When Microsoft announced several days ago that it will continue to sell Windows XP specifically to answer the needs of the low-cost laptops, we knew then that Microsoft is up for something more. And it looks like Information Week’s posts may be the reason why. IW posted that Microsoft has partnered with India’s HCL Infosystems to work on the “world’s cheapest laptop” called MiLeap H Series.

The MiLeap H Series will feature a 30GB hard drive, broadband ready and will sell for around $425. and of course the new laptop will run Windows XP, home version.

The MiLeap H Series will be released to the Indian market as Microsoft’s way of empowering  Indian consumers and businesses with the latest and best that technology has to offer

No other details are available about the MiLeap H Series. This could probably go in the same line as the OLPC XO.

If you still remember the Asus Eee PC rival we featured before that goes by the name Norhtec Gecko, well the new Airis Kira 100 which is released in Europe definitely looks almost the same but in different colors. Just like the Asus Eee PC, the Airis Kira 100 is a low-cost ultraportable notebook with an SRP of only around $472.

The Airis Kira 100 has a 7-inch 800×480 pixel display, 1GHz VIA C7 processor, 512 RAM, 2GB internal HD, VGA output, Wi-Fi, Ethernet, 56 kbps modem, SD/MMC/MS/CF card reader, webcam, 4 hour battery life (wow!), Linux lite OS and weighs only 1kg.

via Liliputing, via Airis