India's $35 Tablet Computer 294
NotBornYesterday was one of many readers sending in news that the Indian government has announced it is helping to develop a $35 tablet computer running Linux. "India has unveiled the prototype of a $35 basic touchscreen tablet aimed at students, which it hopes to bring into production by 2011. The government plans to subsidize the tablets so the cost to students could be $20; and eventually, they hope the cost will fall to $10 per unit. India's human resource development minister, Kapil Sibal, says, 'The motherboard, its chip, the processing, connectivity, all of them cumulatively cost around $35, including memory, display, everything.' Using a memory card instead of a hard drive, and running a Linux OS, the designers have managed to keep the price low, and are now looking for manufacturing partners. The tablet can be used for functions like word processing, Web browsing, and video conferencing. It has a solar power option too, which is important in India's less developed areas, though that add-on costs extra."
Nice Job (Score:3, Insightful)
Now the only question left is: when does it come to a shop near me?
Bad FA (Score:3, Insightful)
No specs at all. How fast is its processor? How much memory? Is it touch enabled? TFA doesn't say.
Re:Here we go again. (Score:5, Insightful)
India isn't trying to sell you anything. From the article:
Re:It's going to suck. (Score:4, Insightful)
It may suck compared to what you and I are used to, but it's better than nothing at all.
I imagine those that will be using them will sing a slightly different tune than you do.
Innovation! (Score:5, Insightful)
I think this is a big deal. Who really believes that outsourcing technology operations to India and China does not have a long-term consequence? With time, India and China will become innovators -- if they have not already. Reportedly, China has already built the world's second-fastest supercomputer, and is fabricating its own chips (http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/01/science/01compute.html).
Imagine, now, young people thoughout the world writing software. What platform would they choose? If I was growing up in India and had an accessible computer for $35, I probably would not want to pay a whole lot more for a Windows computer.
Maybe this tablet does not quite have it right, technologically. But it is a step forward and an indication of intention on the part of the Indian government.
Re:At that price.. (Score:4, Insightful)
Why? Plentiful electricity is a much bigger issue in India. It's bound to be frugal with energy, most likely having some ARM, etc.
All these tablet stories... (Score:3, Insightful)
I can't be the only one that's tired of hearing about them. And I'm willing to bet that the majority of them will never be in production.
Then again, I'm firmly in the netbook camp, so a tablet wouldn't appeal to me.
Re:AP link (Score:1, Insightful)
How exactly would a tablet without a touchscreen work? I think they call that a picture.
Comment removed (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:At that price.. (Score:5, Insightful)
Just don't be surprised then [sic] the electricity bill will be [sic] much higher then [sic] using some modern hardware.
What information do you have that would remotely support this conclusion?
To make a $35 laptop, they don't have a huge R&D effort making their own parts to compete with Intel and Corsair. They're going to use commodity (read: cheap, reliable, off-the-shelf) components (motherboard, cpu, ram, etc.) that are Linux-supported -- or close enough to be able to add support without too much effort.
Considering that they're going to have a solar-powered option -- with solar power generating about 10-watts per sq ft -- how big exactly did you imagine this laptop?
The basic formula for posting on a forum is:
1) Think.
2) Type.
You missed a step.
Re:Why computers? (Score:2, Insightful)
The middle-class in India thinks it is by education. Which happens to be largely correct. Poverty and hunger are not isolated problems individually, they are usually the result of:
How would you then eliminate those? By providing opportunities; by opening up avenues; by making people aware that the world has a lot of other things which they can explore to realize, recognize their own talents, and empower themselves. So these kind of computer/technology distribution helps. Maybe not directly, but surely in a forceful way.
Hey, I would say that if India does manage to get it out of the marketing hype, this should be mass-produced, (maybe talents from here in USA can make it even more better by applying current advances) and sold universally to every country where people struggle.
Re:Indian government develops computers? (Score:3, Insightful)
Look at Ethanol, sounds great, gas from plants, renewable and good for the environment... Except for the fact it takes more energy to make it than the ethanol contains. But of course the government subsidizes it which leads people to grow corn for ethanol rather than for feed and so taxpayers not only have to pay higher food costs but also have to pay for the subsidizes for a project that makes no sense.
Rather than looking towards good ways to tap a market, government involvement leads to lower quality and total disregard for the target market.
Re:Why computers? (Score:1, Insightful)
Indeed, why? Use your brains motherfucker.
1) Do not measure everything in Daaaaalarrrrrs. Get out of your American Pond. 500 Daaaalarrrs is equal to around 23000 rupees, which is enough to keep one decently clothed and fed, in INDIA, with INDIA's costs of living.
2) Developing technology and putting money in technology is the greatest way of creating jobs and reducing poverty. Are you one of those douchebags that wave placards against NASA?
Re:India Tablets: One Man's Story (Score:3, Insightful)
I've been to rural Indian villages. If you give these guys computers, most of them will sell them to buy new axles for their ox carts or whatever. Most of these people can't read, so what could they do with a computer?
Re:At that price.. (Score:2, Insightful)
Indian here. Ditto. Sign me up for equal number.
I've heard similar noise on Simputer years before. While I wish the project my best, I fail to see how it can be delivered.
Again, check on Simputer story.
--./me goes back puttering on his Thinkpad