IDF: Third generation Classmate PC with rotating touch screen

Intel announced the Classmate PC two years ago under the codename Eduwise, as a competing product to the XO "100 dollar laptop" from the OLPC Initiative. The third generation of the Classmate PC, equipped with a rotating, folding, touch-sensitive display, is due out this year. Intel used the IDF as a opportunity to release the first photographs of the device, but without revealing further details. The touch screen display can be operated using either a stylus or fingertip and it even has a palm recogniton mode.

Like the recent second-generation devices, the new Classmate PC will likely have all of the ingredients of the typical netbook – essentially an Atom N270 processor with a 945GSE mobile chipset. While the first Classmates – just like the Asus Eee PC 701 – were equipped with a paltry 7 inch display, Intel now uses screens with an 8.9 inch diagonal and 1024 × 600 pixel resolution. Bulk storage is provided either by inexpensive SSDs with USB or PATA connections, or by conventional 1.8 inch hard drives.

Intel actually developed the Classmate PC for school children in developing and emerging countries as a competitor to the AMD Geode-equipped XO, and for other Intel educational initiatives. While the OLPC Initiative places the mini laptop in the centre of its educational concept; enabling and motivating children to engage in self-directed study, in contrast, Intel places trained educators in the centre of its programme. It is precisely this difference between the two concepts that has been a bone of contention between OLPC initiator Nicholas Negroponte and Intel Chairman Craig Barrett. In light of this, Barrett's re-emphasis at the IDF on Tuesday of the importance of good teachers to education can be seen as a jab. Information on classroom use of notebooks for school children is available under Skoool.com and elsewhere.

Intel itself does not supply the Classmate PC, but rather the company cooperates in different countries with various OEM partners, who configure the devices according to their wishes and those of their customers. That is why the designs demonstrated by Intel are actually just sample configurations. For instance, there are two variants of the second-generation Classmate PC available on ClassmatePC.com; one with a Celeron M 900 and the 915GMS chipset, and the other equipped with the Atom processor. The Atom version, with its larger 6 cell battery, can supposedly run for more than 6 hours.

Private individuals too can now purchase the various versions of the Classmate PC. In Germany, for instance, Wortmann offers the Atom Classmate with a 2GB flash module, 1 GB RAM and Windows XP Home Edition and branded as the Terra Mobile-Home EDU for 359 euros. In the US, CTL sells its 2goPC Classmate variants with Linux installed on Amazon starting at $399, but it uses the Celeron and a 40 GB hard drive. Italian company Olidata also sells the first-generation Classmate PC with its 7 inch display as the JumPC for 299 euros. In the UK the Classmate is available as the JumPC from Actronix with the Celeron processor, 7 inch display and 2GB of flash memory for £239. Apparently a 30GB hard disk is available as an option. With Intel now announcing the third generation of the product, potential buyers might find it worthwhile waiting.

According to Intel, "several hundred-thousand" first and second generation Classmate PCs have been sold worldwide; in Portugal alone, for instance, a half-million devices are to be purchased for primary school pupils. According to Intel, in Germany there's also a Classmate PC pilot project in the works.

For more on the Autumn IDF 2008 see also:

(trk)

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