CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (AP) _ The creators of the ``one-hundred-dollar
laptop" say they'll have to charge more for it, at least for the
time being.
The founder of the One Laptop Per Child project says the little
green and white machines now cost 175 dollars, but will be able to
run Windows in addition to its own homegrown interface.
Nicholas Negroponte says the current cost should drop about 25
percent per year as the project unfolds. One Laptop Per Child aims
to distribute computers to children in poor countries.
Negroponte says it's unclear which of seven countries that have
expressed interest will be the first to come up with the cash for
the computers. Orders for three (m) million machines are needed to
start manufacturing.
Still, Negroponte is optimistic. He says more countries have
inquired about participating and expects mass production to start
by October.
%AP Links
GRAPHICSBANK 953623 (12/21/06)>> 2000x1500
``$100 laptop" created by Massachusetts Institute of Technology
professors for school children in the developing world, photo on
black
(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
APTV-04-27-07 0021EDT
