Classmate PC now shipping "in volume"
By Donald Melanson 
posted March 23rd 2007 4:13PM
posted March 23rd 2007 4:13PM
The OLPC XO may be generating the lion's share of attention among low-cost laptops these days, but Intel's slightly less colorful Classmate PC seems to be holding its own, with the company now announcing that it's begun shipping the system "in volume" to both Brazil and Mexico. Unfortunately, Intel didn't get much more specific than that, although we do know that Intel had already committed to donating 800 of the laptops to Brazil next month, which would seem to coincide with this latest announcement. Following these two roll-outs, Intel's says it's set to begin pilot programs in more than 25 countries this year, including Chile, China, India, and Indonesia, among others. Still not clear, however, is a final word on the Classmate PC's ever-changing price, which last we heard was hovering around the not-so-cheap $400 mark.[Via Ars Technica]
the laptop in Walmart is around the same price, and it doesn't look nearly as toy-ish is this.
What a letdown.
So much for the $100 laptop for developing countries... for $400 they'd be better off buying an affordable acer.
Don't the people in poor developing countries, who need this type of hardware, only make $400 a year?
Brazil, Africa, don't be seduced by the Dark Side, get a XO!
http://www.laptop.org/laptop/
Yeah, but can it play Doom?
As a heads up, the keyboard on this looks pretty OK. The biggest downside of the XO is the keyboard is atrocious, but I know there's got to be some reason for that.
XO's keyboard looks to be made to sustain most common problems: dust & liquids. You can spill something on it - that's not problems. You can eat cookies on it and crumbs will not get beneath keys ;-)
After all we are talking about kids. And kids like to put their "property" under some stress. Keyboards are weakest part of all notebooks. I think it is wise decision on part of XO team.