$50 Teachermate PC launched by Chicago nonprofit

As you've probably figured out from all the OLPC XO and Intel Classmate news we've hit, computers aimed at students are a pretty hot topic these days. A Chicago-based nonprofit called Innovations for Learning has joined the fray with a new $50 entry dubbed the Teachermate. The small PCs come equipped with a 2.5-inch LCD display, 512MB of RAM, an SD slot, and built-in microphone and speaker. The systems are being rolled out to a whopping 500 Chicago elementary schools over the next two years, with the aim of having a unit in the hands of every child. The kid-friendly computers will come with a special case that allows charging and data-sync of 30 units at a time, allowing teachers to collect score-data quickly. If you absolutely must have one, it looks like they're going to commercially available on Amazon, so you will be able to add it to your collection.

[Saffy @ Mar 13th 2008 11:58AM]

Looks like someone snapped the top half off a DS, and added a some hastily placed buttons. I'd say at best, this is one (small) step above some cheap educational toy.

I know it's for elementary schools and all, but I'd say without a keyboard or some more complex method of data entry, this is a waste of time and money.

[Sir Fatty @ Mar 13th 2008 3:42PM]

Because you fully understand how they are to be used.

[Jagannath A @ Mar 13th 2008 12:00PM]

its really a teacher's mate.. will scare off all the students...

[OneLove @ Mar 13th 2008 12:15PM]

...um?...eh?...er?

[cubing @ Mar 13th 2008 12:24PM]

We're really stretching the definition of what a PC is here....

[Adrian Williams @ Mar 13th 2008 12:25PM]

So is this where that bottled water tax and raise on liquor goes to here in Chicago

[Andir3.0 @ Mar 13th 2008 4:00PM]

I'd venture to guess those go to the same place as the tolls collected for roads. In somebody's pocket instead of being used to repair the roads.

[swib @ Mar 13th 2008 12:39PM]

Where'd this "news" come from? First, I cant find a press release , and no announcement from CPS either, no press page on the Innovations site (and have you seen that site?). It also seems implausible, there were 246,771 elementary students in CPS last year. At $50 per child, that's a whopping $12,338,550 to roll this out to all kids. Either the not for profit has unusually deep pockets, or this is all bunk.

[telepheedian @ Mar 13th 2008 12:42PM]

First of all, that website is a total pain. All flash?
Second of all, the main processor of this thing is a 200 mhz ARM. Aside from the 512mb of ram, this thing has less computing power than my Zune. It also means, of course, that no x86 programs will run, guess they will need some budget for software development/recompiling to work in their interface.

That said, it could be somewhat compelling for $50, could be a nifty hackable device. It should not, however, be classified as a PC of any sort, if anything, its more of an educational version of the Nintendo DS, with more RAM and storage capacity.

[Geir E @ Mar 13th 2008 2:02PM]

The DS has a ARM9 clocking in at 67 and a ARM7 clocking in at 33mhz. So this should be able to kick some ass in the abilities-department. But I guess the software is going to be freakishly expensive due to probably a limited OS and it will slowly die.

Why not make educational software for the Gameboy Advanced? (runs on both nintendo ds and gameboy advanced) or better, native to the DS. the ds have wireless, touchpad and is good enough to run doom. so it should run anything that will be programmed for this, even though this has faster cpu.

[NHAnimator @ Mar 13th 2008 1:00PM]

I think that this definitely is a PC. It just doesn't fit what we have come to expect from a "traditional" PC. Today's cell phones have more power than Univac did. And considering everything that they do, I would certainly classify a cell phone a computer. I would just call it a cell phone first because it's simply a better description.

Wiki (THE end-all source of accurate information) says: A computer is a machine that manipulates data according to a list of instructions.

[Andir3.0 @ Mar 13th 2008 4:05PM]

True, and technically a Mac is a PC where PC means Personal Computer. But I guess pop culture has taken over that definition as well to only cover x86 PCs.

[Zorque @ Mar 13th 2008 1:03PM]

Are people supposed to be able to read the text on that site? At least Flash is vector so you can zoom in.
Besides, those speaker holes look hand-drilled, so there.

[Rich @ Mar 13th 2008 1:18PM]

Another $50 per student wasted on something practically useless. And how much are they going to want to spend each year on software for these paper weights. How about investments in real computer systems that the kids might actually see and use out in the real world. Aren't we supposed to be educating young people so they can function in the world? This looks like they'll be able to use a DS and that's about it.

[phanbouy @ Mar 13th 2008 1:19PM]

Unfortunately, it only runs the shown program where you have to keep feeding your pet mailman or it'll die.

[Eric @ Mar 13th 2008 2:01PM]

This is how wealthy people hide their money. Manufacturing crap for charity. Prediction: students create catapult and test how far they can fling these toys.

[BigD145 @ Mar 13th 2008 2:02PM]

Next up, all Chicago kids rush to doctor needing glasses.

[Marc @ Mar 13th 2008 2:10PM]

The Nokia N770 had an old ARM based processor running at 250mhz. Depending on what processor they use for it this thing might have some balls. Slap Mobile Ubunto or some other flavor of Linux on it and you might have a winner. Plenty of RAM there.

[Chebwa @ Mar 13th 2008 2:03PM]

I think the word "PC" is getting tossed around pretty fast and loose these days. I guess most digital picture frames are PCs too.

[Gus @ Mar 13th 2008 2:38PM]

How about the white guy in suburbia in the screenshot - that's reality for your typical CPS student .. yeah right.

[kilroy123 @ Mar 13th 2008 2:53PM]

Looks pretty limited to me... I don't see the point.

[Rich @ Mar 13th 2008 3:24PM]

OMG!!

[Steve Dembo @ Mar 13th 2008 4:03PM]

The Teachermate costs $50, the Sync and Store case costs $300 (will recharge 30 of them). The only software that comes on it is some sort of classroom management program, but if you want the proprietary Reading or Math programs (currently the only other software that will run on it), each cost $20 apiece.

Do the math, at that point you're already up to $100, for a system that doesn't have WiFi and you can't install your own software onto.

Yeesh.

[J @ Mar 13th 2008 4:19PM]

At least the SOCRATES had a keyboard:
http://www.vidgame.net/vtech/socrates2.htm

[jeff @ Mar 13th 2008 6:22PM]

I'm guessing these will showup used on Ebay before we see them on Amazon