Laptops UK
 
 
Birmingham Mayor Buys 15,000 OLPC Laptops
Wed, 28 Nov 2007
The One Laptop Per Child organization has received a massive boost with the news that the city of Birmingham, Alabama, is to purchase 15,000 laptops. Former Birmingham city councillor John Katopodis revealed that Mayor Larry Langford had agreed for 15,000 laptops to be purchased, with students at the city’s schools the intended recipients of the machines.

Given the rising cost of the laptops – originally forecast to cost $100, the price is now a lot closer to $200 – such a large order will be particularly pleasing for the non-profit One Laptop Per Child organization, who will hope to cut costs given the city of Birmingham’s commitment to purchasing the machines.

Last week, production of the machines began at a factory in Changshu, China . The Uruguayan government recently became the first government to place a mass order, having ordered 100,000 laptops, whilst also having the option to buy 300,000 more by 2009.