Re: Time to boycot OLPC?

Ian Lynch wrote:

>> I estimate the costs of EeePC hardware when manufactured in tens of millions, 
>> break down at factory gate approximately as follows (without VAT):
>> 7" TFT screen £7
>> Keyboard, plastics £5
>> Battery £4
> 
> Where can you buy laptop batteries at under a fiver?

18650 cells CNY18/pc 5000+
http://www.diytrade.cn/china/4/products/4109078/18650_battery_3_7V2000mAh_battery_cylindrical_battery_li-ion_battery.html

Probably closer to CNY13.5 in multi-million quantities.

4 used in EeePC costing CNY54. Current exchange rates CNY13.9/£. Yields a cost 
for 4 cells of £3.88.


> Didn't you forget RAM? Flash is for storage isn't it? I hope you are
> right but I think that is a bit optimistic.

Yes, I did forget RAM. Built modules using commodity DDR2 currently cost 
£12.34/GB from e-tailers, including VAT, and delivery if you buy more than 4.

£10.50 excl VAT. No extra PCB, retailer margins, delivery costs etc for ram, so 
say £9/GB yields £4.50 for 512M on-board RAM, making my revised base price 
estimate £48.50.

Costs may vary depending on the market for establishing a guaranteed high volume 
supply of components.