$400 Eduwise laptop designed to provide computers to students in developing nations

Intel has unveiled a new notebook computer designed to meet the needs of students and teachers in developing nations.

The chip giant said that its 'Eduwise' device has been developed after extensive ethnographic research. It comes bundled with special Intel-developed software to support note-taking and wireless pen input.

Intel's initiative strongly resembles the One Laptop Per Child project led by Nicholas Negroponte of MIT's Media Lab.

Negroponte's project aims to build a low cost laptop that will be sold directly to governments. It is slated to start shipping later this year.

The MIT units will feature a 500MHz AMD processor, a 7in screen and built-in radio for Wi-Fi wireless networking. A wind-up crank will provide power and the units are expected to cost about $100.

But Intel has dismissed the MIT project as a "$100 gadget", arguing that features are more important than price.

The Intel project instead aims for a $400 price tag. The company refused to provide specifications until the first units appear in the market by early 2007.

The chipmaker confirmed that it does not plan to market and sell the units itself, but will provide the design and specifications to manufacturers.

Intel kicked of its Discover the PC initiative in March that aims to swell demand for computers in developing nations. The effort seeks to create new computing platforms that cater towards specific markets in the developing world.

The Community PC, for instance, targets users in rural India where computers are commonly rented out in special kiosks. The Intel devices offer backup power and come with a dust filter to cope with India's climate.

Intel also launched a second low cost desktop platform for developing nations in March. It has since inked a deal with the Mexican government to provide 300,000 of the PCs to local teachers.