Intel's convertible Classmate PC barely makes it to FCC class

Although the third-generation Classmate PC looked completely unprepared for the real world comin' out of IFA, Intel has clearly hit the books during the fall term. Now, the convertible Classmate has graduated to the FCC, where we're shown a user's manual, label ID and a smattering of pathetic images. If you're thinking this bugger's just on cruise control until diploma day, you've got another thing coming, but we have heard that it's taking a job on US soil right after the holiday break.

[jercb123 @ Nov 22nd 2008 10:43AM]

the pic in this article is ugly but the article you link to makes it look better

[Ray @ Nov 22nd 2008 11:53AM]

If by "better" you mean "worse" than i agree

[Hoganator @ Nov 22nd 2008 10:55AM]

It looks like one of those VTech $20 play laptops with all the educational games.
http://www.vtechkids.com/product.cfm?productID=629

[Mike @ Nov 22nd 2008 11:19AM]

It looks completely full of fail

[nick @ Nov 22nd 2008 11:26AM]

looks vaguely like a new macbook

[loocas @ Nov 22nd 2008 11:28AM]

Except you can't adjust your makeup in front of this one...

[Jack H @ Nov 22nd 2008 12:28PM]

you look like you need new glasses

[Fozzy Bear @ Nov 22nd 2008 12:40PM]

by 'vaguely' you must mean, "nothing at all like a new macbook"

you exemplify the reason why mac users are labelled "more discerning"

friggin' Leapfrog children's educational toys look better than this steaming pile of dung.

[Stephen @ Nov 22nd 2008 12:04PM]

if this is the type of laptop intel's able to put out, I hope this is not indicative of their quality of processors.

[Jack H @ Nov 22nd 2008 12:28PM]

that would imply the are making AMD processors though

[cb88 @ Nov 22nd 2008 8:25PM]

wait for the ARM cortex-A8 and cortex-A9 (A9 is multicore) netbooks to come out

they should price reasonably and get into the 10-20 hour batery life range (no kidding the pandora that is using the cutting edge 3530 SoC from TI is running 8+ hours at full blast with everything turned on and the CPU at 100%)

so... since a 600mhz cortex can run for 10 or so hours no problem and it is the size of an NDS one could assume that a netbook with a even larger batter could keep on trucking for around 20 or so hours

so yes Intel's x86 cpu is chock full of archaic reverse compatibility ... and it really weighs it down.. ARM totally lacks the baggage and will soon have an official Ubuntu port (already has an unofficial one)

[Bad Beaver @ Nov 22nd 2008 12:18PM]

The 90s called, asking for Intel to return their uninspired plasticky designs and sad color-schemes.Come on, it looks like some pathetic StarCom prop.

And for the haters: It's amazing how this "classroom" design is completely owned by Apple hardware from TEN YEARS AGO. Check out the eMate300 and the original iBook and you will know what I mean.

[sinjinn @ Nov 22nd 2008 4:06PM]

u forgot iphone....dont forget iphone...iphon..iphuunnnnee...iiiiieeeeee

[JerkyChew @ Nov 22nd 2008 12:27PM]

I don't care how it looks - If it's a convertible touchscreen, has good specs and comes in at a decent price pont (sub-$500 instead of the ungodly $1000 Gigabyte) I'll buy it in a second. Well, providing the video chipset is supported by MythTV, that is.

[NoAndThen @ Nov 22nd 2008 12:47PM]

God damn laptops... (best online redneck voice:)

"They took our jooobs!"


...back to the pile!

[Hombre Phaty @ Nov 22nd 2008 1:49PM]

Wow.

That's so ugly I burst out laughing when I saw it... the kind of laugh when something is so surprising and unpleasant that you laugh even though you're not supposed to.

I went back and looked again and laughed even harder. It's hilarious. I fully expect that photo to appear on silly-photo and time-waster sites across the web.

[barrykingstar @ Nov 22nd 2008 2:10PM]

If you *think*...then you have another *think* coming. C'mon chaps, you've got a new President and everything! Keep the standards up!

[brandon @ Nov 22nd 2008 3:42PM]

As a parent, I would get this for my kid in 4 or 5 years. Watching the vid really changed my opinion. It's meant to be kid tough; they describe it as "rugged." Given its purpose, I think it is a good product.

[john @ Nov 22nd 2008 7:06PM]

If it has a vendor supported Ubuntu version, at least 1GB of ram, and a decent flash storage option (say, 16 or 32 GB), at a decent price point, I'll buy it.

I care much more about functionality than looks.

[Metkis @ Nov 22nd 2008 7:15PM]

Now I know the reason why I failed grade school: style-lacking computers.