100$ laptop for $400

100$ laptop for $400 Source

Well, it’s not as bad as it sounds. At the moment the “$100 laptop” from One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) costs $200. By paying $400 (available only from Nov 12 to Nov 26), North Americans will get one, but also subsidize one for a 3rd world country. Because it’s a form of donation, the $200 are tax-deductible, according to Walter Bender, OLPC president of software and content.

The goal is to make the OLPC computer cheaper ASAP. The thing is: it is quite possible to build a cheap PC, running off-the-shelves software like the Asus Eee PC (although it might be more expensive than initially thought). The OLPC is also painfully slow and lacks software. The user interface (called Sugar) is sparse but functional. Moreover the quality of the screen seems poor. Compared with modern notebook panels, this transmissive LCD delivers washed-out colors and isn’t very bright.

Despite it has plenty of shortcomings it has great potential, if we think about its mission as a children’s laptop for the developing world–and its ultra-low price.

Tags: OLPC, 0 laptop, notebook panels, laptop, developing worlds, ultra low price