HCL and Microsoft team up for "world's cheapest Windows laptop"

India's HCL is certainly no stranger to low-cost laptops, and the company is now apparently looking to expand its budget-priced empire even further, with it recently announcing that it's teamed up with Microsoft to roll out what it claims to be the "world's cheapest Windows laptop." While the company isn't exactly saying as much, the new laptop, dubbed the MiLeap H, appears to be a revamped version of the company's MiLeap Y unit, with it boasting the same swiveling 7-inch touchscreen, an unspecified Intel processor and Intel 945 GU Express chipset, 1GB of RAM, a 30GB hard drive, an integrated 1.3 megapixel webcam, built-in WiFi and, of course, Windows XP Home for the OS. No word on a release date just yet, but those in India can expect to pay 17,000 Indian rupees (or about $425) for the laptop.

[Via TechWeb/Yahoo! News]

[Mark @ Apr 15th 2008 12:10PM]

and it also LOOKS cheap!

[Greg @ Apr 15th 2008 12:55PM]

What part of "Windows laptop" made you think it wouldn't?

[Matt Keller @ Apr 15th 2008 3:27PM]

YOU ARE SO TRENDY AND COOL FOR BASHING WINDOWS

[rock99rock @ Apr 15th 2008 3:59PM]

it does look cheap, but i guess thats what you get, when you aim low. This is almost a retarted article though. Ive been buying $399 brand new vostro 1000 laptops straight from the manufacturers website with xp home preloaded for my users for over a month now. And, im sure the vostros will be a better number cruncher than this will ever be.

Worlds cheapest my ass. Why even give them an article? Im the worlds slowest typist, you wanna write an article on me? How about, I can change out a cpu fan in a laptop faster than anyone else. Does that mean i get free advertisement too? El Stupido.

[AJ in the East Bay @ Apr 15th 2008 12:11PM]

I wish manufacturers would focus on light, low cost 13in or 14in laptops, not these 7in wannabes.

[Mark @ Apr 15th 2008 12:17PM]

yea .. the resolution on that can't be good.

[Rob @ Apr 15th 2008 12:20PM]

I agree. And the worst part of the whole thing is that for maybe $100 more, you get a full and more powerful laptop. But, even if you want to keep the specs low, they should at least cover the entire screen with a decent resolution. Those two black verticals on both sides makes it look like a V-tech toy.

[brian t @ Apr 15th 2008 2:05PM]

This is a Tablet PC, and for that I'd rather have 10-12 inches on display. 13-14 could be a little unwieldy when handheld. I'd still say 7" is a bit small, though. There are already plenty of budget 15" laptops on the market, it's the reduced size at the price that is behind the current interest.

[rock99rock @ Apr 15th 2008 4:45PM]

@Rob

Look at the Vostro 1000 on the dell small business website. $399. full blown. XP. is that what you are talkin about?

[Puneet @ Apr 15th 2008 12:17PM]

tits ! :)

[retro77 @ Apr 15th 2008 12:19PM]

boobs!

[Khris @ Apr 15th 2008 12:35PM]

Spectacles, testicles, wallet and watch

[retro77 @ Apr 15th 2008 12:18PM]

lol...another one, late to the game.

[Nick @ Apr 15th 2008 12:27PM]

I hate to be the asus fanboy but What about the asus eee pc at best buy? 400 bucks.

[OneLove @ Apr 15th 2008 2:09PM]

I read that as "ass fanboy", lol.

[Nate @ Apr 15th 2008 12:33PM]

No kidding. Since when is 425 the "world's cheapest". You can get a 2G Eee for 300.

Maybe when they say "cheapest" they are referring to the quality of the construction.

[Vinay @ Apr 15th 2008 2:07PM]

World's cheapest WINDOWS laptop... that's what it says.

[Wisam @ Apr 15th 2008 12:34PM]

Engadget that's a lie! The world's cheapest laptop would be Eee at 299$ and you can run Windows on it as well

[Khris @ Apr 15th 2008 12:37PM]

The 2G Eee doesn't COME with Windows, and that's how they're able to say "world's cheapest Windows laptop".

[Wisam @ Apr 15th 2008 12:44PM]

Yeah Khris but even if you buy a separate license for XP it will be still cheaper than 425$ I guess

[Khris @ Apr 15th 2008 12:58PM]

I agree.....however the spin they're using is that you won't have to go out and buy an additional license, it's all included for under $x.xx.

