Wal-Mart To Sell $1.88 Laptop

BENTONVILLE, Ark. – Wal-Mart Stores Inc. announced Tuesday that it plans to offer an entry-level Acer laptop computer for $1.88 at all its retail outlets beginning later this year. The computer will feature a 74 gigabyte hard drive, 512 megabytes of RAM and a 14.1-inch screen. It will operate on a system similar to Microsoft Windows called Microhard Doors, which is expected to be compatible with most Windows software.

“For years, Wal-Mart has wanted to bring computers to the masses – even people like our employees who never could’ve dreamed of being able to afford a computer before,” a Wal-Mart spokesperson told reporters. “The Acer188 will help bridge the gap between poor people and the more affluent, technologically-savvy members of society who might not necessarily shop at Wal-Mart, but probably own stock in it.”

The reason for the laptop’s affordability lies in the materials used to manufacture it. According to an Acer spokesperson, the computer, manufactured in China, is made primarily of melted down components from recalled Mattel toys. The spokesperson was quick to note, too, that this makes the Acer188 more sustainable than other brands. “Typically, all that crap would’ve just been dumped in landfills before,” he said. “Instead, we’re repurposing it, not just for capital gain, but for the greater good.”

The Acer188 is expected to be on Wal-Mart’s shelves by April.