Brazilian kids get first $100 laptops

Children in Brazil will be the first to get their hands on the much talked about $100 laptop.

Fifty devices will be given to Brazilian schoolkids today for testing with 1,000 more in use from early next year, according to press reports.

Brazilian president Luiz da Silva took delivery of the first device on Friday, which was presented to him by head of the One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) foundation, Nicholas Negroponte.

Silva is quoted in the Associated Press as saying: "I can affirm to you that we are very close to producing a $100 laptop. We are building together the dream of giving each school student a laptop like this to study and work."

Get the skinny on the $100 laptop - read the silicon.com Cheat Sheet.

The first prototypes of the $100 laptops were showcased earlier this month although the devices will cost buyers $150. The OLPC foundation hopes to get the figure under the $100 mark by 2008.

Other countries that intend to equip children with the low-cost laptops include Libya, which has 1.2 million on order. The laptops are scheduled to be delivered in mid-2007.

Other countries in discussions with the OLPC include Argentina, Brazil and Thailand.