Next Thing Co. Admits To Lying About $9 Computer

OAKLAND, Calif., Nov. 25, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- After raising over 2 million dollars in a successful Kickstarter campaign this past May, Next Thing Co. promised that when pre-orders opened for C.H.I.P., the world's first 9 dollar computer, the price would remain unchanged. Now it seems like there's some backtracking from these claims. "I am deeply sorry that we have broken the trust of our backers and our community," CEO Dave Rauchwerk apologizes, "I, and the entirety of Next Thing Co., are cooperating fully with all regulators and will be conducting an internal investigation to ensure that this will never ever happen again. I promise."

The infraction? C.H.I.P., the world's most affordable computer, will not be selling for the promised $9.

When pre-orders open on Cyber Monday, C.H.I.P. will sell for $8, making it the world's first $8 computer.

"I would like to make a formal apology to C.H.I.P., to the authorities, and to the general public for this misconduct," Rauchwerk adds, "We are taking the steps to repair the terrible damage we have caused." As a first means of remedy, NTC has begun a list of things that could be purchased with the extra dollar resulting from this misstep:

• 6 chicken nuggets
• 1 round of SkeeBall
• Washing (but not drying) a load of laundry
• 1 hour street parking near, but not actually in, downtown
• 2 cans of Jumex Guava Nectar
• A tiger-themed mousepad from eBay (shipping not included)
• Adding guac to a burrito
• A 1991 Fleer Ken Griffey, Jr. baseball card
• A bottle of generic brand water
• A paperback copy of Michael Crichton's "The Andromeda Strain" (condition - fair)
• 2 stamps
  

Additionally, the company plans to restore the $9 price after Cyber Monday.

C.H.I.P. will be available for pre-order at Getchip.com starting on Cyber Monday, November 30th, when C.H.I.P. will sell at a discounted cost of $8 for customers using the promo code GETCHIP.

C.H.I.P. is a credit card sized, low cost, open source, infinitely hackable computer. C.H.I.P. does computer things, from documents and spreadsheets, to web browsing and email, and can play thousands and thousands of video games. With the addition of PocketC.H.I.P., C.H.I.P. becomes a full-fledged portable computer.

Next Thing Co. is an Oakland based company of makers and creatives who build hardware, software, and consumer products.

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Photo(s):
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SOURCE Next Thing Co.