Russian Foundation Buys a Million Asus Eee PC

From the Russian Kommersant site comes possibly conflicting news regarding the order for 1 million Asus Eee PC. As earlier posted in this blog, the Russian Ministry was identified as the one which placed the order. But per Kommersant -

The Free Deed Foundation is preparing to conclude an agreement worth approximately $200 million with Asus on the purchase of a million laptop computers. The Free Deed Foundation is sponsored by affiliates of Oleg Deripaska. Basic Element spokesmen explained that the computers will be used in Russian schools.

Alexey Voronkov, head of the Asustek office in Moscow, said that the Eee PC 700s would be delivered in the course of five years. That model has a retail price of about 11,000 rubles in Russia and $260 in the West. Voronkov would not confirm the identity of the buyer of the computers.

The Free Deed Foundation provides 200 million rubles a year to a program called “The Temples of Russia” and engages in philanthropic activities. The Eee PC will make its debut on the world market at the end of this month.

Asustek president for sales and marketing Jonathan Tsang stated that the purchase price of the Eee PC 700 for large buyers will be $199. Observers say that the contract with Free Deed cannot be have a wide profit margin.

----------

Well, at least the buying party is still Russian. :)