The scientist who designed a notebook computer for poor children that is being produced and sold by a nonprofit foundation has set up a company to commercialize the technology with a goal of producing a $75 laptop computer.
Mary Lou Jepsen, who left her post as chief technology officer of the One Laptop per Child Foundation at the end of last year, said on the company’s Web site that she has founded the company, called Pixel Qi, and described it as “a spin-out” from the nonprofit group.
Jepsen invented a low-cost, low-power sunreadable screen while at the foundation from 2005 to 2007. She also co-invented its power management system…The high-resolution display that she invented lets users switch from color to black-and-white when it is in direct sun.
“It’s an ill wind, etc…” Especially when you return to the world of competitive commerce.”
“…with a goal of producing a $75 laptop computer.”
Or a $150 laptop owing how the $100 OLPC became the $200. Seeing how the USD is going she ought to be quoting Euros as $75 may not get more than a power cord soon.
Cheers
Here’s an idea for a $75 computer – find that infamous landfill full of Apple Lisas, dust them off, and ship them out. 🙂
This is the kind of business plan that lures stupid VC money and is irresistible to bloggers/editors, but will absolutely positive NEVER pan out.
A cheaper laptop? Possibly. A $75 laptop? Meaning a laptop that is fully functional and usable out of the box for $75? Not a chance in the world.
But you can be sure everyone in tech will be talking about this for a few minutes!
Negroponte will go ballistic. He does not want any competition for his self promotion project shrouded in the OLPC program.
Will he dare attack a woman and one that came from OLPC as turning a poor child give away program into a business?
Oh yea, $75 laptop. I bet that will be a great one. I have a great ideal!
Why not give all these working PC’s going to the salvage yard or scrap heap and instead give them to these people for almost free?
I am sure a old IBM or Dell will perform much better then these OLPC toys.
OLPC is a crock. So is the state of hard drive laptop technology. People are spending up to $200 on after market cooling systems just so the things will work! Flash drive laptops aren’t nice to have. They are the only way the things will keep working!