Would you buy a $100 Laptop
Sun Apr 03, 2005 4:25 pm
More on the upcoming $100 laptop...
http://laptop.media.mit.edu/
How is it possible to get the cost so low?
First, by driving the display cost below $25. We are exploring five different options for this, looking at possibilities such as projected image or roll-to-roll printed display. Projection is the primary candidate at this time, and will bring the cost of an approximately 12" diagonal display to below $20. E-Ink, invented at the Media Lab, is another option.
Second, we will get the fat out of the systems. Today's laptops have become obese. Two-thirds of their software is used to manage the other third, which mostly does the same functions nine different ways.
Third, we will market the laptops in very large numbers (millions), directly to ministries of education, which can distribute them like textbooks.
So what do you think?
http://laptop.media.mit.edu/
How is it possible to get the cost so low?
First, by driving the display cost below $25. We are exploring five different options for this, looking at possibilities such as projected image or roll-to-roll printed display. Projection is the primary candidate at this time, and will bring the cost of an approximately 12" diagonal display to below $20. E-Ink, invented at the Media Lab, is another option.
Second, we will get the fat out of the systems. Today's laptops have become obese. Two-thirds of their software is used to manage the other third, which mostly does the same functions nine different ways.
Third, we will market the laptops in very large numbers (millions), directly to ministries of education, which can distribute them like textbooks.
So what do you think?
Sun Apr 03, 2005 9:44 pm
Not to seem like a pessimist, but I don't feel laptops or computers really do much to improve the life or education of a 3rd world person.
A good education= A teacher, a blackboard, some desks, paper and pencils, and some textbooks.
Everything they say about computers and education, it's the same thing they said when the television got invented.
This may sound overly opinionated, but most of these places suffer from the same malady: a horrible governmental system, usually a dictatorship of sorts. This usually leads to an economy based on just one or two resources (diamonds, oil, coffee) with no hope of economic expansion through normal free market means.
Screw laptops, maybe the free world should do something about these dictators, warlords and the decades old civil wars that seem to be the hallmark of 3rd world nations.
A good education= A teacher, a blackboard, some desks, paper and pencils, and some textbooks.
Everything they say about computers and education, it's the same thing they said when the television got invented.
This may sound overly opinionated, but most of these places suffer from the same malady: a horrible governmental system, usually a dictatorship of sorts. This usually leads to an economy based on just one or two resources (diamonds, oil, coffee) with no hope of economic expansion through normal free market means.
Screw laptops, maybe the free world should do something about these dictators, warlords and the decades old civil wars that seem to be the hallmark of 3rd world nations.
Sun Apr 03, 2005 9:47 pm
id buy one and use it for ts, rm, and the like.
Sun Apr 03, 2005 10:55 pm
Go to a computer show Skilo, you could probably pick up an old computer (probably not a laptop though) capable of running TS. It's been a while but I've seen lots of old Pentium III, 700Mhz or so for around a hundred. Even better, go to your local college and pay about $5 for one of their old computers. They will hump your leg with joy for taking it off their hands as they have a hard time following the govt regulations while getting rid of uneeded obsolete computers.
Mon Apr 04, 2005 5:11 am
Man, no one kills a thread like I do. I'm like that guy at the party who winds up making a joke about cancer and just kills all the laughter, sucks the life from the room.
Look at all the threads that end with my posts!
I resolve to lighten up from here on out!!!!
Look at all the threads that end with my posts!
I resolve to lighten up from here on out!!!!
Mon Apr 04, 2005 7:50 am
for the 3 guys who voted for option #3, you have made me feel old 
Mon Apr 04, 2005 9:34 am
E-Ink really is going to be a great product.
If you saw any of the Harry Potter movies where the newspaper had moving pictures or the wanted posters, then you can imagine the E-Ink.
The product can be made very thin flexible and cheap enough to be almost disposable.
and it looks good...
for more info check out:
http://www.eink.com/index.html
If you saw any of the Harry Potter movies where the newspaper had moving pictures or the wanted posters, then you can imagine the E-Ink.
The product can be made very thin flexible and cheap enough to be almost disposable.
and it looks good...
for more info check out:
http://www.eink.com/index.html