Intel calls MIT's $100 laptop a 'gadget'

The chipmaker says developing countries want fully functional computers, not hand-cranked gadgets.

The story "Intel calls MIT's $100 laptop a 'gadget'" published December 9, 2005 at 10:28 AM is no longer available on CNET News.

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[Blito]

Get educated Intel

With these nearly 0 dollar computers and Sun's new 'Open Source Hardware' Spark product the future looks bright for Market Presence over Market cost. Software started to Lock In hardware chips so it was difficult to get at the tech compared to a chair for instance. That's changed.
Money might be the stuff only in fantasy and entertainment in a few years.

Check out MepisLite, www.mepis.com it runs on very slow computers with KOffice running its full sweet. What else do you need to get educated Intel?
Thin Client as well. Also high speed Internet is going to be delivered via Satellite for the entire globe in only a year with a British company.

[daschmcuk]

Sour Grapes make whine...

Poor Intel - afraid they are going to get left out of a market...

It's gotta be tough when you are getting out-classed in everything but your bottom line. I/m by no means a communist, but some of these huge corporations just don't know when to call it quits. Yep, we Americans and other 1st world citz's can find a way to afford tech. assets - societies of those that's cant afford technology assets don't have access to education any longer with the world going to tech based schooling, and those that are not educated end up eaqting our tax dollars in foreign aid.

Intel - the Number 2 reason to buy AMD chips. ( Number 1 reason: 64 > 32 ! )

[System Tyrant]

Intel.

You do realize that Intel sell a 64-bit processor too.

Of course when I buy a computer it comes with AMD inside and not Intel, but that's because I believe that AMD is a better processor at the moment. However, that could change and I would buy whoever makes the better one. Intel shows much promise with the Pentium-M line so the next few years could show Intel gain back the performance crown. Of course AMD is doing good and I think they will continue to do good.

[Lolo Gecko]

itanium designed to meet needs of 3rd world users ...

i doubt that he remembers the thrill of working on an Altair 8080, Osborne Otrona, TRS 80, or even an Apple 2e. his elitist attitude toward the 3rd world market reconfirms Intels itanium centric myopia.

Stupidty of the less than noble capitalists...

It's amazing how stupid rich people get...

YEAH, ALL of us would like the next hottest thing or top of the line technology but we can't. Does that mean then we should not settle on something within our budget. This guy and his company are sorry they could not think out of the box and develope a product that could be marketed to the less fortunate. Sad isn't it, these guys in the pursuit to make stock holders happy and to turn a profit realize they could of done the same and created a economical profit channel down the line for themselves. Now all they can do is knock the wind out of the sails of people more noble than them and who worry less about profit and more about humanity!

[lingsun]

The $100 laptop is a stupid idea

The idea of a $100 laptop for children in developing countries is just so incredibly stupid. Those children and their families need clean water, adequate food, adequate housing, electricity, economic opportunity and affordable medical care much more than they need laptops for their children.

Oh, boy

It's for countries already that have food, housing, electricity, etc.
Developing countries; although, do not have a thousand dollars for
a laptop.

[higherspeed]

Think about it

Give a man a fish and he eats for a day.
Teach a man to fish and he eats for a lifetime.

Let then get educated asnd they will eventually provide their own food, water etc.

[ajbright]

You're missing the point

The fact remains that despite the need for everything you mentioned, a desire to make computers more available to those that don't earn enough to buy a conventional PC is hardly stupid.

You are completely missing the point of this project.

The idea is that charitable organisations and the governments of developing countries would be able to provide computers to those that wish to participate in the world community.

The $100 price tag is something the UN asked for in order to facilitate this, and it was asked for many years ago, at a time when $100 is significantly more valuable than it is today.

Part of the problem developing countries have is providing modern education to their citizens.

Some of these people may need food, water and sanitation, but they also crave education and the tools to provide such an education.

The potential for providing virtual classrooms to those that don't have access to qualified teachers is something that is beyond price.

Then look at the potential for communication. A big part of the world's problem today is a lack of understanding and respect for different cultures.

Allowing the less fortunate an opportunity to not only put over their point of view, and voice their plight in a more personal way would also be invaluable.

But also what about the other side of this coin. At the moment the only view of western culture that many citizens of poorer nations have is that provided by extremists or the propaganda of their governments.

Providing them with direct communication with ordinary people from around the world could help them to understand that we are not the evil, decadent, war mongerers that they are being told we are.

The communication part of this project may be geared towards providing content, but again, the overall potential of something like this has enormous value and should not be slighted.

The only stupid part is that people fail to understand why those worse off than themselves have the need for education.

This particular tool may not be the final answer, but it goes a long way to providing one.

[DudeOfX]

How about a pedal for power

Heh, I like the idea except for the hand crank, I say let it have color and add a pedal for power!

Computers inspired me and many friends to dream beyond the needs of their enviroment.

I like the idea.

Intel has grown big fat and geewhiz

The problem with dominant corporation like Intel they have
become more of a hindrance to development than a help. Just
because the idea is from somebody else and are not using over
priced Intel chips (AMD-bless their souls) the $100 laptop is not
a good idea. Instead of shooting it down Intel with its vast
resources should embrace the concept and help improve it for
the good of humanity.

Case in point is Wimax in Sri Lanka. Is Intel really trying to help
Third World countries or are they just trying to drive higher
corporate profit at the expense of poor countries? Despite the
hype, Wimax is nowhere in sight until maybe 2-3 years from
now. Wimax has no major advantage over Wifi as 802.11
protocol migrated to a system that can be deployed
metrpolitan-wide cheaply ($20 pci-wifi card vs. $400-$500
wimax card) To drive my point, why did Motorola proposed a
wifi mesh for the city of San Fransisco and not wimax? Motorola
with Intel are strong advocates of wimax.

Re: Sour Grapes make whine...

Owen,
I am from "third world" India & I can tell Craig's right - such gadgets have failed miserably here in the past decade. People in India, China, etc. do not necessarily want cheaper - what people look for here is value-for-money. In that, we differ from the US/Japan/Europe because function takes complete precedence over form (e.g. coolness is not as important as ruggedness).

Now, where Craig could be wrong is power - it's a major issue around here & one cannot ignore innovations on that front.

on 64 > 32, well...duh! where are the 64-bit apps on desktops for you to make a statement like that? 64-bit OSes are hardly mainstream right now for PCs, so don't jump the gun. Where the competition will be, and AMD took a momentary lead there, is multi-core processing which will dominate the next decade.

[El Kabong]

A toe in the door... for Intel!

If it's true, "similar schemes in the past that were tried elsewhere in the world had failed and users would not be satisfied with the new machine's limited range of programs," then Intel should welcome it, maybe even contribute to funding these efforts. User's of these "gadgets" may find power tools for information an indispensable addition to their lives and opt for bigger machines in the future. They'll also be likely to remember who helped them and who opposed them. Perhaps, Mr. Barrett, instead of attempting to hold on to the status quo, you should try to think ahead.

[alanpater]

hand crank is back-up, not main power supply.

It appears that Barret hasn't taken the time to look at the design of these machines. The hand-crank is a secondary back-up power source, not the main power source. The $100 laptop will run on both batteries and AC power when available.

[alanpater]

Fully reprogrammable? Of course!

What is more fully reprogrammable then all open source software? Negroponte has made it clear that the $100 laptops will ship with a full open source programming environment.

The machines will ship with a fully open operating system and applications. The users can customize the machine with whatever type of applications they need or want.