The revamped $100 laptop

One Laptop Per Child, the group developing a low-cost computer for children in the developing world, has unveiled designs for a sleeker, more stylish version of the XO laptop.

The new laptop, which will be smaller and more energy efficient than its predecessor, won’t be available until 2010. When it does arrive it will have two touch-sensitive screens, enabling it to be held like a book.

Nicholas Negroponte, the founder of the organisation that builds and promotes the laptops, said that the replacement will be cheaper than the current model. The XO laptop available now costs $188, despite the group’s aim to keep the price at $100. So far 600,000 of the computers have been sold.

One Laptop Per Child recently announced that the computer would be available with Microsoft’s Windows operating system. Until now only Linux-based laptops were available.