OLPC’s XO Laptop to Cost $188

One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) has announced this week that its XO laptop, aimed at education of children in developing countries, will cost $188 when mass production begins this fall. The initially announced price of $100 is a long-term goal, according to the nonprofit organization.

The last price OLPC announced for the XO was $176. The nonprofit blames the increase to $188 on a variety of factors, including currency fluctuations and rising costs of such components as nickel and silicon.

“While less than $200 for an innovative, wireless-enabled, hand-powered laptop is a relative bargain, a price nearly twice what the project’s memorable nickname promised could make it harder for One Laptop Per Child to sign up international governments as customers. Those governments are expected to give the computers to children for them to keep and tinker with, which the project’s founders believe will cause critical thinking and creativity to blossom,” AP’s technology writer Brian Bergstein says.

According to earlier reports, the OLPC XO notebook may be also available commercially by Christmas for about $350.

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