Elonex launches £99 Linux laptop

UK manufacturer Elonex is to unveil a £99 laptop aimed at school children.

The Linux-based 'One' laptop weighs less than 1kg and offers a claimed three-hour battery life, Wi-Fi, a Flash-based hard drive, a hard-wearing case and a wireless music server.

Sceptical industry watchers will wonder how many corners have been cut when the product is launched at the Education Show in Birmingham on 28 February. Elonex has declined to release hardware specifications for the device.

As the 'One' name suggests, Elonex is hoping to draw parallels with the much-hyped One Laptop Per Child project.

"The One laptop fits with the goal of the [Department for Children, Schools and Families] to close the gap between those from low-income and disadvantaged backgrounds and their peers," the firm said in a statement.

Elonex is pledging to donate a One laptop to underprivileged children for every 100 sold.

"One removes the cost barrier that has prevented the one-laptop-per-person, large-scale uptake of computers in the education system that has for so long been just a pipe dream," said Elonex marketing manager Sam Goult.

"Investment in digital technology is paramount to help the next generation achieve their full potential."

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