$100 laptop redesign is way cool, I want one :)

I know it isn't $100 that was the target. They ditched the keyboard and have whats like overgrown nintendo DS with dual touch screen, one can double as a keyboard and can be read as a book.

I'd love one to read Ebooks in bed :). Price is 75 pounds, so about $150

I think its really cool, and amazing to think that LCD touch screens can be made cheap enough that they can cut costs by 25% by dumping the keyboard.







And there might be some potential for some good 2 player indie games :)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7411904.stm

Wow, I like this design very much.

Can BlitzMax compile for this laptop?

I expect so, they are using Linux or Windows on the current version depending on your preference. So I don't see why Bmax wouldn't be compatible with it.

The only problem is that it comes out only in 2010.
I don't know if there still will be Windows in 2010, but for sure there will be Linux and BlitzMax3D.

They're also using the MultiPointer X window system, which is extremely cool:
http://morgancollett.wordpress.com/2008/05/21/multipointer-x-for-xo/
(Bottom video there is less fun, but very interesting).

Heh thats cool, one of my favourite RTS games on the amiga was Settlers 2, which allowed dual mice on split screen. I always liked playing that split screen multiplayer with one of my mates. Looks like you can do that and a whole lot more with the Multipointer X system :)

Multipointer system comes automatically if you use VNC on Linux.
VNC comes with Linux.
I haven't tried with more than 2 users,
but I think it works with an unlimited number of users.
Each user has his own mouse cursor.

Sadly they were bought by Microsoft already.

they nicked me touchscreen keyboard DS-esque idea
i'll sue

oh hang on i cant
i posted about it on a public forum kinda giving my ideas away as PD ;)

Whoa that's great!

I just hope typing via flat-surface-with-no-tactile-feedback will be second-nature by then, as I'm having a hell of a time dealing with the (albeit small) virtual-keyboard my iPod Touch offers.

That actually looks pretty nice. Good idea to have a virtual keyboard and two-player games etc. Nicer than a DS even.

>I don't know if there still will be Windows in 2010

Seems like a pretty stretched idea, well, there might not be windows, but there will probably be some OS from MS, I don't expect a leading multi-billion-dollar software giant to disipear in 2 years.

As for the laptop, it looks awsome, and it's cheap too, what kinda specs do you think it has?

Windows 7 is due out next year, so that will most likely be what most people will be using in 2010.

With the current system the default OS is Linux with optional windows. Many of the countries who's kids these notebooks were originaly developed for wanted windows so their children could be familiar with standard applications used in the workforce and compete with everyone else on the same level.

what about processor specs/GPU(if there is one?) ect? Couldn't find any of those in the link, would be interested to know. Thats quite cheap for a laptop, 100-150$. A nice retail laptop goes for about 600-800$ where I live

im sure if you wikied one laptop per child you could get the specs on their current model

the touch screen keyboard looks designed for childrens fingers (as the laptop is predominantly for 3rd world developing countries children it makes sense ;) ) so im not too sure if someone like me could use it without feeling like ive got fat fingers instead of the boney ones i have

I think they should have them everywhere. I frequently see kids under 15 walking around with notebooks slung over their shoulder, pushing and shoving, playing soccer, using their bags as goal posts. I can't imagine being a parent and having the extra expense of computers and mobile phones, portable DVD's and expensive handheld consoles.

Was bad enough when in the 80's we wanted a $20 calculator and $40 basket ball boots for breakdancing in heh.

Not only the expense, but making them easy targets for uncouth yobs to mug for their gadgets. Easy pickings really. Having these cheap puters would be even the playing field a bit, Like school uniforms were supposed to help prevent discrimination between class and income.

i want one

">I don't know if there still will be Windows in 2010"

huh? In 2 years? I'm confoosed...you can't be serious?