Move over, OLPC -- the $12 Apple II-based PC is coming
By Nilay Patel 
posted August 5th 2008 6:37PM
posted August 5th 2008 6:37PM
posted August 5th 2008 6:37PM
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See? Apple products aren't expensive after all!
Clever.
The Apple II Plus was my first PC. I used to play around with BASIC on it for the most part. Fun for a while till my dad brought home an IBM. Wow, I thought the Apple was good... that IBM was freakin' awesome. Ahh, those were the days.
i hope they wont add a "0" after the $12 price as they did for the $10 laptops from India
Amazing. Only one poster who felt the need to brag about how long he's been computing.
It would be better if this machine were based on Amiga tech.
And yet you managed to do the same. Astonishing, Darwin, truly astonishing.
I am waiting for the $8 IBM-XT based PC.
This is exactly where super cheap computing should be looking for ideas! How may perfectly usable components are sitting in landfills right now when they could be repurposed? Mod an old box add some RAM, look third-world, it's computers!
I definitely agree, this could mean a pretty effective and cheap way to recycle any old, unused parts from pcs that no longer see the light of day. Developing countries should look ahead and maybe through their efforts they can progress and contribute heftily to a now modern society.
So yeah, the guy in the top right looks like a sex offender.
You need to look past the color of someone's skin.
Wow it's not his skin, it's the total pedo-smile/look he has going.
his name is lowest rank, what do you expect
let it be known that Lowest Ranked is a racist
U.S. Patent # 21,553,111:
An electronic device for detecting sarcasm on the internet which will cause its double-digit IQ user to jolt in an electronic-induced current of pain upon the detection that the user 'just doesn't get it'.
Ohhh! A sarcasm detector... now THERE'S a good idea.
U.S. Patent # 21,553,112:
An electronic device for tracking down and selectively neutering or spaying would-be comedians who blurt an insensitive or demeaning remark, only to come back later and call it "sarcasm".
U.S. Patent # 21,553,113:
An electronic device for tracking down and de-handing any flamers that, in his quest to sound both intelligent and insulting, constructs sentences so grammatically horrid that JeffK rolls over in his watery grave.
dude... why my protege be instigatin', yo?
No, it won't play Doom..
but does it blend?
But will it play Oregon Trail?
Might play Duke Nukem.
How did a blend comment get ranked up? wth is going on.
The trolls are taking over Engadget. Run!
@Podaman
Since it should have been will it blend instead of does it blend
But it will play Castle Wolfenstein
oh yes it has to play Oregon Trail.
I've got a Platinum IIe sitting in my garage that they can have.
This would seem to be a good alternative to either Microsoft et al's money grabbing approach or OLPC's pie-in-the-sky BS approach (http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/20/olpc-unveils-first-prototype-of-xo-2-0/)
If there ever was a disturbing "I see what you did there"-look, the guy in the top-right has it.
Interesting, seems like old technology and older designs are getting a do-over, I like the idea.
I do love how Apple II computers are being re-vamped with newer technologies..
somehow I just see an Eee motherboard sitting in a PSOne casing that can be connected to the TV as well.. sounds like a fun hobby project for me to try..
Cheers,
Nick
P.S. : Its been awhile since old devices have been revitalized with new uses.
As for old designs getting a do-over, Briel Computers have been making replica Apple 'I's for a while now...
http://www.brielcomputers.com/wik/index.php?title=Replica_1
I think it will be great if 11 and 12 year old kids can get their hands on a super-cheap computer that allows them to quickly learn enough code to put some coloured shapes on the TV screen and move them about.
Modern alternatives (e.g. a secondhand PC with Linux or Windows) just put too much overly complex crap in the way of creating simple programs
Web Browsing? Not likely in today's Flash heavy media BS.
No, it won't run Youtube.
Agreed. Web devs are getting lazy, sloppy, and resource-wasteful. Bring back the lightweight web.
Facts.
Hey could I get an order of Constructive Comment with my Blogspam? Oh, and a Spell Checker to go!
Co-founder of http://www.fuckingspammer.com/
But can it run Crisis on HIGH?
fail
No, but I'm guessing you run Crysis WHILE high.
oddly enough they all have extremely white teeth
i see what you did there
i don't see what you did there
Armin could that have been anymore of a plug for jon4lakers.com xD
wtf is this useful for
Zork?
WOW
Fantastic idea.
It wont run flash player but im sure Mozilla would be happy to cater a special version of FF for this machine if there was interest.
Kudos to team sex offender.
Apple II Forever!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YcjlhFVTY50
Was that Balmer at 1:41?
I'm all for this. Not only does it directly benefit developing and 3rd-world countries, but the refinement of older technology could easily lead to new breakthroughs that may have been overlooked in the past due to current limitations...