Thinking About Future Models of the Eee PC Laptop

The low-cost Eee PC laptop is being met with rave reviews. I'll be getting mine next week.

Here is something for Asus to think about for next year's models. Why not offer a model without batteries? Almost 99 percent of the time I use a laptop I have it plugged in to AC power.

Removing the batteries would reduce the cost and lower the weight down towards one pound. And then want to be even bolder? Remove the LCD screen, leaving just the VGA-output port.

What value is a laptop without an LCD screen? Plenty. You can connect it up to any of several million CRT monitors that are being discarded. By offering a laptop without an LCD screen, Asus would be doing the Earth a huge environmental favor -- creating a demand for older CRT monitors.

For low-income families, owning a one-pound laptop that costs %150 to %175 would be just what they need. And people like me will gladly deliver a free CRT monitor to them.

There's room at the table for everyone, but only if we design the table to be that way.

Whatdya say, Asus? Is there room at the table for everyone? You've made it 9/10 of the way to the top of technology's Mount Everest. Can you see the summit? Do you hunger to get there?

In honor of the environment, you could call that bare-bones (but very functional) laptop the Greeen PC. And you'd have about 7 billion people on planet Earth wanting to buy one.

Phil Shapiro

The blogger has been working to bridge the digital divide for 20 years in the Washington DC-area. He loves Macs, adores Linux and likes Windows. Reader responses welcome in the comments below or at philshapiroblogger@gmail.com

Comments

You do realize you're describing a desktop computer, right?

cautionbug

October 26, 2007

10:21 AM PT

I like your idea. It reminds me of my first computer, the Timex Sinclair 1000. I got it when I was in the 6th grade (1983). I think it cost all of $40, but I totally loved it. I was fascinated and obsessed with it and it began me on the path computer-geekism.

randyedmonds

October 26, 2007

11:09 AM PT

Shipping millions of 2nd hand CRT monitors to families all around the world does not seem very environmentally friendly. The carbon emissions alone are disastrous. And then when the CRT monitor breaks, millions of low-income families are left with toxic waste on their hands. Probably not very environmentally friendly for the local water supply.

And then, how are all these low-income families going to pay for all the electricity that 2nd hand CRT's use?

You envision 7 billion monitor-less PC's being sold. You have a source for 7 billion 2nd hand CRT monitors?

apater

October 26, 2007

5:34 PM PT