Meet the latest Intel-powered Classmate PC

Classmate, specifically designed for children of ages 6-12, is an affordable alternative of pen and paper.

The Classmate is a netbook with a neat swivel feature that can convert the device into a tablet with a touch screen that supports pen-input.

The Classmates are created specificially for educational purposes and aimed squarely at children between the ages of six and 12.

If you’ve never heard of the Classmate convertible PC, it is the latest in Intel’s long-running line of Classmate PCs that have existed long before the netbook. The Classmate is powered by a 1.66GHz Intel Atom N450 processor and 1GB RAM. It can run Windows 7 on par with mini-notebook offerings from HP and Acer. Intel also boasts of an impressive 8.5 hour battery life for the six-cell Lithium ion battery under normal usage.

The screen in the review configuration was a 10.1” 1024 x 600 LCD — a higher resolution 1366 x 769 display is optional. It responds accurately to the included stylus to take down notes or draw. Coupled with software such as Microsoft OneNote, the device can be a remarkably good alternative to the pen-and-paper style of note-taking. When testing the device in netbook-mode, we found that the keyboard was comfortable to type on and the touchpad was not too small to be a problem to use.

The classmate can take all the dishing schoolchildren can give it because it is a surprising rugged laptop with a rubberized outer shell, an impact resisting body with shock-absorbing corners and a spill-proof screen and keyboard. The device can withstand falls from up 70cm. There are other well thought-out design decisions by Intel here as well. The pull-out handle for carrying and the buttons on the sides of the screen for scrolling through pages and other operations when in tablet-mode are a welcome touch. There is also an accelerometer which automatically switches the screen from portrait to landscape mode.

Depending on the software and hardware configuration, the classmate can cost up to as much as Rs37,500. For educational institutes that are willing to make the jump to a more interactive and collaborative learning environment, the classmate convertible is ready for the future with a built-in webcam and microphone and optional ports for adding on hardware features through the two USB ports. The software suite provides teachers the ability to monitor students’ work while parents are provided options to keep children safe from dangerous websites or extended usage.

Because the Intel Learning Series is an education solution designed for eLearning in classrooms, the classmate has to be availed from Intel’s approved channel partner in Pakistan, Viper Technologies. Viper provides the infrastructure, hardware, software, content, training, and support through its network of 300 vendors.

The Intel classmate is a cost-effective solution to providing complete tools for the modern classroom. It is also more practical than other competitors such as the iPad because of its sturdiness and the pen-input method which is a faster method of taking notes than typing on a touch screen. It is more expensive than using the smaller laptop from One-Laptop Per Child Initiative (OLPC) inititave but it is infinitely more usable with the Windows 7 operating syste. Even though it is aimed at children, the classmate can be a handy tool for journalists or casual readers.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 6^th, 2011.