Move over, OLPC -- the $12 Apple II-based PC is coming

Alright, so it won't be a laptop, adorable, or have a cheeky Linux-based OS that's eventually replaced by Windows, but unlike the OLPC or the too-good-to-be-true $10 laptop, the $12 PC currently being developed at MIT will probably hit its price target. The project, being spearheaded by Derek Lomas and Jesse Austin-Breneman, is centered around cheap Apple II-based machines currently on sale in India and other developing nations that plug into televisions, and the goal is to update the systems with more memory, web access through cellphone tethering and actual storage. Considering we've already seen Apple IIs updated with Bluetooth and USB, and the less-powerful Commodore 64 can be used at LAN parties, we'd say all that stands between this project and reality is manpower -- any Apple II hackers out there ready to help?

[who? @ Aug 5th 2008 6:45PM]

See? Apple products aren't expensive after all!

[Lars @ Aug 5th 2008 8:59PM]

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.

[John Doe @ Aug 5th 2008 11:13PM]

i hope they wont add a "0" after the $12 price as they did for the $10 laptops from India

[Darwin @ Aug 6th 2008 12:09AM]

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.

[kidcanuck @ Aug 6th 2008 4:21AM]

And yet you managed to do the same. Astonishing, Darwin, truly astonishing.

[nikster @ Aug 6th 2008 10:57AM]

I am waiting for the $8 IBM-XT based PC.

[Fred @ Aug 5th 2008 6:46PM]

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!

[Jonathan-DBOSS @ Aug 5th 2008 6:51PM]

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.

[HOOPER @ Aug 5th 2008 6:46PM]

So yeah, the guy in the top right looks like a sex offender.

[Lowest Ranked @ Aug 5th 2008 7:16PM]

You need to look past the color of someone's skin.

[Reader @ Aug 5th 2008 7:21PM]

Wow it's not his skin, it's the total pedo-smile/look he has going.

[Lazarpandar @ Aug 5th 2008 7:28PM]

his name is lowest rank, what do you expect

[phanbouy fanboy @ Aug 5th 2008 7:30PM]

let it be known that Lowest Ranked is a racist

[Lowest Ranked @ Aug 5th 2008 8:13PM]

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'.

[Calculon @ Aug 5th 2008 8:36PM]

Ohhh! A sarcasm detector... now THERE'S a good idea.

[Seth @ Aug 5th 2008 8:37PM]

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.

[phanbouy @ Aug 5th 2008 11:12PM]

dude... why my protege be instigatin', yo?

[A.C.E.R. @ Aug 5th 2008 6:51PM]

No, it won't play Doom..

[johnoe @ Aug 5th 2008 7:46PM]

but does it blend?

[fred @ Aug 5th 2008 8:24PM]

But will it play Oregon Trail?

[Eric @ Aug 5th 2008 8:43PM]

Might play Duke Nukem.

[Podaman @ Aug 5th 2008 9:45PM]

How did a blend comment get ranked up? wth is going on.

[o29 @ Aug 5th 2008 10:24PM]

The trolls are taking over Engadget. Run!

[Tombio @ Aug 6th 2008 2:07AM]

@Podaman

Since it should have been will it blend instead of does it blend

[Greg Mcp @ Aug 6th 2008 8:31AM]

But it will play Castle Wolfenstein

[zerocalories @ Aug 7th 2008 1:36AM]

oh yes it has to play Oregon Trail.

[The Dude @ Aug 5th 2008 6:53PM]

I've got a Platinum IIe sitting in my garage that they can have.

[Wolfticket @ Aug 5th 2008 6:55PM]

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/)

[The Dude @ Aug 5th 2008 6:55PM]

If there ever was a disturbing "I see what you did there"-look, the guy in the top-right has it.

[Nick @ Aug 5th 2008 6:56PM]

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.

[JohnnyBoy @ Aug 6th 2008 11:40AM]

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

[kinshadow @ Aug 5th 2008 6:56PM]

Web Browsing? Not likely in today's Flash heavy media BS.

No, it won't run Youtube.

[Lars @ Aug 5th 2008 9:02PM]

Agreed. Web devs are getting lazy, sloppy, and resource-wasteful. Bring back the lightweight web.

[ds @ Aug 6th 2008 9:25AM]

Facts.

[Kamokazi @ Aug 5th 2008 6:59PM]

Hey could I get an order of Constructive Comment with my Blogspam? Oh, and a Spell Checker to go!

[ryan @ Aug 5th 2008 7:06PM]

Co-founder of http://www.fuckingspammer.com/

[Game_playa @ Aug 5th 2008 7:08PM]

But can it run Crisis on HIGH?

[CraigJ @ Aug 5th 2008 7:51PM]

fail

[Lars @ Aug 5th 2008 9:01PM]

No, but I'm guessing you run Crysis WHILE high.

[bob sakamano @ Aug 5th 2008 7:09PM]

oddly enough they all have extremely white teeth

[Crooked Style @ Aug 5th 2008 7:23PM]

i see what you did there

[wyatt @ Aug 5th 2008 11:40PM]

i don't see what you did there

[Aaronage @ Aug 5th 2008 7:11PM]

Armin could that have been anymore of a plug for jon4lakers.com xD

[Miles @ Aug 5th 2008 7:12PM]

wtf is this useful for

[CraigJ @ Aug 5th 2008 7:51PM]

Zork?

[Skyride @ Aug 5th 2008 7:22PM]

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.

[Flyer24 @ Aug 5th 2008 7:25PM]

Apple II Forever!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YcjlhFVTY50

[Eric @ Aug 5th 2008 8:46PM]

Was that Balmer at 1:41?

[raize221 @ Aug 5th 2008 7:27PM]

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...

[Reader @ Aug 5th 2008 7:37PM]

Man I didn't even wear lab glasses for chemistry. The guy in the bottom left wears them for doing computer upgrades.