$100 notebook to begin mass production in China in October, generates electricity through hand cranking and foot pedals

It can be powered by hand-cranking or foot-pedal electricity generation to support computer use.

The size of two palms, with orange and red casings, the "internet godfather" Nicholas Negroponte is currently promoting globally a $100 laptop that exudes a strong "childish" vibe.

Last Friday, the prototype of the $100 laptop made its first appearance in Beijing: the small display can show both black-and-white and color modes. It normally displays in color indoors, but switches to black-and-white under sunlight, becoming clearer the stronger the sunlight.

Since it is mainly provided for children in impoverished areas, this computer consumes less than one-tenth the power of an ordinary laptop. It can even be powered by hand-cranking or foot-pedal electricity generation to support computer use, with one minute of cranking providing ten minutes of use. Of course, since the selling price is around $100, the configuration of this laptop can only be described as barely sufficient for beginners.

In the past two years, Negroponte has traveled all over the world, lobbying governments of various countries to purchase these computers and then give them as gifts to poor children. He hopes that large countries like China, which has 220 million primary and secondary school students, will buy at least one million units and hopes that the Chinese government will provide a response by August, or at least by November. "Relevant ministries have expressed support, but progress has been slow," said Negroponte.

However, despite the fact that the promotion of this computer in China has not been entirely smooth, it does not hinder China from being chosen as a production base. Negroponte introduced that the $100 computer will enter mass production in October this year, with the factory already selected in Shanghai. He also repeatedly emphasized the launch...