OLPC Cost Rises To $188 Per Laptop

Arathon writes "The amazing '$100 laptop' designed by the 'One Laptop Per Child' program isn't going to make it out the door for that price. CNN reports that the laptops are now expected to cost $188 apiece when they come out later this fall. This is expected to make the program's appeal potentially much smaller, since the developers were relying on the mind-bogglingly low-price to hook governments into the concept of buying laptops for their people. OLPC's spokesman guarantees that the price won't rise further, to 'above $190'. The price differential is being blamed on raw materials costs and currency fluctuation. Is this the end of the OLPC's newsworthiness, or should we continue to hope that it will make the difference that so many have said it will?"

Comments

Only USD

[MarkRose]

It's okay, it's 188 USD, not 188 in some highly valued currency.

Or change the project name

[Anonymous Coward]

0.532 Laptops Per Child

Re:Or change the project name

[Tablizer]

0.532 Laptops Per Child

Or just cut the children in half. Worked in the Bible.

Re:Or change the project name

[EvanED]

What? No, you're backwards! If you cut the children in half there will be FEWER laptops per child since there will be more kids.

What you need to do is duck tape a few together. Heck, tape them together in bundles of three and you'll have the 1.5 laptops per child p.

Name Change in order

[MrCopilot]

How about the 100 pound laptop.

According to Google Calculator
188 U.S. dollars = 92.7204577 British pounds

Re:God bless these children

[Satan Gave Me a Taco]

this is /. not fucking-morons-invent-unrealistic-mini-soap-operas.com You seem to be somewhat confused about the nature of Slashdot.

Re:Price will drop fast

[Anomolous Cowturd]

They could start calling it the 100 pound laptop.

Re:Currency "fluctuation"

[aichpvee]

My fellow Americans, allow me to take this opportunity to encourage you to get in your last few "Canadian monopoly money" jokes while you still can. You may not get another chance.

Name change might be in order

[proverbialcow]

If they're going to keep straying from their original vision, they should at least have the decency to call it "No Laptop Left Behind."

Apple

[mosb1000]

Apple should release a $200 iPod touch with increased functionality and reduced specs for children in third world countries. It could easily compete with OLPC at that price.

100 Lbs !

[gooman]

Isn't that kind of heavy for a laptop?

Oh wait... Never mind.

Re:Price did not rise much outside of the USA.

[Dr. Spork]

Wouldn't it be pretty ironic if they ended up using cheap child labor to make these?