Intel & Lenovo Release Rebadged Classmate+ PC

By Marcus Yam
published

Same Classmate, but in Lenovo style.

Today, Lenovo and Intel Corporation announced the Lenovo Classmate+ PC, a purpose-built laptop designed to improve learning for students in grades K-8.

The Lenovo Classmate+ provides schools an affordable, child-friendly complete hardware and software solution. Based on the Intel Learning Series reference design, the PC will come pre-loaded with the Intel Learning Series software suite, specialized educational software and a variety of teaching resources.

Since its introduction, more than 3 million Intel-powered classmate PCs have shipped globally. The Lenovo Classmate+ laptop doesn't do anything to change the design, other than to change the color scheme and put on the Lenovo logo. The Lenovo Classmate+ PC packs the same Intel Atom N455 processor, Ethernet and Wi-Fi Internet, Windows 7, and storage up to 250 GB. It also comes with a 10.1 inch LED backlit screen, a 1.3 megapixel camera, multiple USB ports and a 4-in-1 card reader. 

This spring, the Organization of Ibero-American States will deploy the first wave of 158,000 Lenovo Classmate+ laptops as part of its Conectar Igualdad 1:1 computing program, which will equip students throughout Buenos Aires with PC technology.

Marcus Yam
Marcus Yam
Marcus Yam served as Tom's Hardware News Director during 2008-2014. He entered tech media in the late 90s and fondly remembers the days when an overclocked Celeron 300A and Voodoo2 SLI comprised a gaming rig with the ultimate street cred.
5 Comments Comment from the forums
  • house70
    that's pretty awesome... I wish more hardware makers would join in these efforts.
    Reply
  • @house70

    actually there was the OLPC program which intel had signed up on only to then remove support for later (some theories suggest intel purposely tried to scupper the project when they realized the potential market for affordable laptops in developing nations, and tried to push their own solution, the classmate)
    Reply
  • belardo
    OLPC *IS STILL* operational. Intel created a competing product because AMD was used in the OLPC... this created problems in getting either types into the market... as the OLPC is designed to be a low-cost way to get 3rd-world kids to have computers.

    http://one.laptop.org

    Then intel agrees to join... then leaves.
    Looking at the stats of this thing above... its WAY slow and crumble-some. Windows7? OLPC uses its own linux-based (I believe) customized OS (You can run it on your desktop PC if you want) that is multi-language in that its more visual-icon based, rather than text.

    AMD's Fusion chip is better, easily.
    Reply
  • ProDigit10
    old technology. I had hoped they would either go with the slower, but much more battery efficient ARM, or, with an Intel N550 that at least has performance and battery life benefits over the N450, as well as is more cost efficient!
    Reply
  • amdfangirl
    I see more potential in giving them a proper meal and traditional education.
    Reply