Norhtec's $199 Gecko EduBook to Run on 8 AA Batteries
Yo, a Netbook that runs on AA batteries, what a concept, well maybe. News was floating around last month that Norhtec was working on the Gecko EduBook, a Netbook primarily designed for kids or at least pre-high school educational purposes, that would do just that by means of an internal modular design and its efficient Xcore86 chip which contains all the processing guts necessary on a single small motherboard that only uses 1.2 watts. Oh yeah, the other main point in this is that the box was to sell for $200. Well, the video below shows that this is more or less true all true. Check out the key specs below:
- Processor -- Fanless Xcore 86 (Vortex86MX SoC) clocked at 1.0GHz
- OS -- Windows XP, Ubuntu Linux
- Memory -- 256MB, 512MB, or 1Gb of DDR2 RAM, soldered on CPU module
- Display -- 8.9-inch LED backlit display with 1024 x 600 resolution
- Storage -- 1 internal SD, 1 external SD, optional 2.5 inch IDE hard disk
- Networking -- 10/100 Ethernet port
- Other I/O:
- 4 x USB 2.0 (3 external, 1 internal)
- VGA
- Audio -- line in and line out
- Expansion -- SD slot, or 2.5 inch IDE hard disk
- Battery -- Accepts 8 NiMH AA cells, or lithium-ion battery packs, with run times approximately four or six hours, respectively
- AC Power -- Standard power cord instead of AC adapter
As the EduBook name relates, Norhtec is aiming at bulk school orders with this model. In the video the speaker says that they are shopping the model around to "developing markets" and according to Engadget are offering $150-160/unit pricing on bulk orders, and according to other sources for as little as $110 assuming a bare bones configuration running Linux. That still sounds like it might be a little pricey for the developing world, but maybe not for the daughter or son of a rich kid here in the States or elsewhere. Now, for all us adult spoiled rich kids in the first world, although I like the more inexpensive replacement option of the AA NiMH batteries, I can't really see going with this model over one of the more powerful standard Netbooks available, at least not for $200. It is good to see some differentiation between models in the market though. Also, with a focus on this inexpensive pricepoint it's intriguing to read, via the Engadget posting, that Norhtec may have a Nettop in the works. If they came out with a decent one of these that was equally inexpensive, modular and had HDMI, well that might get them some attention outside the school yard.
Check out the video below for details on both the Gecko EduBook and the Xcore86 chipset. (video is a little choppy in places)
--Tom Milnes
Shannon Love on June 14, 2009 at 06:51 AM
The laptop is neat but he seriously oversells the "computer on one board" bit. Such computers have been around for several years. Neither could you put one in a phone configuration because you still have to have storage and power.
Personally, I'm waiting for someone to resurrect the Apple eMate with modern technology. You could crank them out today forunder $100. Just the form factor alone was killer.
Simon Hawkin on June 14, 2009 at 01:25 PM
One thing they might think to add is the crank shaft as an alternative power source. OLPC has that, and I wonder if the experience has been positive.
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