This is the most common setup found in offices and classrooms all over the world today. There is one computer per student, and all computers have their own operating system (like Windows or Linux) installed on it.

What follows here is a list of recommended hardware, when choosing to go for a low power and low cost solution.

• Casing: Classrooms are public locations, making them vulnerable to theft. A computer casing for schools should have a lock, and it has to be designed in such a way that it can be screwed to a table, or on the back of a monitor.
• Motherboard: Preferably, the motherboard should be a mini-ITX formfactor motherboard. The mini-ITX formfactor has specifically been designed for low power solutions, and there are many boards on the market. It is recommended that the motherboard is completely fanless, which enhances life expectancy in dusty conditions.
• CPU:There are several CPU's available which are low power and low cost.
  • Intel Atom
  • Intel Celeron > 1.3 Ghz.
  • VIA C7 > 1 Ghz.
  • VIA Nano (not available and tested yet)

There is also the Intel Mobile platform, but it is more expensive.

• Memory: In order to run a modern computer comfortably, a minimum of 512 MB of RAM is recommended.
• Harddisk: Performance wise, harddisks are not the bottleneck. Harddisk capacity is also not a real issue, as the size of all current harddisks available far surpasses the needs of harddisks in an educational environment. Recommended would be 30 GB or more. A laptop harddrive is preferred (2,5 or 1,8”) as the powerconsumption of these drives is less than 3.5” drives.
• Powersupply: A low power computer like described here will typically not use more than 40 Watts when stressed. That means that a normal computer power supply is not needed, since the capacity of those is much more than needed (traditional computer power supplies will be able to supply at least 200 Watts). So called “open powersupplies” are DC to DC boards, which are connected to a 12 Volt brick. The efficiency of these powersupplies is much higher than traditional powersupplies and they can be obtained for about the same price. Added advantage is that they are fanless. Another option would be powersupplies which are included on the motherboard.
• Power consumption: Tests have shown that computers can be built which use less than 25 Watts in idle mode. More power consumption should be justified.