Classmate PCs to go into production this year

INTEL WAS showing off its Classmate PC at last year's Intel Developer Forum. It's also been spotted around the halls of the Spring IDF taking place this week. Now, Asustek has talked about its plans for launching commercial versions of the Intel reference design.

Five models are in the offing, all fitted with 7-inch LCD screens and solid state storage. At the low-end, a 1GB storage model will cost $199 with a 40GB model costing $549, according to DigiTimes. Obviously, Intel will be providing the CPUs (low-voltage Core, we suspect) and the mainboard logic.

These will be added to Asustek's impressive line of OEM customers. It is currently making MacBooks for Apple and Vaios for Sony, as well as various models for Dell. This is aside from the own-brand Asus laptops that are making an increasingly large splash in the channel, with outrageous designs - including pink leather laptops for the fetishist in your life - winning acclaim.

The Classmate PC is another rival to Nicholas Negroponte's OLPC. There's big money to be made in the developing world, not to mention good PR. Why are PC makers so concerned about getting developing countries set up with PCs, when many of them lack basic infrastructure for food, water and communications? Well, at least then they can order food online. µ