Intel's convertible Classmate PC barely makes it to FCC

According to Engadget, Intel's third-generation convertible Classmate PC has gotten FCC approval and should be available after the holidays.

Sneak Peak of new version of Intel-powered classmate PC

Uploaded by channelintel

"Jeff Galinovsky, technical expert of the classmate PC at Intel, walked through some of the features of the new version classmate PC prototype, including touch screen and tablet mode."

Intel shows off next-gen, convertible Classmate PC

From Engadget -

At this week's IDF, Intel demo'd a new convertible Classmate PC but stressed it is not the expected Classmate 3.0. The unit has 1.6GHz Atom processor, 8.9-inch 1024 x 600 display, an SD card slot, a pair of USB ports, and an SSD drive of unspecified size.

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If Intel manages to provide a low-cost swivel reference design, then we can fully expect this to become a common feature in subsequent Classmate-based models. The swivel and touch screen are the only major features left that seem to distinguish more expensive sub-notebooks from their more popular low-cost siblings. Of course, the former tend to have more RAM and storage space but these are typically user-upgradeable.

Third-generation Classmate PC on its way

From Crave -

Intel is working on the next version of its low-cost laptop, which could be ready in the next month or so. The new version will have a different look and feel from the existing model and will get both hardware and software upgrades. The user interface might probably come from OLPC spin-off Sugar Labs which has announced it will develop a version of its Sugar interface for the Classmate PC.

Source article here.

Intel unveils 2G Classmate PC, to sell in US

Submitted by reader Steve -

From Electronista,

Intel has unveiled the second generation of the Classmate PC at the its Developer Forum. The new model sports a larger 9" screen, built-in webcam, 4GBSSD or 30GB hard drive options, and a more mature look. Unfortunately, the Vtech like handle is still a feature.

Processor is still a 900 Celeron M and RAM a maximum 512MB. OS is either Linux or Windows XP. But mesh networking is now supported.

CTL has rebranded it as the 2Go PC and will sell it through Amazon for USD400.

Classmate PC hits store shelves in Philippines as Neo Explore X1

According to Engadget a Philippine company that re-brands laptops under its inhouse NEO label is now selling that Classmate PC as Neo Explore X1 for PhP16,998 (or about USD408).

In comparison, the Asus Eee PC 4G model has been selling at PhP18,000 to PhP19,800.

Intel to bring the Classmate PC to US and Europe

Submitted by Brad Linder -

Intel has announced plans to bring its sub-$300 Classmate PC to the US and Europe. Up until now the Classmate PC was primarily targeted at educational markets and developing nations. Now Intel hopes to position it as an Eee PC killer.

You can get more details over at Reuters and at Eeesite.

Intel Classmate PC Review

CNET has a review of the generic Intel Classmate PC, on which the Asus Eee PC is based. Unlike the relatively recently launched Eee PC, Intel actually has been shipping the Classmate PC to international test markets for quite sometime already.

The Classmate PC shares a lot of features with the Eee PC, including a 7" LCD and the use of flash drives but the former has a thick ruggedized plastic toyish-looking shell. Its price start at USD225 and for its USD350 configuration, specially configured Windows XP and Office 2003 are pre-installed in a 2GB flash drive. While that leaves little room for other apps or files (about 500MB left), the Classmate actually ran Windows XP smoothly with only 256MB RAM.

Price as reviewed -USD350
Processor - 900MHz Intel Celeron M
Memory - 256MB RAM
Hard drive - 2GB SSD
Chipset/Graphics - Intel 915
Operating System - Windows XP Pro
Dimensions (WDH) - 9.6 x 7.8 x 1.6 inches
Screen size - 7.0" 800 x 480
Video - None
Audio - Stereo speakers, headphone/microphone jacks
Data - 2 USB 2.0, SD card slot
Expansion - None
Networking - Ethernet, 802.11 a/b/g Wi-Fi
Optical drive - None
Webcam - None
System weight / Weight with AC adapter - 3.2/4.1 lbs

Full review can be read here.

