LowCostPc
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Gigabyte announces plans to launch low-cost computer in June
Another day, another promise of a low-cost computer, this one coming to us from the prolific folks at Gigabyte. According to DigiTimes, Gigabyte will be building its system itself (unlike its UMPCs and MIDs), and it'll be basing it on Intel's Basic Platform (otherwise known as Shelton). It'll also apparently pack a 7 to 9-inch LCD, which would seem to suggest that it's a laptop (which Shelton is also used for), although DigiTimes only describes the system as a "PC." Unfortunately, there's no word on what it'll cost, or any other details for that matter, but it'll apparently be ready by June of this year, by which time it'll likely have an even harder time to stand out from the budget-priced pack.
Rwanda joins the fray, getting "hundreds of thousands" of OLPC XOs
Here's an idea: just release these OLPC XOs to every country in the world and be done with it. Sadly, that isn't likely to happen, but at least Rwanda is joining the growing list of countries ready to get their palms on the green machines. According to OLPC, Rwanda will be receiving "initial test units and technical support at no cost within a few days." After Quanta ramps up production in July, the nation expects to receive "hundreds of thousands" of the wee laptops late this summer at an "initial cost" of $150 apiece, with future units expected to cost a bit less. Rwanda's government, of course, is footing the entire bill, and hopes to actually provide a computer to "all primary school children within five years." So for any school-aged Rwandans out there itching to crank up Doom or surf the net on Opera while disregarding those grammar and arithmetic lessons, your countdown can officially begin.
Intel's Eduwise low-cost PC revealed
The freaktastic, not-so-altruistic battle between Negroponte, AMD, VIA and Intel to bring low-cost PCs to developing nations just hotted-up with the formal unveiling of the Eduwise by Intel CEO Paul Otellini at the World Congress on Information Technology. The $400 device announced a few months ago in Brazil, sports "light-blue accents" and "snaps shut like a purse" -- perfect for students and teachers on a tight-budget with a sense of flair -- runs Windows or Linux, and ships pre-loaded with special software allowing students and teachers to interact through shared presentations and test administration over the Eduwise's built-in WiFi. The Eduwise will be available "next year" via the usual outlet of PC manufacturers who'll no doubt tweak this reference design a bit. Of course, Intel had to take the spotlight opp to blast a shot across the bow of the $100 OLPC with Otellini saying, "nobody wants to cross the digital divide using yesterday's technology." Yeah, nor should they have to harvest a kidney to avoid crossing the classroom for a little one-on-one, eh? Man, we haven't seen this much selfish generosity since Atlas shrugged.[Via Sagags]
