NComputing undercuts OLPC and Intel
/v3-uk/news/1993575/ncomputing-undercuts-olpc-intel
14 Oct 2008, Rosalie Marshall , V3
Millions of children will soon have access to virtualised desktops in India in a deal that will serve a crushing blow to the One Laptop per Child (OLPC) project.
The computers will be supplied by NComputing, which managed to secure the deal over other low-cost computer providers including OLPC and Intel that also target the developing world.
The IT firm was contracted by the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh to supply 5,000 schools and their 1.8 million students with the NComputing X300 system, which enables up to seven users to share one PC at the same time.
The system will run on Microsoft's Windows Server operating system and use the Microsoft Office suite.
"At about $70 per seat, our solution is the ideal platform to enable schools, businesses and governments to maximise their PC investment," said Stephen Dukker, NComputing chief executive.
Raj Shah, chief marketing officer at NComputing, added: "This computerisation project shows how forward-thinking governments can use proven and practical technologies like NComputing to bridge the digital divide."
NComputing is offering the Indian government a cheaper alternative to OLPC's laptop priced at $188 per user and Intel's Classmate PC priced at $200.
© Incisive Media Investments Limited 2010, Published by Incisive Financial Publishing Limited, Haymarket House, 28-29 Haymarket, London SW1Y 4RX, are companies registered in England and Wales with company registration numbers 04252091 & 04252093
Do you agree?
$70 per seat?
the article says that the costs is about $70 per seat... I wonder as it is a win over other competing technologies of 2008... yet in 2008 you could get a robust fanless desktop mountable on the back of an LCD monitor and capable of running windows XP. the system power draw would be about 25 watts per seat and cost about $300 per unit with a 17 inch LCD monitor... where does the Ncomputing calculation of $70 per seat come in... it seems misleading... maybe they are talking about only the cost of the Ncomputing thin client... does not include the cost of the monitor, keyboard and mouse... further it does not include the longer term costs of maintenance and power draw...
I am not sold on the Ncomputing model... in developing countries we need fanless designs... not energy hog servers with fans... the Ncomputing model is the wrong way to go as I see it...
Posted by Dr. J Tim Denny, 10 Jun 2009