Microsft licensing Windows for $10 with Classmate PC?

According to an old blog post (dated April 09, 2007) in the One Laptop Per Child News site, Microsoft is bundling Windows with the Classmate PC for as low as $10. The article, How about OLPC XO and Classmate PC?, is written by one Luis Ramirez, a member of the committee in charge of the citizen-led campaign One Computer Per Child in Chile

Among others, it claims that:

"Yes, you can order (if you are a school owner, such as the municipality) all your Classmates with Linux. However and here is the surprising news: The selling price is not very different to the windows version, because Microsoft sold the Windows licenses at a very low price, - at least we were told so by the Intel executives we interviewed.

Not sure what they meant by that, but apparently it's around ten dollars (I'm trying to get this info). The key issue here is the ‘popularity contest' (already won by Windows) behind adopting a Linux based system if such a decision will be in the hand of local authorities or even the national Ministry of Education. With all its obvious strengths, Linux is a geek mantra, not a politician or Ministry of Education mantra.

Only extremely visionary politicians have understood that in this part of the word. Thus, after the arrival of Classmate, those advocating for a ‘Linux Generation' produced as a consequence of a massive implementation of OLPC in schools are feeling fairly skeptical, again..."

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Hmm. So I guess that is how Microsoft intends to fight back.

Classmate PC Potential Eee PC Rival?

Looking at the specs of the Intel Classmate PC, which is manufactured by ECS by way of its purchase of Uniwill -

Intel Classmate PC Specs as listed in the the ClassmatePC site -

Chassis: Customized Mini Chassis 245x196x44
Processor: Intel® Mobile Processor ULV 900 MHz, Zero L2 cache, 400 MHz FSB
Chipset: Intel 915GMS + ICH6-M
Memory: DDR-II 256M SO-DIMM
LCD: 7" 800 x 480, LVDS Interface, LED B/L
Storage Device: 1GB/2GB NAND Flash
Audio: Stereo 2 Channel Audio, Built-in Speakers and Microphone, Jack for External Output and Microphone Input
LAN/WLAN: 10/100M Ethernet + WLAN 802.11 b/g w/ Antenna
Keyboard: Integrated Keyboard with Hot Keys
Touch Pad: Cycle Touch Pad with Left and Right Buttons
Digital Pen (optional): Wireless Pen to take digital notes
TPM: TPM1.2
Power Solution: Battery with Adapter – 6 Cells, approximately 4 hours Usage
Weight: Less than 1.3kg (aprox. 2.86 pounds)
Operating System: Windows XP Pro*/ Linux*

it is quite obvious the unit shares a common platform with the Asus Eee PC.

Of course, appearance-wise, no one will mistake the Classmate PC for its Asus counterpart, as the two photos below from Ricardo's Blog show.





But aside from the similar technical specs, the two also have similar price ranges, especially now that Asus has effectively increased the Eee PC's since its initial announcement. The Classmate PC lists for USD300 for its target market while the Asus Eee PC starts at USD249 (at least for the US market).

What this means is that if ECS were to streamline the physical appearance of its Classmate PC and make it more appealing to adult users, as well as reduce the price, it will have a formidable rival to the Asus Eee PC. Moreover, since the Classmate PC has been in production for a while now, ECS will have the advantage in procuring the critical components that are currently in shortage.

Thus barring any legal impediments, ECS is actually in a good position to sneak up on Asus. Back in late 2001, ECS defined a new market segment with the introduction of its Desknote (iBuddie) series - which are desktop replacement laptops without built-in batteries. The next year, Asus came out with its Degatto line, essentially the same configuration as that of the Desknote, to compete head-on with the latter. Since then, the two companies have been consistently introducing notebook models with similar configurations and price points.

Incidentally, the two companies also compete directly in the motherboard business, being two of the largest manufacturers in the world. So it would be interesting if their rivalry heats up the notebook segment once again.