MIT is developing a $100 laptop, targeted for developing countries. It will make use of innovative power mechanisms, like hand-wound power and will be “able to do everything expensive laptops do except store large amounts of data.”
Current specs call for a Linux-based operating system with 500MHz processor, 1GB storage, and 1Megapixel camera.
How do they plan on reaching the $100 mark?
- Dramatically lowering the cost (and quality) of the display.
- Streamlining pre-loaded software and system utilities. Using Linux obviously helps lowers costs.
- Marketing the laptops in very large numbers (millions), directly to ministries of education, which can distribute them like textbooks.
Source: http://laptop.media.mit.edu/