Nonprofit laptop group says rollout soon

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - Governments have ordered 3 million of the inexpensive yet rugged computers for schoolchildren through the One Laptop Per Child project, giving the nonprofit group enough volume to kick-start mass production.

In announcing the milestone Monday, the organization would not disclose the countries that will be first in line for its $175 laptops when the production starts in October. One Laptop Per Child's leaders have said they had interest, if not firm commitments, from several countries, including Libya, Thailand and Uruguay.

The "XO" machines feature an open-source interface designed to be intuitive for children; a sunlight-readable display; very low power consumption; built-in wireless networking; and a pull cord for recharging by hand. The laptops are being made by Taiwan's Quanta Computer Inc., the world's leading manufacturer of portable computers.

The long-term goal for the project is to bring the cost down even further, which is why the effort was originally known as the "$100 laptop."

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