Intel shows pics of Community PC

When we first heard about Intel's Community PC initiative for rural India, the first thing that came to mind was the OLPC project, and how Intel seems to be taking it on around the globe. Now that we've actually seen pics of the box (above), we're not so sure. For one thing, this thing is big. For another, it's, well, really big. There's no question that this is designed to be a stationary object for use in public-access internet kiosks, rather than a truly personal computer like the OLPC. So, while the OLPC is meant to be an all-around educational tool for kids, the CPC is meant to allow the community at large to access email, pay bills online, and update their MySpace profiles. From looking at it, though, we really can't see what Intel's done to make this particularly different from other ruggedized PCs designed to be used in public places. Other than the fact that it's really, really big, that is.

[Josh! @ Mar 30th 2006 4:26PM]

That thing is freakin' huge!! Oh my.

[raymond causwell @ Mar 30th 2006 4:28PM]

Guess they made it big as a cheap form of crime deterrent - you'd need a Horde of people to move on of these pc�s

[Tom @ Mar 30th 2006 4:30PM]

It's like the Hummer of desktop computing. Suh-weet!

[x @ Mar 30th 2006 4:34PM]

Looks like a giant N64?

[x @ Mar 30th 2006 4:36PM]

...and how many wires is that connected to the back?

[[noodle] @ Mar 30th 2006 4:39PM]

Thats a nice painting of a guy getting owned by the sun and the souls being released into the sky.

Oh yeah and that box is huge even my blazin packard bell wasnt that big when i purchased it back in the 90's. or maybe it was...

[Barry @ Mar 30th 2006 4:41PM]

You're all wrong. Those children are malnourished and actually only one foot tall. It's actually the size of a Mac Mini.

[Rob W @ Mar 30th 2006 4:41PM]

Does it, perhaps, power more than one workstation at a time? Hence all the wires and the community moniker?

[math0ne @ Mar 30th 2006 4:44PM]

That pic CANT'T be acurate.

[brad @ Mar 30th 2006 4:46PM]

i would say this is why it is huge:
(from the article)

Ruggedized chassis: The chassis has been designed to withstand dusty conditions, varying temperatures and high humidity. It has a removable dust filter and integrated air fan to regulate the temperature of the motherboard. The chassis is designed to keep the motherboard cool at temperatures as high as 45 degrees Celsius and the PC resistant to humidity levels of 70 to 85 RH (Relative Humidity).

CPSU: The PC is equipped with a Customized Power Supply Unit which is comprised of an Integrated Power Supply and the UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) unit, which allow the PC to maintain continuous load power in the event of a power outage.

[Don @ Mar 30th 2006 4:47PM]

>Looks like a giant N64?
I guess that grey hunk of plastic is where you slide the cartridge in.

Intel is pissing me off, in how they are reacting to OLPC

[JJ @ Mar 30th 2006 4:48PM]

Well at least no one is going to steal it ..... who the hell would want to? (but at least they are trying right?)

[jabbertrack @ Mar 30th 2006 4:49PM]

You guys should mention how big it looks. Because I mean look at it... it's really big!

and huge!

[richard gear @ Mar 30th 2006 4:54PM]

Umm, those are all Intel engineers.

show us the real goods!

[Doug @ Mar 30th 2006 4:55PM]

Heck, it looks just as ugly as pretty much every Windows PC I've ever seen.

[mpemulis @ Mar 30th 2006 5:02PM]

Those are the three unhappiest computer users ever. They look like kids opening a box for Xmas and finding it full of socks. Gee ... thanks.

[Jon Acheson @ Mar 30th 2006 5:03PM]

Actually, integrating a UPS into the power supply is a really good idea, because the places this is intended to be used often have irregular power (I've seen lamp cord used to run power...). I wonder if it has a power converter built in as well?

As for the UMPC, I'll take the computer that can run Excel and play Starcraft, and so will everyone else in the world.

[iwa87 @ Mar 30th 2006 5:11PM]

Can't they not provide an LCD monitor instead of a CRT?? I supported the SightSavers who worked hard to have these kids' eyesight corrected and checked. Now Intel is ruining their eyes by giving them CRT monitors??? Arghh!!

