Encore testing Mobilis classroom computer
updated 04:50 pm EST, Fri December 8, 2006
Encore Mobilis tablet
An Indian company is joining the competition to create educational computers for the poor. Encore Software has created the Mobilis, sending 50 to the Brazilian government for classroom testing. The Linux-based computer has a seven-inch touchscreen and an optional built-in keyboard, as well as features like a modem, an Ethernet port, and CF and SD/MMC card readers. Clients can even choose to equip it with GPRS or a fingerprint scanner. It remains an extremely light machine despite all this hardware, weighing only 26 ounces.
The Mobilis is a rival to computers like the Intel Classmate, which was in turn preceded by the OLPC XO. Some have criticized all three efforts, noting that they may still be too expensive, or really serve to generate a future market base for their respective companies.
