OLPC Foundation May Launch $350 Commercial Laptop by Christmas

By Michael Santo
Executive Editor, RealTechNews

On the same day they announced that mass production of the XO-1 was starting, the One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) Foundation indicated that they were considering launching a commercial version, at twice the cost, or approximately $350, by Christmas. The idea would be to subsidize the costs of the units for developing countries with profits from the sales of the commercial version.

Its entry to the commercial market would be a challenge to traditional PC industry companies. “The PC industry will be watching this very closely,” said Roger Kay, an analyst with PC market researcher Endpoint Technologies Associates Inc.

Although the green-and-white XO was designed for elementary school children in poor countries, analysts say that some of the features make it attractive to kids in wealthier countries as well as adults. Source: eWeek

We Say: Interesting since it would be a low-cost laptop you could give to your kids … still, green-and-white? And I can’t play WoW on it (yeah, yeah, I know it can still be used to surf for porn)?