[SupermanWearsJackBauerPyjamas @ Mar 30th 2006 5:16PM]

OMG ROFL POVERTY

[Robert Preseau @ Mar 30th 2006 5:17PM]

"Thats a nice painting of a guy getting owned by the sun"

"You're all wrong. Those children are malnourished and actually only one foot tall. It's actually the size of a Mac Mini."

Those are two of the funniest things I've ever read on this site. I agree with the UPS comment. I also agree with the hatred for Intel in trying to jack the OLPC project.

[John Doe. @ Mar 30th 2006 5:17PM]

So when folks in India call tech support do they get those American that you can's understand worth a damn? ;-) *runs and hides.*

[Fist Of Konshu @ Mar 30th 2006 5:20PM]

It's almost as big as the original X-Box. ;-)

[mikey @ Mar 30th 2006 5:31PM]

Intel will also develop the "Curryputer" for third world nations, which will come in mild, medium, and spicy configurations.

[blackf0rk @ Mar 30th 2006 5:34PM]

The real secret is what's under the blue cloth - the other half of the computer ;)

[Brent @ Mar 30th 2006 5:37PM]

How dumb is it to call this thing a CPC? Does anyone even remember what PC stands for?

So this thing is a Community PERSONAL Computer? Freaking dumb.

Finally something that beats: Windows 2000 built on Windows NT Technology

Which translates to
Windows 2000 built on Windows New TECHNOLOGY Technology.

Thanks Department of Redundency Department

[ZapMan @ Mar 30th 2006 5:46PM]

Jeez, that thing is HUGE. I guess it explains the excitement on the kids faces.

[pixel fairy @ Mar 30th 2006 5:52PM]

are they really so stuck on windows/x86? why not ARM (as in Xscale)? also made by intel. theyre pretty fast, are alot smaller, use way less power, simpler in design (harder to break)...

its not like these are made for starcraft. theyll probably be running MS 3rd world crippled well-look-the-other-way-while-you-pirate-real-windows (so we can expand our monopoly) edition anyway...

[Eric @ Mar 30th 2006 6:15PM]

So how is being able to surf the internet going to help these people in developing countries? How about helping develop sustainable farming practices, clean water, and learning basic reading/writing/math?

[Ryan @ Mar 30th 2006 6:26PM]

Eric... just a thought but they can learn about all those things on the internet, especially the reading/writing/math part.

[Ray @ Mar 30th 2006 6:30PM]

The guys who designed the Sirrius units designed this thing..

[yelohbird @ Mar 30th 2006 6:31PM]

How is this different from building a cheap whitebox with a ruggedized case? Ignoring performance, one could easily put together a decent athlon-based whitebox for $100; let's say the beautifully huge case costs $100, that's $200. Throw in a used/recycled CRT monitor that goes for $50 on the streets these days, I don't see why Intel is pushing a cost of $400 for these CPCs.

[Dave @ Mar 30th 2006 6:47PM]

Hmm, how about the logistics of actually sharing the CPC? Let's say guy A is on there reading about fertilizer composition and guy B rolls in needing to get his pr0n on.

[daschupa @ Mar 30th 2006 6:51PM]

Geez, hate to see the hand crank for that thing.

[Lyrrad @ Mar 30th 2006 6:52PM]

What kind of internet connection do they have in rural India, dial up?

[Raymond @ Mar 30th 2006 6:53PM]

Its not THAT big. its about as big as one of the earlier computers, but it looks bigger because its been turned on its side.

[poil11 @ Mar 30th 2006 7:13PM]

the guy who designed the painting, designed this thing

[tracy @ Mar 30th 2006 7:16PM]

that painting in the background freaks me

[loomer @ Mar 30th 2006 7:25PM]

it's pippin-y:
http://www.allaboutapple.com/museo/reportages/pippin/epippin.htm

[Kevin Fox @ Mar 30th 2006 7:54PM]

Intel's aware that you can get a new Dell Dimension B110 with the monitor *and* the speakers for $369 right? you can buy it today right off the internets.

Oh wait, but their customers don't have access to the internets yet, so you can make them pay more, until they get one and realize they've been had...

[acidreflux @ Mar 30th 2006 8:06PM]

By the way, the painting comes with it the PC; it is supposed to help increase sales by equating hinduism with white suited fab technicians.

