Low-Cost Laptop Space Gets More Competition, Mobiles Will Prevail

By Andrew Meyer on January 9, 2008

Now I usually don't blog about whatever is hot over on Techmeme. But, today I'm making an exception since a few of the conversations are right up my alley.

Specifically all the various OLPC Techmeme threads.

I posted earlier today that I think that the "developing nation" market will for the most part skip laptops and go straight to mobile phones with Internet connectivity and light-computing functionality.

Well, the New York Times is reporting that Mary Lou Jepsen former CTO for the OLPC project is spinning off her own commercial endeavor called Pixel Qi.

And, guess what?

Her new company is going to focus on creating a $75 laptop and low-cost, power-efficient mobile phones and other consumer electronics.

You heard me right.

She is going to focus on low-cost, power-efficient mobile phones.

If they target those mobile phones towards the lower brackets of the socio-economic spectrum they are going to to stick for sure. That is, if its coupled with an extremely affordable talk/data plan.

All this commercial competition in this brand new space is awesome.

I always say that commercial, for-profit endeavors have greater sustainability (not always but usually).

Update: Both Engadget and TechCrunch provide commentary on the future $75 laptop.

Related Posts:

Welcome Asus Eee To Low-Cost Laptop Space
The low-cost laptop space keeps getting more and more interesting. Today, Engadget posted on Asus' future plans for their low-cost laptop brand called Eee....
Developing Nations Will Skip Laptop Drama and Jump Straight To Mobile
I have been following One Laptop for awhile here at BUZZYEAH. I've followed their drama with Intel, their reconciliation with Intel and their most...
$10 Laptops For Everyone
Imagine buying a new MacBook or Dell laptop for only $10. Well, you can if you're one of two billion or so unadequately educated children...