The OLPC $100 laptop unveiled at UN net summit

We've finally got some pictures of the new concept design for the $100 laptop that was unveiled at the UN net summit in Tunis. As mentioned before, they had to make some changes to increase the durability of the machine, for which they have finally produced a partially functioning prototype. Encased in rubber and sporting a 500MHz processor, mesh networking capabilities, and four USB ports, the incredible hype behind the OLPC (One Laptop Per Child) project only seems to be building — who are we to stand in its way? More pictures after the break.

[Via CNET, thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Book Mode

Game mode

[B! @ Dec 19th 2005 2:31AM]

I want, I want!!!

[Gordon Delp @ Dec 19th 2005 2:31AM]

Oh I want one too! I thought I read in another article that after they started making these for the OLPC plan that they'd be possibly selling them in the $200 or so range to help raise money for the project. If it's as cool as it seems, I'd happily pick one up just for fun.

[clicclic @ Dec 19th 2005 2:31AM]

Will Ebay refuse to allow this for sale in the USA?

This will be the biggest selling electronic device on Ebay if they allow it.

And the most hacked on Sourceforge!

[Topmounter @ Dec 19th 2005 2:31AM]

Is it edible?

[Joel Pigdon @ Dec 19th 2005 2:31AM]

Hmmm,
Looks like a newton, acts like a newton, is green, omg, potentially runs Einstein (newton emulator) the future is clear bring back newton OS for all, Now you wonder why they knocked back Saint Steve Job's offer of OS X, He killed the Newton back in the day, your time of judgement is night, when you will pay for your sins, Steve

[Pal @ Dec 19th 2005 2:31AM]

Rubber...interesting. I'd pick up one of these for $200 I guess, they're definitely portable enough.

On a side note, I know it's mockshot, but that game looks very boring.

[Ash Connor @ Dec 19th 2005 2:31AM]

Brace yourselves fellas the Internets about to get even more crowded.

Ash

[Paul @ Dec 19th 2005 2:31AM]

If they decide not to sell these in the US at all.. these $100 laptops will end up going for like $400 on eBay to American gadget-lovers :D

If they do end up selling them here for something like $200 I would definitely pick one up, just for another wireless internet device. It looks so small and cool :D

[toonrunner @ Dec 19th 2005 2:31AM]

The Cino (C-Note) laptop is a good concept. but the true test will be if they can incorporate the mesh networking feature into it. build enuff of them and you can virually have your Cino Internet

[s marcus @ Dec 19th 2005 2:31AM]

TODAY THE COMPUTER..TOMORROW THE PRINTER
100 dollar computer.. wow
so now try to build a cheap printer whereby color ink can be recycled or burn the print in black white.. I mean use this knowhow to kill this ridiculous cost we all pay in the overdeveloped world. im steve marcus the ?guy in flickr

[Damo @ Dec 19th 2005 2:31AM]

If those are the hands of an 8 year old, that keyboard is like 30% size :(

[Charlie @ Dec 19th 2005 2:31AM]

Now we just need the OPPP program. One 65 inch plasma TV for every person on the planet for $100. Come on UN, hook a brotha up!

[Ralph @ Dec 19th 2005 2:31AM]

Why wouldn't they sell this in the U.S? There are plenty of poor urban and rural families who do not have computers or affordable Internet access.

I would like one myself to 'port around for business meetings, read e-books and travel.

[Earthian @ Dec 19th 2005 2:31AM]

Irrelevant with the philanthropic purpose of the OLPC , the positive remarks for compact PCs urges me to post these two beauties ...

They both run on XP ...

http://OQO.com

http://www.minipcs.com/content/view/124/31/

Enjoy ...

[Megabeet @ Dec 19th 2005 2:31AM]

#6 Joel - Good ideas will never die. And we'll never forget...or forgive

[Irond Will @ Dec 19th 2005 2:31AM]

I wonder what the thought was in choosing a fat hand model for the publicity shots (note the inverted knuckles in the first shot). All indications are that these will probably be going to skinny kids in general...

[distantbody @ Dec 19th 2005 2:31AM]

Thats it! i'm mooving to Ethiopia.

