Stripped-Down Laptop Disrupts

NY Times' John Markoff reports on the progress and controversy of the $150-laptop. It's a stripped-down, simple PC with no hard drive aimed at an underserved market, students in developing countries. Backers include some ex-Intel people and MIT Media  Labs' Nicholas Negroponte.

(In a guest column earlier this week, Zack Urlocker hinted at this approach as a way to disrupt the PC business, based on the success of Nintendo's new Wii game console.)

IP& Democracy says the $150-laptop could become the world's best-seller.

Does this meet the definition of disruptive innovation?

• Simpler
• Cheaper
• Targets marginalized market segment initially
• Offers 'inferior' product initially
• Technology improving
• New customers are delighted by it because their alternative is no computer

Here's the reaction of the mainstream PC suppliers, according to the NY Times:

The detractors include two computer industry giants, Intel and Microsoft, pushing alternative approaches. Intel has developed a $400 laptop aimed at schools as well as an education program that focuses on teachers instead of students.

**Other Views**

Teleread looks at the gaming angle and controversy.

Comments

[Wayan]

The technology is unquestionably disruptive, it will revolutionize the entire PC industry.

Unfortunately, it comes at a rather steep price: http://www.olpcnews.com/sales_talk/price/negroponte_billion_dollars.html