Hacao's Classmate PC starts shipping in Vietnam

We haven't heard all that much from the Classmate PC front lately (at least compared to the OLPC and Eee PC), but it looks like Intel's education-friendly laptop is gaining a bit of ground of its own, with Hacao's take on it now shipping in Vietnam. Students receiving that version of the laptop will get Hacao's own customized Linux distribution (based on Puppy Linux) for an OS, along with the usual 900MHz Celeron processor, 256MB of RAM, 1GB of Flash storage, and a 7-inch WVGA -- plus built-in WiFi, but, as Linux Devices points out, none of the OLPC's fancy mesh networking technology. What's more, it seems that this version won't be entirely limited to students, with it also available in Vietnamese computer stores for $340 (a slight premium over the $250 apiece it'll cost schools that buy 'em).

[Photo courtesy of DesktopLinux]

[Karl HacksWell @ Dec 27th 2007 5:07PM]

This cant compare to the EeePC. None of them can. Im afraid Asus has the superior product here now. Sorry, but its true.

[Will @ Dec 27th 2007 5:22PM]

This isn't meant to compete with what Asus is offering. Based on what I saw on 60 Minutes, this is Intel's crass attempt to compete with the OLPC. I hope Apple begins offering AMD processors soon, then I can live Intel free.

[cmonkey @ Dec 27th 2007 5:27PM]

The Eee and Classmate are similar enough in hardware to be comparable, though they are for very different purposes. The OLPC XO is in a class of its own, so it would be apples and oranges.

Will, I think it was less a response to OLPC than a response to AMD being in every XO. Intel is now partnering with OLPC though, so I imagine that there will not be a Classmate 2.

[Will @ Dec 27th 2007 5:34PM]

cmonkey, I stand corrected. I see what you mean about Intel now supporting the OLPC. Good for them.

[Austin @ Dec 27th 2007 5:12PM]

I would ask if it could play doom, but the sad fact is that that is only a matter of time. what I look for is this: does it play the DOS version of oregon trail? ghetto, yo.

[Iphtashu Fitz @ Dec 27th 2007 5:14PM]

From that picture I see one MAJOR problem with the design. That grill on the side indicates a need for some significant cooling. These things are likely to get all sorts of dirt, mud, etc. sucked into them. If these things are meant to compete with the OLPC in small third world villages then that's going to be a huge problem. The OLPC is designed to be extremely rugged, resistant to moisture & dirt, etc, which means no cooling vents/grills.

[L @ Dec 27th 2007 5:40PM]

I never liked the OLPC design, but compared to this, it's a Miss Universe.

The Classmate looks like a bad early '90ies laptop. Urgh...

[OneLove @ Dec 27th 2007 6:28PM]

would this be blu-ray or hd-dvd?

[BigTeebo @ Dec 27th 2007 6:58PM]

It looks like an old MacBook with white armor plating.

[Charlie Calhoun @ Dec 27th 2007 9:45PM]

Look at the taskbar and some of the icons... that looks like a Vista....

[steve @ Dec 27th 2007 11:12PM]

At $340 retail, this loses to the eee surf on every level.
Less mem: 256 < 512
same Hdd: 2GB < 2GB
same speed: 900MHz
More expensive: 340 vs 299
same wifi
heavier: 2.9 vs 2 lb
esthetically uglier
No built in SD/SDHC reader

[mushrooshi @ Dec 28th 2007 12:37AM]

+2