[Pete @ Dec 19th 2005 2:31AM]

I'm very impressed, I didn't think they would get down to $100 and still have any funtionality left (shows what I know compared to MIT proffs ;-})

Now we need some serious distributed computing apps ;-}

First one to great a distributed wikipedia infrastructure, running on these, gets a bar of chocolate.

[Buy-proxy @ Dec 19th 2005 2:31AM]

Hmm... Sell them for $200 in the states in a Buy-Two, Get One deal. You pay for two, and get one for yourself, and the other is given to a kid in the third world, along with your email address (if you agree), so that you can keep in touch.

Not only have you given them a laptop, but you can communicate with them, and thereby learn from each other.

[Rus @ Dec 19th 2005 2:31AM]

being distributed to poor, hungry children and being the color soylent green is creepy ...

[Belfast-Biker @ Dec 19th 2005 2:31AM]

Very nice. Definitely should be sold anywhere people want to buy it though.

[Scott @ Dec 19th 2005 2:31AM]

#18- That's an awesome idea.

[Mike Street @ Dec 19th 2005 2:31AM]

This looks very much like a "MY First Laptop" but it's a good cause none the less.

[Jimmith @ Dec 19th 2005 2:31AM]

#18, the idea of bying one=giving one is brilliant. Some variation of this would be really cool, and i think, effective.

[Rob Cowie @ Dec 19th 2005 2:31AM]

A great project. I just hope they will sell them everywhere in the World and use sales in developed Nations to subsidise the provision to those who can't afford one.

I'd love to buy a great gadget AND do my bit to spread the power of computing

[apeguero @ Dec 19th 2005 2:31AM]

What's with the big touchpad? Must be a pain to type on.

[Rus @ Dec 19th 2005 2:31AM]

#24 ...

It won't be a matter "of affording one" ... governments will buy them and distribute them ...

And this is one of the concerns

[sojo @ Dec 19th 2005 2:31AM]

UMMMM, did you all look at that pic? Those look like toddler's hands and they look way too oversized for that laptop. And what is that? A 5" screen?

*sigh*

And don't the children (and their parents) in those countries work in 90cents-a-day US factories? How is "every child" supposed to get one of these? Through the UN? For microsized laptops? At how much? How about we not charge them for the water they drink & pay more than starvation wages before we start using aid money for hyped electronics.

[Jared Dilg @ Dec 19th 2005 2:31AM]

Buy-proxy:

That's an awesome idea for this project, but I'd charge at least $300 - Americans will pay it and it will raise a little money for project administration too.

The idea of communicating with your new "e-pal" is great. They should partner with those feed the children charities, so that for only a $1 a day, you can feed and e-mail your sponsored child. Those food programs ask for 70 cents a day to feed a child, and 30 cents more times 365 days will pay for the laptop in a year! (of course, you wouldn't get a free laptop, but Americans have plenty of computers).

[Scabrous Vermicelli @ Dec 19th 2005 2:31AM]

Ironic that a laptop "for poor kids" is shown in the hands of the fattest kid in the universe.

[ela2 @ Dec 19th 2005 2:31AM]

Its a little late....2 years time $100 laptops will be available from Walmart and they'll kick ass over this machine. People in 3rd world countries will be using these things as book stands, paper weights, dog chew toys, etc....

[Seamus Phan @ Dec 19th 2005 2:31AM]

As a volunteer serving some parts of Africa such as Cameroon and Burkina Faso where computers is obviously a luxury, and many of our sponsors sent old used computers to these locales, only to find that it is still difficult to allow young underprivileged children equal access to the terminals. Also, electrical power can be a hassle as well.

This $100 laptop makes it a compelling reality for such places, since it fulfills many needs: a cheap computing alternative, less reliance on external power, and most of all, the ability to ship more of this to these locations with LESS shipping costs and taxes!

[Jeff A @ Dec 19th 2005 2:31AM]

What is the big yellow thing on the side. Is this one of those "Hand Crank" devices. Just crack for a mere 3o mins to get 5 mins of usage.

[TIMMAH! @ Dec 19th 2005 2:31AM]

@#18 Actually more like $100 after you send in your *@&#!%$! rebates!!

