The $75 Laptop Looms

[mdlbear]

Pixel Qi - Home

What computing can be, the XO laptop was just the first step.

Pixel Qi is currently pursuing the $75 laptop, while also aiming to bring sunlight readable, low-cost and low-power screens into mainstream laptops, cellphones and digital cameras.

Spinning out from OLPC enables the development of a new machine, beyond the XO, while leveraging a larger market for new technologies, beyond just OLPC: prices for next-generation hardware can be brought down by allowing multiple uses of the key technology advances. Pixel Qi will give OLPC products at cost, while also selling the sub-systems and devices at a profit for commercial use.

Posts in engadget and gizmodo try hard to make it sound like this is a bad thing; the NY Times article is a little more balanced. They all try to make it sound as though the OLPC is doomed. It isn't.

Note that Pixel Qi is licensing the display technology from OLPC. This does two things: gives the OLPC a revenue stream that doesn't depend on the whims of government contracts, and lowers the price of their most expensive component by raising the volume. What's wrong with that?

And if the side effect is gadgets that look good, have fantastic screens and great battery life, run Linux, and cost under $100, I'm all for it.

Comments

[stevemb.livejournal.com]

It may be a bad thing for a specific project, but a good thing for the overall goal....

[mdlbear]

I don't even think it'll be bad for the OLPC -- it'll make it cheaper to build, and expand the market for the technology. The latter will also reduce the perceived risk in going with a radical new technology.

[technoshaman.livejournal.com]

And if the side effect is gadgets that look good, have fantastic screens and great battery life, run Linux, and cost under $100, I'm all for it.

Me, too. If this is the OLPC Teacher's Edition analog, GIMMEH. :)

[webmaven.livejournal.com]

"Note that Pixel Qi is licensing the display technology from OLPC."

That wasn't my understanding. The Pixel Qi spinoff gets the display IP (as in assignment, not licensing), commercializes and continues to develop it, and OLPC gets displays (and probably other components) at cost.

[mdlbear]

My understanding (I believe some of this information comes from interviews published elsewhere) is that both are happening: OLPC gets to buy displays and other subsystems at cost; everyone else pays more, which covers both profit for PQ and a license fee to OLPC. But I don't know; it could be that the deep discount on displays is the license fee.

Still gets OLPC cheaper hardware and raises the volume (resulting in cheaper hardware).

[nolly.livejournal.com]

I suspect the people who should really be scared are the ones making $400 ebook readers.

[mdlbear]

Indeed; I expect my main use for my XO (which still hasn't arrived -- grump) will be as a songbook replacement. I firmly expect eBook readers to follow much the same price curve as pocket calculators, which also started out around $200 and can now be found in cereal boxes.