$100 Laptop for 3rd world closer to reality.

GHoosdumGHoosdum Icrontian
edited October 2005 in Science & Tech
CNET's News.comreports that MIT researchers are working on specifications and hardware for a $100 notebook PC that can be used by children in 3rd-world countries.
The proposed design of the machines calls for a 500MHz processor, 1GB of memory and an innovative dual-mode display that can be used in full-color mode, or in a black-and-white sunlight-readable mode. The display makes the laptop "both an electronic book and a laptop," he said.

One display design being considered is a flat, flexible printed display developed at MIT's Media Lab. Negroponte said the technology can be used to produce displays that cost roughly 10 cents per square inch. "The target is $12 for a 12-inch display with near-zero power consumption," he said.
Sounds like technologies that would come in handy for the 1st world too!

Source: News.com

Comments

  • MiracleManSMiracleManS Chambersburg, PA Icrontian
    edited September 2005
    What's interesting, is I have a professor that has been building desktops for children and schools in India that boot off a floppy, require bare minimums of cost...roughly $90 after all is said and done. It's ridiculous, I consider him a computer McGuyver, because he's had these things running off paperclips, I think.
  • JengoJengo Pasco, WA | USA
    edited September 2005
    yeah, its probably some sort of Linux.

    ive seen 50mb Linux distros before, but a floppy?!

    :eek:
  • MiracleManSMiracleManS Chambersburg, PA Icrontian
    edited September 2005
    I'm pretty sure it is a Linux distro, and I'm not really sure how he manages myself. I've heard him talk about it though, and apparently all it can do is run a word processor...
  • TheSmJTheSmJ
    edited September 2005
    n00bs! the lot of you!!!!
  • BuddyJBuddyJ Dept. of Propaganda OKC Icrontian
    edited September 2005
    If it runs Windows and has a serial port, I'll take one for my MegaSquirt project ;)
  • profdlpprofdlp The Holy City Of Westlake, Ohio
    edited September 2005
    Buddy Jesus wrote:
    ...MegaSquirt project ;)
    I'm afraid to ask, but my curiosity has overcome my common sense.

    What in Sam Hill is a "MegaSquirt"? :mullet:
  • WingaWinga Mr South Africa Icrontian
    edited September 2005
    They were talking about this new $100 PC on a news item on the radio this afternoon. Apparently it also has a wind up mechanism to power the machine, which does away with the need for batteries or direct mains. They say that South Africa is going to be one of the first recipients of this new PC.

    Bring it on, I'll go and stand in line for mine when it arrives :)
  • GHoosdumGHoosdum Icrontian
    edited September 2005
    profdlp wrote:
    I'm afraid to ask, but my curiosity has overcome my common sense.

    What in Sam Hill is a "MegaSquirt"? :mullet:

    It's more innocuous than it sounds... it's a fuel injection system. Computer controlled, configurable via a laptop PC. :thumbsup:
  • airbornflghtairbornflght Houston, TX Icrontian
    edited September 2005
    500 mhz is faster than 300mhz which is what my current laptop is, thats the reason i dont ever use it.
  • MizugoriMizugori NYC
    edited September 2005
    megasquirt? woah do we have a volvo driver in here
  • PirateNinjaPirateNinja Icrontian
    edited September 2005
    TheSmJ wrote:
    n00bs! the lot of you!!!!

    ohhhhh buuurrneed!

    SMJ is the insult masta!

    you can get a gamecube for 99$. Its pretty small and powerful. Im impressed. Who needs word processing when you have zelda anyways?
  • MizugoriMizugori NYC
    edited September 2005
    hm. but you can get a hockey puck for like 5$, who needs a gamecube?
  • QeldromaQeldroma Arid ZoneAh Member
    edited September 2005
    GHoosdum wrote:
    Sounds like technologies that would come in handy for the 1st world too!

    Source: News.com

    Actually, I think the 1st world beta tested them for $2000 each.
  • TimTim Southwest PA Icrontian
    edited September 2005
    MegaSquirt is an aftermarket fuel injection system for cars, mostly used in custom modified turbocharged applications.
  • danball1976danball1976 Wichita Falls, TX
    edited October 2005
    Jengo wrote:
    yeah, its probably some sort of Linux.

    ive seen 50mb Linux distros before, but a floppy?!

    :eek:

    Windows 1.0 maybe?
  • MizugoriMizugori NYC
    edited October 2005
    Tim wrote:
    MegaSquirt is an aftermarket fuel injection system for cars, mostly used in custom modified turbocharged applications.

    ohhh well i know a lot of the users on TurboBricks aspire to someday incorporate it into their 80s and 90s volvos lol. it never really occurred to me that the program might not have been designed specificall by and for old volvo users. ;D
  • mcwcmcwc Vancouver, BC Member
    edited October 2005
    Mizugori, Megasquirted RWD Volvos already exist. There are quite a few running already in turbo'ed and non-turbo'ed bricks and it's a great replacement for a tired out K-Jet system. I'm planning for Megasquirt 'n Spark for my 244DL in the future, and maybe even F+T it :D.

    Tim, Megasquirt is not just for boosted applications, it'll work on N/A engines too.
  • MizugoriMizugori NYC
    edited October 2005
    lmao. i know it exists my point was that, if you ask around on a volvo forum like turbobricks you get a lot of "im planning/dreaming/hoping/trying to" in relation to MegaSquirt, much much more so than "i have successfully done it." so to me it was always kind of like the thing that everyone suggests you do, but then when you come back and ask "oh well have you had good luck with it?" they kind of shuffle their feet. its just one of those things.
  • mcwcmcwc Vancouver, BC Member
    edited October 2005
    Oh...now I've got your point :-/
  • MizugoriMizugori NYC
    edited October 2005
    yeah, see im one of those "semi bitter" volvo owners who got all hyped up by reading articles on forums, bought myself an 88 760t, and then found that all those people who claimed to be regular friggin geniuses don't know their heads from their asses. so now i have an old car thats less than spectacular and all these theoretical improvements that i could do to it don't seem to be nearly as practical or accurate as advertised previously. end rant.
  • BuddyJBuddyJ Dept. of Propaganda OKC Icrontian
    edited October 2005
    Don't be bitter, Mizugori. Heck, you're heard it from me before (prolly ad nauseum), but your car really does have potential. As for the people on TurboBricks... well... some of them are useless. Linuxman51 is probably your best resource for MegaSquirt related info on there. He has worked extensively on turboing not just Volvos. He worked with a member of my celicasupra.com forum in successfully MS'nS'ing a 6MGE Supra thats making over 300hp at the rear.

    Just think about happy ipd parts, adding a Starion or Isuzu intercooler, a fat downpipe and exhaust. They're all proven and worthwhile.
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