MIMOS to produce cheap computers

01 Aug

Posted under News

MIMOS is to start selling its version of cheap computers to the public end of this year. Nicknamed i-Dola laptop and Jean-i PC (which I assume pronounced idola and genie) would cost RM1000 and RM500 respectively. And yes, they are named in honour of our Prime Minister and his current wife. This cheap computer production project is codenamed Makcik (which means auntie).

Clearly, MIMOS is lacking creativity in the naming department.

I’ve tried to find out more about these computers but unfortunately, I can’t find any reliable source online. So we’ll just have to figure it out from the following news excerpt:

“I have tested the computers and am happy with their performance,” said Dr Ongkili, who was here to attend the Global Southern Africa International Dialogue.

“They are wireless, Internet-based designs and need not be connected to fixed lines. To reduce costs, they do not have hard discs. You use a thumb drive instead.”

It is understood that the i-Dola and Jean-i will be as fast as computers using Intel Pentium 4 processors.

It seems that Dr Ongkili has “tested” the computers - probably just by moving the mouse and double-click on a folder, and what does he mean by internet-based design? Is it web 2.0? Is it AJAX? :P

Of course, he’s being redundant by saying its wireless and need not be connected to fixed lines. Using thumb-drives instead of hard disks? MIMOS should’ve worked with MIT since they produced a 100 dollar laptop (albeit for schoolchildren), that’s like less than RM400 for a laptop.

Anyhoo - since it is named after our PM - I just hope the computer won’t follow his infamous habit.