By Rand Dalgamouni
AMMAN - An educational Arab netbook launched on Saturday is poised to replace schoolbags. The TAGITOP portable computer, the fruit of Arab design and investment, was unveiled yesterday by the Talal Abu Ghazaleh Organisation (TAG-Org), which initiated the project.
"This is the first fully Arab computer, the only foreign aspect is its manufacturing which took place in China. It is not going to be sold for profit, but at cost price," said Talal Abu Ghazaleh, chairman and CEO of Tag-Org.
He added that the computer will not be sold through commercial outlets, but supplied to universities, schools, and public institutions on a contract basis, and will be available for individuals at Tag-Org offices.
"The goal is to let students go to school without carrying heavy books, notebooks, and pens. They can just take this portable computer with them," noted Abu Ghazaleh, who is a member of the Senate.Project director Salah Abu Osbeh said the TAGITOP is equipped with several TAG-Org dictionaries and other educational resources that will help students access the information they need.
"Every dictionary that we installed weighs four times the computer in the paper-based version," he said, referring to the netbook's 1.6-kilogramme weight.
Abu Osbeh added that the installed programmes are originals, facilitating regular updates from software companies such as Microsoft. "If we provide these computers to public institutions on a contract basis, Microsoft software will be available for around $5 instead of $120," the project director said.
Abu Ghazaleh added that talks are under way to distribute the TAGITOP to underprivileged areas in Jordan and the Palestinian territories, with the aim of expanding its reach to the rest of the Arab world in the future.
"We have already received requests from universities and schools here, and have been approached by Syrian public institutions," he said, noting that the computer will be frequently updated with new technologies and programmes.The TAGITOP’s price tag is JD200, with discounted prices for institutions, according to Abu Osbeh.
TAGITOP specifications
Processor:Intel Atom N470 @1.83 GHz
HDD:2.5, 320 GB, 5400 rpm
Memory:2GB DDRII
LCD:10.1, 16:9, 1024 x 600
Webcam:1.3 Megapixel
Battery life:6-cell, 2.6Ah (6 hrs)/Multi-touch built-in mouse/Windows® 7 Starter Edition

   
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