Showing off the Classmate at our NECC booth
It probably shouldn’t come as any surprise that a big draw at the MPC booth during last month’s NECC was a very small computerknown as the Classmate. While I posted a heads-up on the Classmate’s appearance the night before NECC, it occurred to me yesterday that it would make sense to summarize the questions that cropped up from both educators and the media – along with the answers we gave them during the show.
I mention this only because we are now working diligently with Intel on an official launch of what will be MPC’s foray into the ultra-mobile computing market for education. Until we make our formal announcement, I hope that the Q&A below will at least give you some insight into where we’re headed.
Q: Why is MPC entering the Ultra-Mobile computing market segment?
A: MPC/Gateway has been a market leader in bringing innovative computing solutions to the education market. Today, many of the suppliers who have started to market Ultra-Mobile computing devices in the education market have been focused strictly on the “device” versus a “solution”. Similarly, Intel has also been looking at ways to make computing technology a more effective learning tool for education. The two companies decided to collaborate on their education initiatives in order to bring forth solutions that can improve the learning experience, specifically in the United States. MPC will be launching a new ultra-mobile PC based on Intel’s Classmate technology and will be including this product as part of MPC’s larger 1:1 computing initiative in the K-12 market: a segment in which, particularly with last year’s acquisition of Gateway Pro, MPC enjoys a strong presence and reputation. MPC will support this effort in concert with numerous software and hardware vendors also participating in the Intel Classmate Ecosystem.
Q: What is the first Ultra-Mobile computing device that MPC will market?
A: Our initial offering is focused on the education market and is based on Intel’s Classmate reference design. The product includes an 8.9” display, various hard drive options, built-in networking, USB peripheral support: all contained in a rugged and durable package. The internal architecture is based on a next-generation Intel processor technology called Atom, which will provide a higher performance computing platform in an incredibly small and low cost package.
Q: Is MPC the only provider of these types of devices?
A: No, but we are the largest PC vendor that Intel has chosen to partner with in the U.S. for this product category. We also have the largest base of customers in K-12 and higher education. Intel has had a long relationship with MPC as a go-to-market partner in education, state and local government, healthcare, and SMB.
Q: How does this product impact other MPC products in the education market?
A: Today, MPC sells primarily into the secondary and higher education markets, offering full-featured, high-performance notebook and convertible tablet computers that provide customer configuration flexibility. This new offering expands MPC’s market by offering a product designed specifically for lower grades (K-4).
Q: What is MPC’s goal in bringing this product to market?
A: MPC/Gateway have made substantial investments in product development and technology deployment for the education market, especially in its one-to-one computing initiative (K-12) and Campus Computing Program (higher education). As a mobile computing device designed for the unique learning needs of elementary school students, this class of device will engage children in learning by providing “real PC” performance and application environment in a durable, kid-friendly form factor – further enhancing MPC’s success in promoting the educational benefits of one-to-one computing.
Q: When will the Classmate PC be available from MPC, and what will it cost?
A: MPC-branded Classmates will be available in early fall 2008. Pricing will range from $399 to $599.
mpcperiscope.wordpress.com 