Low-costPc
Latest
Mitac reportedly planning a low-cost PC of its own
Details are pretty light on this one, but according to DigiTimes, Mitac is teaming up with MIND (we're assuming the embedded Linux firm) to enter the low-cost PC market, a move that some are speculating could have repercussions for the OLPC Foundation. Apparently, one of the key factors pushing Mitac in this direction is Asus's recently launched Eee PC, which would seem to suggest that it's a laptop Mitac has in mind, although that hasn't yet been made entirely clear. OLPC gets roped into the mix because Mitac is apparently aiming the PC at children aged 3-12, which "some notebook makers" are speculating could cause OLPC to "rethink its strategy" about only targeting emerging markets. All of this is obviously still in the early stages, however, so we doubt that OLPC is losing too much sleep over it just yet.[Via TG Daily]
KT and Microsoft develop $200-$300 "managed PC"
Korea's largest telecom company KT recently announced that it has partnered with Microsoft to develop a low-cost "managed PC," although the level of Microsoft involvement is unclear beyond, we'd presume, providing the software. Unlike other low-cost PC initiatives from Intel and, of course, the OLPC, KT's effort looks to primarily be a network-based thin client, which'll give users access to a variety of applications and multimedia content when connected to KT's servers. KT is also touting the security benefits of the PC, which it says will be less vulnerable to viruses and whatnot since all the management is done at the server side. Unfortunately, that's about all KT seems to be saying about the device; we don't even know whether it's a laptop or a desktop, let alone what sort of specs it has. (If we had to guess, we'd estimate it's probably a chunky CRT with an anemic networked embedded box and ports enough for your basic input devices.)
