Hundred dollar laptop cost almost doubles...

Bad news for those who were inially excited about the concept of the $100.00 laptop that was being developed to give children in third world/under developed nations a chance to learn and experience technology. The price has now almost doubled to $175.00:

Negroponte's team has always stressed that $100 was a long-term target for the machines, but recently publicized figures had put it in the $150 range. Negroponte says the cost should drop about 25 percent per year as the project unfolds. He added that Citigroup Inc. (C)'s Citibank division has agreed to facilitate a payment system on a pro bono basis; Citibank will float payments to Quanta and other laptop suppliers, and governments will repay the bank.

The plan could still work, it's just going to cost a little more...