Classmate PC hits store shelves in Philippines as Neo Explore X1

No real surprises here, we knew the Classmate PC would be showing up at retail stores for a slight premium -- 16,998 Philippine pesos is about $408 US dollars -- and that other companies can slap their own branding onto the laptops, but this is the first time we've spotted Intel's "OLPC killer" on actual store shelves. The "Neo Explore X1" won't be winning any beauty contests, that's for sure. There's another shot after the break.

[Thanks, bravekn1ght]

[FRZ @ Mar 19th 2008 10:06AM]

Ouch! anyone who buys this is a sucker. $408 is way too much money on this payless laptop.

[y3k.nik @ Mar 19th 2008 10:11AM]

But... it is the special "Promo Price"

How can you resist??

[Homeboy @ Mar 19th 2008 10:12AM]

That's one ugly classmate. When they were done with the 90s design they should have slapped on the ancient "intel inside" sticker just to complete the look.

[jmiday @ Mar 19th 2008 10:29AM]

um... i think they did.

http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/09/nigeria-opts-for-linux-on-classmate-pcs-after-all/

[iofthestorm @ Mar 19th 2008 11:22AM]

That's the new Intel inside logo, not the old one.

[jmiday @ Mar 19th 2008 12:41PM]

My bad, shoulda checked my roadmap:

http://lowendmac.com/lite/06/art/intel_inside.gif

[fusion @ Mar 19th 2008 10:29AM]

looks like something made by fisher price or vtec, super UGLY AND HORRIBLE LOOKING

[BrianB @ Mar 19th 2008 11:17AM]

Third world countries pay twice for laptops compared to U.S. and Europe. Feel sorry, guys.

[zevdawg @ Mar 19th 2008 3:18PM]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_World

Appears that the Philippines is moreso a second world country. Some of it is in the red though.

[johnmsp @ Mar 19th 2008 12:01PM]

Ditto BrianB, and American dollar is weakening against the Filipino peso.

[pnit @ Mar 19th 2008 12:24PM]

I'm quite surprised to see this as news. I've been in the Philippines for the past 2 weeks and I have seen these at every mall I have been to. I just thought these disfigured lumps of plastic were cheap chinese knockoffs...

The looks are even worse in person because they *always* display them next to an eepc.

[Miguel @ Mar 19th 2008 12:31PM]

I wonder which store that photo was taken... If I knew, I'd know whether that price point is high or just right. Stores back here have huge price differences on same units even when they're beside each other. And yes, laptops here are generally much more expensive compared to even Amazon.

[misterP @ Mar 19th 2008 12:44PM]

Does it run ZTE broadband? ;p

[JR @ Mar 19th 2008 1:04PM]

Does Mikey Arroyo get 80% of the profit as kickbacks?

[mike @ Mar 19th 2008 12:44PM]

I'm a Filipino living in Japan, laptop computers there costs twice as much as it costs here.

[Sam @ Mar 19th 2008 1:38PM]

After looking at the picture, you can see that the laptop to the right of the intel laptop, the title says neo too. Neo may not be a brand, the reporter should have known better.

[boredtoday @ Mar 19th 2008 6:38PM]

He knows better, NEO is a laptop brand here in the PI.

[Maaz @ Mar 19th 2008 2:33PM]

I think intel has allowed many cos to release classmate laptops with their own branding.

India's alrdy got'em.(The HCL Mileap X Series)

It costs bout 400$ and it was alrdy on Endgadget ,but the Y series was only written bout.

[Franco @ Mar 19th 2008 9:24PM]

most laptops here in the philippines were expensive except for this UMPC --> http://www.buyqube.com/U60Notebook.htm its around $790, saw this one in the US and it costs around $1,400

[pallavnarang @ Mar 20th 2008 1:36AM]

Wait a second! I saw the same PC being sold in a Delhi store last month!
it was being sold under HCL branding though, will try to get some pics of the device on my way back home.

[CJ @ Mar 20th 2008 9:37AM]

I actually bought one of these 2 weeks ago in a department store in Santiago, Chile. I purchased it for my boy and it cost $249.000 or US$570. I got home, unpacked it and found two screws were missing (screws that hold the blue protector cover to the laptop). I went back to the shop and they swopped it for a new one (supposedly) and showed me that it was intact. When I got home I had the surprise of turning on the laptop (it came with Windows XP starter edition) and finding it full of pornography! Needless to say it was returned to the shop and after much grovelling by the manager after I threatened legal action, I got a 50% discount of a new EePC! I am happy now!

[x1ph @ Mar 20th 2008 10:41PM]

unofficial philippine forum for NEO Explore X1 Users : http://x1ph.proboards83.com


please register if you are a x1 user...

[jayvster @ Mar 25th 2008 12:51AM]

i just received an invite for the press launch for the Neo X1. Apparently it is being targeted towards kids!

I wrote about my thoughts on this here:

http://abuggedlife.com/2008/03/25/is-the-neo-classmate-pc-better-than-the-asus-eee/

[dennis @ Apr 13th 2008 1:34PM]

i've just bought same pc at a store here in dipolog city. well it quite okay... i got here about 19T+. I may not be so good in computer specs... but it does with our lil needs. now my daughter is enjoying the explore 1 attached to internet.

[john @ Apr 22nd 2008 10:59AM]

tht 1 is soo ugly computer..who would buy that thing?its like a piece of crap to me..400$ loptop is not worth to own..even tho it has a good name brand..get sony or samsung my last choice