>> > On 9/29/05, Harv Nelson <harv.nelson at gmail.com> wrote: >> >> Not just for kids! I need one of these in the shack. So do you >> >> >> >> http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050929/ap_on_hi_te/hundred_dollar_laptop >> > >> > The hand crank adds a nice touch. In theory, infinite power for remote >> > computing. I'm skeptical of the price tag. Even if produced by the >> > millions, I don't see how you can find all the parts and still make a >> > profit at $100 each. >> >> >> I don't know that it will be possible to get the cost down to $100 per >> laptop, but I think the idea is not to make a profit. It's a charity. >> They will get about $100 million and make about 1 million laptops and they >> will give them away to poor children. >> >> Mike > >When one builds in very high volume, parts costs get super cheap. I doubt that part cost would be a big deal for this. This would >not be built from "distributor stock" parts and would use "system on a chip" technology. I've seen a semiconductor price drop by a >factor of 100 when making a high volume purchase for only a 10,000 unit production. If under $300 PC costs exist in for-profit >retail distribution, I'd say THAT is a valid indicator for $100 non-profit factory cost being feasible. > > >Chuck system on a chip example: AMD Geode http://news.zdnet.com/2100-9584_22-5715451.html "The new Geode LX800 is an energy-efficient processor for small computers, set-top boxes, TVs and handhelds, according to Chief Technical Officer Fred Weber. The chip runs at 533MHz and is said to provide the equivalent performance of an 800MHz processor from Via Technologies. While that's far less oomph than chips for notebooks and desktops, the processor only consumes about 0.9 watts and does not require heat sinks or fans. This lowers both cost and the overall volume of devices. At the same time, it's an x86 chip, so all the conventional software produced for desktops will run on it, unlike many CE chips." "The highest-performing Geode LX chips, with a companion chipset, will cost $45, far less than desktop and server chips." http://www.amd.com/us-en/Corporate/VirtualPressRoom/0,,51_104_543_9750~76710 ,00.html "The Geode processor will continue to be available in EBGA packages. The parts in PBGA packaging are available in a range of operating speeds and features, averaging US$25 to US$35, depending on functionality and quantity. They currently are sampling with customers, with full production scheduled for Q3 2002." http://www.pcworld.com/news/article/0,aid,118601,00.asp "AMD's Geode GX533 chips almost always use a separate co-processor to handle video decoding, but the NX series chips can handle most of the demand of set-top boxes on their own, Salo said. The Geode GX series chips used in set-top boxes from AMD's partners cost around $30, depending on the clock speed of the processor, an AMD spokesman said. The Geode NX chips cost around $50." You'd also need flash RAM, system RAM, a display (passive matrix or dual scan), keyboard, touchpad, windup generator, AC adapter, and plastics for the case. -Haudy