less room in Memory then Mac OS
Open source makes this possible! No other OS could provide anwhere near the versatility of Linux and be free to boot
bv @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM
Sad thing is, in poverty stricken countries, expensive items such as those are bound to be stolen. Hungry people would kill for these things. Plus, i think giving 100 dollars worth of food or something to each child is more worthwhile, i mean what are they going to do with laptops that isnt possible with chalk and textbooks? Any time we got to use a computer in elementary or high school was for leisure time. I think it just gives another reason for kids to goof off during class. I wouldnt dare put these things in U.S. schools. You would have people downloading god knows what, not paying attention, and performing all sorts of cheating-esque routines while taking tests. Overall, seems like a hippy idea to me and wonder if they even have answers to the doubts i've brought forward...
Rex StJames @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM
"No other OS could provide anwhere near the versatility of Linux and be free to boot"
Hehe. Yes, you CAN boot Linux for free.
Luke @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM
I can't wait until some underpriviledged country decides to offset some of their costs by buying more than they need and reselling them to the domestic US market. I'd pay $200 easy for one of these babies. Just think - flash based OS, so little boot time. And a friggin hand crank. It doesn't get any better than that.
I WILL own one of these.
Shayne @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM
"Backed by disruptors such as Google and AMD and a..."
Backed by disrupters? What the hell does that mean? ;)
sine~language @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM
It wouldn't be that hard to organise a mass order of 1 million units, if word got around. I personally would by 10 @ $200. All excess funds could be put back into the initiative to make sure this doesn't become a one gadget wonder.
Jacob Varghese @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM
bv,
"what are they going to do with laptops that isnt possible with chalk and textbooks? Any time we got to use a computer in elementary or high school was for leisure time."
I don't mean to be disrespectful, but might be because of your age or where you grew up. I am 28 and started to learn how to program in kindergarten in NYC, continued with 4 years of programming in high school in Fort Lauderdale.
BoomBoom @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM
This laptop in conjunction with wikibooks could revolutionize education.
http://beta.news.com.com/Wikibooks+takes+on+textbook+industry/2100-1025_3-5884291.html?
Phil @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM
I think it's possible - think more along the lines of combining a cheap colour PDA with a keyboard all stuck together in a laptop like case and it gets more feasible.
I can just see live aid 2010 now - millions of starving africans living in shelters made out of these things. They've got no food and no source of clean water but hey!, they've got a laptop.
Richard @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM
Part of the reason there are starving children in the world is not that there is not enough food, but that dumb dumbs decice we can't feed them with genetically modified food (such as yellow grain rice with added vitamin A) Because environmentalists are afraid that there could be unkown affects to the environment. Apparently it's better for the children to starve than to affect the environment. Will this idea work? A. The US has more comptuers and our Public schools suck, B. Just what software will be given to make these useful for elementary school kids? Linux is great, I use it, love it, but that won't get you a grammar school education. C This might CURE world hunger not by educating people out of povety, but the kids will sell these for food.
Galley @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM
This initiative is one of the best uses of technology I have ever seen. Not only is it a brilliant design, but it could change the world. However, we really need to get these into the hands of EVERY student in the world. American kids will often lug around 1/4 of their weight or more in textbooks.
Martin Tibbitts @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM
This is exciting. Let's see if these can really be RETAILED for $100. that would be a great paradigm shift.
Martin Tibbitts
KC @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM
I agree with those who suggested that it's important to get a culture "caught up" overall before putting laptops in their hands. In tribal Africa, the culture just isn't ready for every kid to have a computer. Look at the stories of expensive farm tractors that get donated to poor countries and end up rusting in fields, stripped of all their parts.
Still, I'm kind of lovin' this project. Great idea to make technology so affordable. Very cool design, too.
And yes, AlphaSmarts (especially the new AlphaSmart Neo) are wonderful devices but cost too much. (Software is buggy, too.) If this $100 laptop gets off the ground, AlphaSmart won't have much of a market anymore unless they lower their prices to the sub-$100 range.
Andy Carvin @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM
Last week I saw Nicholas Negroponte give a speech about the laptop initiative at MIT. If anyone's interested, I wrote a summary of what he said and recorded a podcast.
Summary:
http://www.andycarvin.com/archives/2005/09/creating_the_10.html
Podcast:
http://www.andycarvin.com/archives/2005/10/audio_of_negrop.html
Alex @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM
There is a bit more potential here than you think:
1) it's a completely static system, every piece of software and driver written for it can be completely optimized for that hardware (this is assuming that the suppliers of components won't change and compatibility issues won't arise)
2) Reasonably portable and cheap, with usb for expansion, and multiple input methods.
Throw out a fully optimized linux distro for it, and anything is possible, varients could also be targetted at various industries, medical, government, retail, industry, and many more. This has the potential to change the way we interact with our world around us, and all simply for the price.
AnuGIS @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM
I believe this initiative to a great opportunity for developing countries. One common misconception is that developing countries need food not technology. The same sentiments were aired when a test program to distribute PDAs with digital textbooks to a school in Kenya, Africa was announced. Fact is if you never teach a child to feed themselves with a spoon, you will forever be bound to feeding them yourself. Food is meant for temporary desperate need. But if you really want to help and not merely create a market for farmers in developed countries, you would support self sufficiency (by distributing affordable technology and education), not everlasting dependence on your providence.
A good example of how affordable technology helps is in the innovative use of mobile communication across Africa. Already the west has started to look to Africa and the developing world for new ideas as to where to take the technology next, reports BBC.
http://www.bbcworld.com/content/clickonline_archive_29_2005.asp?pageid=665&co_pageid=3
Middle school teacher @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM
That's an amazing feature list. And I didn't think about retail vs. wholesale until I heard what Martin said. Please let us be able to buy it for $100. :)