[wcnghj @ Apr 15th 2008 5:23PM]

Bestbuy sells the 2G EEE with windows.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8781464&st=eee+pc&lp=1&type=product&cp=1&id=1205245967446

Anyway, might as well spend a little more for this:

http://bestbuy.shoplocal.com/bestbuy/default.aspx?action=detail&storeid=2540472&rapid=0&listingid=-2091800024

[The New Guy @ Apr 15th 2008 12:58PM]

This is a full functional laptop??

DVD drive???


I bet they'll sell more of these in 1 month than Asus will see Eee in a year!!
There market is HUGE!!! All those lower income families who still want a laptop. These will get eaten up there!! I should buy some HCL shares...

[sinjinn @ Apr 16th 2008 2:01PM]

low income in india is totally different to low income in uk/us. i imagine if anyone in india was struggling to buy a laptop they would rather go for a 14" screen since they are cheaper .

[peptidefarmer @ Apr 15th 2008 1:00PM]

17,000 rupees?! Guess I better start breaking pots and scouring patches of grass.

[Khris @ Apr 15th 2008 1:21PM]

How about driving a Taxi?

[Matt Keller @ Apr 15th 2008 3:29PM]

Hey! Look! Here comes the point! Hurry!





......Aww, too bad. You missed it.

[James @ Apr 15th 2008 1:27PM]

It's made for India. It doesn't really need to look cool. Just get the job done. This seems like a good idea.

[hypereric @ Apr 15th 2008 1:33PM]

AMD Sempron 1.90GHz - $30.00
PCChips A15G Motherboard MicroATX MoBo - $39.99
Buffalo Select 1024MB chipper - $24.99
Netgear WG111T USB Wireless Adapter - $19.99
junked computer with XP Home COA (ebay) - $20.00
80 gig drive - $40.00
PCI Video Card - VGA, TV Out - $35.00
PCI 90 degree riser - $20.00
12v PSU - ~$50.00
Cardboard and duct tape - $10.00
------------------------------------------------------------------------

D@mn, I'm up to $280, still w/o battery and display.

[deepak @ Apr 15th 2008 1:33PM]

in india for 17000 this is very good considering its purpose. it has got a resolution like1024*768 or so. their first model they charged some 30000 and a flop -think so. u don`t need to think about vista here and the sluggishness.processor might be A110 can`t be atom. touchscreen is a added bones. yep...it seems they r not going to use finest of the finest materials for its build. the pictures u seen r a bit polished ones. but its an onother start.if the 9 in ch eeepc with touch screen, 30-60Gb flash memory, good processor is available for 17000. soon u will find one

[Mihir @ Apr 15th 2008 2:12PM]

meh...why not. i've plunked down $400 for much crappier stuff than this (lousy averatec laptop)

[Mousuke @ Apr 15th 2008 2:37PM]

Before I could even finish reading the article's title, my brain had already formed "world's priciest Windows laptop". Had to re-read to make sure I was reading it right.

[Kevin c @ Apr 15th 2008 3:32PM]

Provantage has the eeepc with xp for $408, so this cant even claim the title of cheapest xp laptop.

[roy @ Apr 15th 2008 3:56PM]

Or I could just buy a Dell Vostro 1000/1500 for the same price or less. Who are they marketing these things to?

[Chris Aubeck @ Apr 15th 2008 4:15PM]

I read that as "world's creepiest weirdos laptop"

Actually, I didn't, I just wanted to join in the "ha ha I thought it said..." party.

[TIMMAH! @ Apr 15th 2008 4:17PM]

Maybe if they outsourced it they could get the price-point down...

[Sam @ Apr 15th 2008 4:48PM]

HI
Sam from Asus here to tell you that we sell an Asus Eee PC 701 4G with Windows XP for just 400 American Dollars (3 Euros).
So im sorry to inform Microsoft that they missed the mark, but at least this thing looks better made than Vista.

[phanbouy @ Apr 15th 2008 5:18PM]

HI
I'm Tom from Marketing and your post makes no sense.

[Brett @ Apr 16th 2008 1:03AM]

Kohjinsha Japan designed it...
HCL is a Kohjinsha reseller in the India region.

[sinjinn @ Apr 16th 2008 2:04PM]

its the same kojinsha laptop/vye laptop? its not crappy then folks.

[macserv @ Apr 16th 2008 2:13PM]

Ah, a match made in heaven... HCL and Microsoft. How could the result be anything other than "cheap"?

[spuds @ Apr 19th 2008 12:18AM]

Isn't that a Kohjinsha?