It follows after that whole VIIV logic.

[Carl @ Mar 30th 2006 9:30PM]

"Look at that 'ole computer there. That thing is E-Normous. All I'm saying is that's one big computer..."
- Tiny Elvis

[russ @ Mar 30th 2006 9:51PM]

anyone remember a HP linux box that could take 4 keyboard/video/mouse combos? maybe this is it: http://www.hp.com/e-inclusion/en/project/441_brochure.pdf [pdf link!]. if getting a UPS into the box is so important - why not hang 4 people off that box/UPS..

[Dhiram @ Mar 30th 2006 10:38PM]

Due to the constant power outages in rural India it seems Intel has placed a UPS inside.

[Woolly Mittens @ Mar 31st 2006 12:18AM]

This is the most depressing marketing department propaganda I have seen in a long time.

"Hmmm, what would poor people sit in? I know. Garden furniture and lets put this mamoth pc on a vegetable crate with a towl tossed over it. Oh, they have to look foreigny, let's put some bizarre religious painting prominently on the wall behind them."

[dz-015 @ Mar 31st 2006 3:31AM]

I agree with #17. Wouldn't an LCD display use less power and be more rugged and dust proof than a CRT display?

[Jstar @ Mar 31st 2006 4:55AM]

Its a Typical(Standard Intel) Business Machine Chassis
Theyve been selling that style for years, you only ever saw these in business areas, with that kinda Monitor , Id say theyr Selling Off all theyr old crap in storage hella cheap , We Probably still (reminds me of the old days selling the stuff at thecomputermarket.com ) ;D eew, *chills down my spine*

[brg @ Mar 31st 2006 7:40AM]

I don't think the size or design is a problem for this computer, integrating a filter and UPS is a good idea.

"So how is being able to surf the internet going to help these people in developing countries? How about helping develop sustainable farming practices, clean water, and learning basic reading/writing/math?"

In a lot of developing countries people have clean water, basic learning etc. There are not only two types of countries in the world. However I totaly agree that there is no sense in trying to sell computers to people who do not even have clean water.

There was a smillar project in Turkey last year supported by Microsoft. They sold Toshiba laptops to teachers for 600-700$ (nearly 30%-40% cheaper than the market price for the laptops they gave) and Microsoft gave Windows and Office for free. Also a bank offered a good financing plan and it was a huge success.

There are a lot people in the world who can read, write, have phone lines, electricity but no computer. I think products like this one make more sense than the 100$ laptop project, people who do not have electricity will not even be able to afford to buy 100$ PCs, if the goverment pays for them it will only mean more debt for those goverments.

[Johnnyg0 @ Mar 31st 2006 8:44AM]

Why don't we just all send over our old but still good computers instead of putting them to the garbage. I'm tired of hearing corporate PR talking about selling poor countries stuff we are throwing away EN MASSE!

[sharing @ Mar 31st 2006 10:03AM]

A computer is a tool. People in communities often share tools until they have enough money or demand for them to acquire their own.

In rural India the bandwidth can vary from a respectable 512Kbps in villages closer to urban centers to 11kbps with 500ms latency in more remote villages. Many of the design challenges in the software revolve around solutions that can tolerate that situation. Any comments or suggestions on alleviating that would be useful/practical.

Intel is helping solve the hardware challenges for this environment that will help billions of people around the world. Any useful comments there would be great too.

What have you done today to help the world be a better place?

[Matt @ Mar 31st 2006 4:21PM]

Yes, lets all make fun of the silly foreigners! Look at their crazy crazy paintins and garden furniture with all their crazy crazy cables! LOLZ THESE IRAQiS ARE TEH FUNNIST.


Grow up for f**k's sake. Seen how many cables there are comming out the back of your PC lately?


Anyway....someone mentioned about what internet connections they have - a lot of villages in India have something like an internet booth/kiosk thing which I think has single channel ISDN usually. Intel are aiming this device at these booths.

The monitor is a Samsung Syncmaster (cant see the model number but loks like 57c?)...I'm wondering what the mystery Silver thing in the dock is to the left of the monitor is - web cam? digital camera? mp3 player? I'm wondering if the monitor, speakers etc are included or not - seems like a bit of a random mixture.