[Number 5 @ Dec 19th 2005 2:31AM]

I molest children: [e-mail]

[Mike Liveright @ Dec 19th 2005 2:31AM]

1) I saw the report on selling it at $200 in the Wall Street Journal, now behind their firewall. http://online.wsj.com/public/article/SB113193305149696140-cUtsblUyn2m2An2GU36_kzrgUV8_20061114.html?mod=blogs

2) Just to "remind" the project that there was some interest in the posibility of US purchasing it at a higher price ""I will purchase the $100 laptop at $300 but only if 100,000 other will too." I started a pledge over at: http://www.pledgebank.com/100laptop

This pledge is total unoffical, but if you are interested in expressing your interest you might sign it.

[Kris Lee @ Dec 19th 2005 2:31AM]

When you look first public prototype (see, Oct 3, http://www.computers.net/2005/10/mits_100_laptop.html for example) then you may realize that there is big difference between what we see today.

I would say that current version look more like $100 cheap shit for poor people. Little more and we will get $100 junk give away.

[nlibera @ Dec 19th 2005 2:31AM]

Man, what game are they playing?! the graphics look AWESOME!

[zeto @ Dec 19th 2005 2:31AM]

well, 200$ is a little expensive, at leat where i live (portugal).

For u people living in US or whatever... 100$ is good, 150$ is good too... but 200$ it's just a little more expensive. although it's indeed very cheap to use for academic porpuse, if it runs linux.

hope they sell they where at low price.

here only 20% have computer (if i'm not mistaken).

[Charles Bandes @ Dec 19th 2005 2:31AM]

This is so cool. Gadget freaks need to remember that there are a lot of people (heck, even people in your own country) who can't afford a computer of any kind, much less an internet connection. A product like this could really make a huge impact on how schools work, especially in underpriveleged areas that might not be able to afford libraries of textbooks, etc. It should also help prepare kids for a life in a more technological future.

I think it will be a great success. Sure it is crummy compared to the laptops most engadget readers are used to, but thankfully we aren't the audience they're designed for.

The hand-crank is a stroke of genius, imho.

[rtheman @ Dec 19th 2005 2:31AM]

I haven't read up the whole story but whom / where will these laptop be sold and introduced at?

I have friends and collegue in South Africa (2nd world nation) that can make use of these as a way to jump start their technology sector that is much needed! So it's not just for those jungle bounded, 9th world countries in my opnion.

[3rd World Kid @ Dec 19th 2005 2:31AM]

i make 50 cents a day.... i can buy this?
.
.
.
.....NO
you americans buy for me??
.
.
.
.....YES

[Barry @ Dec 19th 2005 2:31AM]

Watch the video of the introduction. MIT can teach Stevie J a few things about product announcements. Like having Kofi Annan introduce it. It was also announced the non-profit corp is seeking to partner w/for-profit corp to distribute it commerically for about $200. With luck we'll all be able to buy one.

[noise @ Dec 19th 2005 2:31AM]

Yeah man, I'd get one especially if it were to help other people, plust im sure they can be easily modified too :D

Lets all email the crap out of them and tell them they should sell publicly. I like #18s idea about buy 2 and you get one and it pays for another, they'd have huge support. If they see general interest from the public they'd probalby consider it more.

[Yup @ Dec 19th 2005 2:31AM]

In an ironic twist, will the call support center for this computer be in the US?

[bobby d @ Dec 19th 2005 2:31AM]

okay... so these kids have a computer. thats great. Now, where do they get software/games/cameras/... INTERNET ACCESS!

...just wondering.

[Ruegen @ Dec 19th 2005 2:31AM]

Green?? Great way to get it lost in a shrub/grass.

:-/

[SangHee @ Dec 19th 2005 2:31AM]

Does anybody remember Simputer project in India a few years ago? It had a similar concept (low-cost computing for the masses) as this one. Wonder how it fared...

[Galley @ Dec 19th 2005 2:31AM]

Every child in the world should have a device like this. That would keep them from having to carry 60 pounds of textbooks.

[Paws @ Dec 19th 2005 2:31AM]

http://laptop.media.mit.edu/faq.html

It is a windup power handle.