MIT has always been the outstanding institution that has more breakthrough inventions/studies than any other institutions in the States. (Am I wrong?)
And now they are up with this noble project on bridging the digital divide among the Third World countries. (Nice people...let's meet in heaven!)
They have this idea of providing a notebook that carries a price tag of ONLY USD100 to the kids in Cambodia where according to their articles, have no electricity at home. When these kids open up their lappies at home, it turns out to be the brightest glowing object in the house. You sense anything wrong here?
Before that, let's have a look at this USD100 budget notebook.
Pics posted are adapted from CNN.com who shares resources with the Associated Press.
Ok and now the specifications of this budget lappy.
If you have read, you will know that these lappies don't use LCD technology. LCDs are costly. They use projection istead - which has to be bulky?
Read that part on storage and memory. A 10 bucks processor. Lol. If that lappy could surf the net and carry out basic standard tasks of today's world, I would be more than glad to purchase 100 of them and create my own home grid computing network.
5 bucks battery. 30 minutes life span?
Besides, this is not available in the fact sheet. MIT intends to equip these lappies with wireless capabilities too. Woohoo wireless internet!(wireless internet and yet these kids do not even have electricity at home.)
And the most fundamental question, how they charge their lappies when they have no electricity? Maybe fuel cell?
I might be over pessimistic and shallow in thoughts. I haven't actually read more detailed research sheets about this. Wait till I have read and I shall alter my entry. Till then, save up USD100 and get yourself one. Malaysia is one of the Third World countries so we are entitled to buy these notebooks. Cheers for being in the Third World!