India Announces $35 Laptops, Might Eventually Sell It For $10!
It’s hard to believe a brand new laptop retailing for $35 or anything less even if it’s just meant to be a basic computer. Let alone a laptop or a tablet computer, not even a black and white e-Reader
can be available at that price.
can be available at that price. In such a market scenario, the Human Resource Development (HRD) Minister, Kapil Sibal, announced that the Indian government is already working on a $35 laptop
which would be made available for students nationwide, once it is launched in 2011.
which would be made available for students nationwide, once it is launched in 2011.Initially, these laptops for students will be sold at $35 (or approximately 1500INR) through various educational institutions across the states sprawling the country. However, the government plans to subsidize the price to $20 later on, and will ultimately sell it for $10-a-piece.
These low cost Indian laptops are unnamed as of yet, and its motherboard is reported to be designed by a student at VIT following which the PCB was finalized at MIT. A prototype of the device was highlighted during the official announcement made by the HRD.
The $10 laptop features a touchscreen color display, integrated web browser that also supports Youtube video playback, a USB port, Wii-Fi connectivity, 2GB memory and presumably the flavor-of-the-season Android OS.
Other speculated features include a built-in PDF readers that will enable students to read e-books – a most sought replacement for traditional paper books. Also, an open source document editor like Open Office
, Remote device management capability and multimedia input-out interface options.
, Remote device management capability and multimedia input-out interface options.About 8,500 colleges
are expected to sign up for the first phase of roll-out. Reportedly, the Manipur Government has already announced its order of 75,000 low cost laptops that it hopes to provide each student of its state. A lot of other states are expected to follow the trail once the laptop becomes commonly available in the market.
are expected to sign up for the first phase of roll-out. Reportedly, the Manipur Government has already announced its order of 75,000 low cost laptops that it hopes to provide each student of its state. A lot of other states are expected to follow the trail once the laptop becomes commonly available in the market.The $35 tablet for students is certainly a breakthrough idea, but let’s just hope it does not get shelved or falls before the flight just when we are cherishing the hopes of seeing a much brighter and technology-savoring India.
Watch the below video to see the device in action:
