Low-cost laptops, Part X: 150$

We had the eee, the Negroponte XO, Intel’s classmate PC and as variety of other boxen…and now, a company called Medison has announced plans to ship a full-fledged laptop for just 150$.

Update by Ryan Rix, thanks for telling us!

Ryan just discovered what machine the Medison box is based on. It’s based on a design by Clevo, a company that is specialized n creating barebone laptops for companies like e.g. the austrian Gericom.

The machine is called M540V, a link to the product page is here. Please note how most of the data on the Medison web page was more-less cut and pasted from there.

Here are the specs for the box – they call it Medison Celebrity:

• MEMORY – 64-bit wide DDR data channel, One 200-pin SODIMM socket, supporting DDR 333/400, 256 MB Expandable up to 1GB, based on SODIMM Modules
• STORAGE – One changeable 2.5″ 9.5mm(H) HDD, Supporting Master mode IDE ATA-33/66/100/133 (Ultra DMA), One changeable 12.7mm(H) CD/DVD Combo
• VIDEO CONTROLLER – VIA PN800 integration, Shared Memory Architecture up to 64MB, 128 bit 3D graphic engine, Support analog monitor pixel resolution up to 1920×1400, Support two displays dual view
• KEYBOARD – A4 size keyboard, Built-in Touchpad with scrolling function

• SOUND SYSTEM – AC’97 2.2 Compliant Interface, 3D stereo enhanced sound system, Sound-Blaster PROTM Compatible, S/PDIF Digital output (5.1 CH), 1x Built-in Microphone, 2x Built-in Speakers
• I/O PORTS – 3x USB 2.0 ports, 1x External CRT monitor output, 1x Headphone jack, 1x Microphone jack, 1x S/PDIF output jack, 1x RJ-45 port for LAN, 1x Line-in jack, 1x DC-In jack
• PCMCIA – 1x Type II PCMCIA socket
• COMMUNICATION – 10/100BASE-TX Fast Ethernet on board, 802.11g MiniPCI Wireless LAN
• POWER – Full Range 65W AC adapter – AC input 100~240V, 47~63Hz, DC output 20V, 3.25A, Removable 6-cell Smart Li-ion battery pack, 4000/4400mAh
• SECURITY – Kensington® Lock

A few people have already reported success in placing pre-orders, however, none of the machines has shipped so far. Thus, it is entirely possible that we are dealing with a scam here…but it could also be the deal of the year for people who don’t need very fast computers!

I’ll just wait and see what happens – what do you think?

P.s. I guess we all know who’s the big looser tonight…I’m looking at a strange grey device called Foleo…

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