Intel’s Edu-Wise versus the OLPC

It looks like Intel is working on their own cheap laptop program, not to directly compete with the OLPC project, but still it is seen as a big deal by the media.

Intel is going to release a product with specifications that make the OLPC machine look like a “windup toy” and at $400, it is not rediculously expensive, but it will put it outside the ability for most developing countries.

Intel CEO Paul Otellini recently announced the Edu-Wise in Brazil. The Edu-Wise will be a full-fledged, Windows-powered mini-PC.

While the prototype Edu-Wise box Otellini showed off in São Paulo looked pretty good, we suspect that a $400 price tag will put it out of the price range of most developing world customers, unless it’s heavily subsidized. We also think there’s a good chance that the $400 price won’t even stick; after all, we seem to recall a recent Microsoft/Intel project for a small, full-Windows computer that was initially meant to hit the market at about $500. Last time we checked, those boxes were going for closer to a grand. Apply the same math to this, and we don’t see it coming in for any less than $750 — not exactly pocket change for most developing world students.

Source: Engadget

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