Endless Computer: Company Introduces $169 Egg-Shaped PC that Can Use TV as Monitor
Endless Mobility wants everyone to be able to afford a computer, even those in emerging markets that normally would not be able to. To do this, the startup company has introduced a computer for as low as $169, CNet reports.
The Endless computer is a small egg-shaped PC that is shipped without a monitor, keyboard or mouse. It is powered by an Intel Celeron processor.
Endless Mobility wants more computers in homes of emerging markets. It hopes to raise the overall technology level of these markets' economies.
Endless did research and found that there is a middle class that has money, but not computers. These people are considered middle class in their countries, but are still unable to afford computers, even cheap ones. Endless hopes to tap into this demographic of more than two billion people and help get them interested in their products.
Endless started a Kickstarter campaign that was successful. Up next for Endless is starting to sell the computers to countries like Guatemala.
To save on costs, Endless computers will not be powered by Windows. Instead, the computers will use a custom Linux-based Endless OS. The operating system is designed for new computer users and the company spent three years working on it.
The Endless OS is very similar to operating systems found on smartphones and it will be focused on apps. Many apps come pre-installed.
Even though the Endless comes with no monitor, Endless says there are other ways to use the computer.
"Most families already have a TV at home," Rafael Lima, Endless' director of sales says. "So they can hook up the Endless to the TV and use it as a monitor."
Users will not need to be online to use some of the features of the Endless computer. There will be offline versions of Wikipedia and Khan Academy videos.
Once connected to the Internet, the Endless computer installs updates to Wikipedia.
Games will be pre-installed on the Endless computer, but users will have to pick them out in the "app store" in order to get them installed on the desktop, keeping the main desktop screen uncluttered.
Three versions of the Endless computer will be offered. The cheapest model, costing $169, will have no WiFi or Bluetooth support or speakers. This model comes with 32 GB of storage. For just $20 more, WiFi, Bluetooth and speakers can be added. For users needing more storage space, a 500 GB model is offered for $229.
To find out more information on Endless computers, visit their official website.
* This is a contributed article and this content does not necessarily represent the views of latinpost.com