MIT Tries to Build $12 Computer
PrintIf the $100 laptop wasn’t enough a team at Massachusetts Institute of Technology is working on building a computer for $12, targeting families in Third World countries. They are basing their design on the old Nintendo Entertainment System. The NES used a MOS 6502 processor similar to the Apple IIe and Atari 2600 although it was a customized version for the NES.
The 6502 was designed in 1975. It is an 8-bit processor with a 16-bit address bus and clock speeds around 1 or 2 MHz. It is sure to smoke my digital watch.
Just how far the project will go is uncertain. Nintendo still holds the copyrights to the NES.
It sounds like a truly worthy project! You can check it out here.
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derekxedge
August 07, 2008 at 12:07pm
that would be awesome since my parents came form the poorest country in the world, Cambodia
Strongbad536
August 07, 2008 at 11:03am
Well if the apps were multithreaded the thing would have a lot more power!!!! LOL
brutalus7
August 07, 2008 at 9:21am
These people don't need the power of an Xbox. A super-cheap machine that allows them to increase the literacy rate and education level of the entire population is more important than a fancy GUI.
AndyYankee17
August 07, 2008 at 8:01pm
yes, but why teach someone linux syntax instead of english? they should be using a gui. or just an NES game that improves english
Asevening
August 07, 2008 at 7:18am
I guess that helps explain in more detail why the emulators and roms I have for that run so well on my computer. NES is the best system ever.
AndyYankee17
August 07, 2008 at 8:34am
why not mod something like an xbox? it's a little bit more expensive but will have thousands of times the processing capability.
That said, I want to mod my NES to fold. I'll expect my first WU in a decade.
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