| 'Classmate PC' showcased running Mandriva Linux |
Jul. 24, 2007
 The Classmate PC, a low-cost notebook targeting emerging markets, was jointly demonstrated by Mandriva and Intel earlier this month at the KDE-sponsored aKademy 2007 conference in Glasgow, Scotland. Featuring an educational interface, Mandriva's Discovery 2007 Linux is based on an Intel Mobile Processor ULV900.
The "fully functional" Classmate PC is meant to offer "affordable, collaborative learning environments for students K-12 and their teachers," Mandriva said in a statement. The device is part of Intel's "World Ahead" program, aimed at tapping the combined power of technology, curriculum, and teachers to improve education in developing countries.
  
Intel says its "Classmate PC" shipped in volume in March
(Source: Intel)
The device weighs in at 2.9 lbs and includes a 7-inch LCD display. It comes equipped with 256MB of RAM, up to 2GB of flash memory-based local storage, both 802.11b/g WiFi interface and a 10/100Mbps Ethernet networking, and two USB ports for connection of external peripherals.
The device is offered with a choice among three embedded operating systems -- Mandriva Discovery 2007, Metasys Classmate 2.0, or Windows XP Professional -- "determined by local or regional needs," according to Intel. The system's OS "footprint" is listed as 500MB for the Mandriva and Metasys OSes, compared to 1GB for Windows XP. Storage for all versions is flash memory.
Key applications included in the Mandriva-supplied OS are a KDE 3.5 desktop environment, the OpenOffice productivity suite, and Pegasus, a note-taking application from Intel. David Barth, vice president of Mandriva's Consumer Products Group, stated, "Our Mandriva Linux image for OEMs benefits from our flash mobile technology, which is the same technology you can find in Mandriva flash, the popular Linux key. Mandriva Flash is enhanced to benefit from faster application load times using compressed modular software stacks and prevents NAND support from wearing out with a Flash-optimized filesystem." Further details on the Mandriva Discovery 2007 Linux distribution, touted as "the ideal product for beginners looking to switch to Linux," are available here.
Intel Staff Architect Justin Lipman stated, "Intel recognizes the importance of Linux in education and is therefore working with multiple Linux vendors, like Mandriva, to provide the choice of Linux on Intel-powered classmate PC,"
Sebastian Kuegler, KDE e.V. Board Member, added, "The Intel-powered classmate PC underscores one of KDE's core strengths: Educational Software." Kuegler emphasized "KDE's commitment to continue creating the world's most comprehensive suite of educational software."
Mandriva's KDE developer, Helio de Castro, said, "We have tuned Mandriva Linux to run on the classmate PC following Intel's requirements for the education market. In particular, we have provided a simplified menu interface that is particularly appealing to young and new computer users."
Earlier this year, Intel boasted that the Classmate PC was "First to Ship in Volume to Emerging Markets," a reference to the competing and controversial One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) project headed by Nicholas Negroponte. Intel subsequently became a member of the OLPC's Board.
Lots more information about Intel's Classmate PC is available on the initiative's website, here.
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