[ale] OLPC was: bump

[Daniel Howard]

 >True, it's unfortunate that "100 dollars" became their mantra. It's my
understanding that the increase in price is largely due to factors
outside their control - the increased cost of metals and the weakness of
the dollar - rather than anything new added to the system.

 >-Brian

My understanding was that the price went up $30-50 due to increased cost 
but the last bump to close to $200 (although they still quote $175-187 
in the press for quantity orders) was to add RAM so it could support 
Windoz.  Here's link to buy 2 get 1 for $399:
http://www.xogiving.org/?gclid=CL2D8uakhY8CFQ4JQAodwzzEwg

Here's a link to the Intel Classmate PC
http://www.classmatepc.com/

Intel and Negroponte were at odds for a while, with the latter accusing 
Intel of selling below cost in his market countries to undermine him. 
Which Intel certainly would have been smart to do, given that at the 
time AMD was the preferred vendor and sat on the OLPC board.   Now, 
Intel has joined the OLPC board, and although no one says it's to get 
Intel chips into later generation XOs, what do you guys think...

And here's Asustek's me-too based on Intel's Classmate reference design 
for $249:
http://www.engadget.com/2007/05/04/asustek-firms-up-classmate-pc-plans-prices-starting-at-249/

Best,
Daniel

-- 
Daniel Howard
President and CEO
Georgia Open Source Education Foundation