Tech for developing economies can pioneer ideas for green gear designers addressing demand in all markets. The One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) XO laptop has been prominent example, now, it appears to have some competition in the Cherrypal Africa.

The Africa 7" mini-laptop is described by Cherrypal* as "small, slow, sufficient", but sells for only $99. OLPC's XO unit and its successors have had some problems and some observers are skeptical about the Africa, particularly its reliance on a relatively unknown Chinese processor. But the more innovation in this space, the faster we will make progress on bridging the digital divide.

Cherrypal's Green Statement states that "Under full load, Cherrypals consume only 2 watts of power per hour. Cherrypals consume around 90 percent less energy than traditional laptop computers. Plus, Cherrypals use significantly fewer parts than traditional laptops – by a ratio of 5:1."

Founder Max Seybold writes that Africa was inspired by the needs of PAAJAF, " a humanitarian services nongovernmental organization based in Accra, Ghana, West-Africa." The company claims, "we’ve designed our Cherrypals to last a long, long time. This doesn’t just mean that you’ll have to spend less on future computer repairs and replacements, but that there will be a few less computers clogging up our landfills."

Ironically, Accra has been identified as an e-waste dumping ground for developed economies. Compaines figuring out how to get more computers into developing economies have an opportunity to work with their customers on better ways of disposing them and not repeat these errors.

* US-based Cherrypal is "part of Tristate Lifestyle Brands (Tristate Hong Kong Group Limited), a globally operating group of lifestyle enhancing companies, focused on green technologies, health products and personal development."

Image courtesy of Cherrypal