Intel designed its Classmate PC to help schoolchildren in its emerging markets, but its second-generation model, unveiled in Shanghai today, represents a shift in strategy.
Classmate 2 recognises the success of Asus’s eee machine in attracting the broader consumer market in both emerging and developed worlds to small, cheap laptops.
It may have happened faster than Intel and One Laptop Per Child anticipated. Both focused on developing-world education markets, but now are adjusting to making their designs more widely available.
Intel says they define a new category called “netbooks” of smaller wireless internet-enabled laptops with low power requirements and a low price tag.
Intel has high hopes that its Atom processor, launched this week and set to be included in Classmate in the third quarter, could gain significant market share in new categories of “internet in your pocket” devices.
The Classmate 2 has a more sophisticated and rugged design, along with better battery life. Intel sets the specifications and design for the machine and its Taiwanese manufacturing partner ECS helps system suppliers with configurations.
Intel listed 17 suppliers of Classmate 2 in 14 countries, including the USA, Greece, Vietnam and Australia.
Tom Rampone, head of its Channel Platforms group told me some models should be priced below $300, but a price tag of around $350 would be more typical.
The original Classmate was not noted for its performance, suggesting its successor will have to up its game considerably to be a match for the speedy eee, which sells for $300 and higher.
ECS expects to double Classmate shipments this year, but only to 200,000 units from 100,000 in 2007.
