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India's $35 tablet expected to launch this month
It's been a while since we've heard any major news about India's ambitious $35 tablet, but a new report suggests that it's finally inching toward reality. According to the Times of India, the controversial project is approaching the finish line with 100,000 units expected to ship this summer, starting this month. The government is expected to deliver 10,000 tablets to IIT Rajasthan in late June, while another 90,000 units will be rolled out over the next four months.
The launch price is reportedly set at 2,200 rupees, which is approximately equivalent to $49. Although that's higher than the initial $35 target, the government reportedly plans to cut the price in half with subsidies. Assuming that information is accurate, students might be able to purchase the tablet for less than we originally thought. Regardless, it's not such a bad deal at $49, especially considering most of us doubted the device would even see the light of day.
Named "Sakshat," the slate was first announced last summer and was delayed this January following complications with its primary hardware vendor, HCL Infosystems. Designed for academic use, Sakshat features a 7-inch touchscreen, support for video conferencing, 32GB of storage, 2GB of RAM, a USB port, Wi-Fi connectivity, and enough horsepower to play YouTube videos. To keep costs in check, the device utilizes Linux and other open source software.
User Comments: 51
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stewi0001 said:
I think that this is great for students in India. But I do agree with the humor about the old guy and the dirty screen. I would like to add (assuming that's the camera on top of it) why does it look like they taped a cellphone to the tablet?
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Hey -- this guy doesn't look much different than most Tech geeks who are mature enough to do hugh projects with huge impact and succeed at them. Lay off the stupidity and admire his resolve to make the seemingly impossible reality.
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Hey -- this guy doesn't look much different than most Tech geeks who are mature enough to do hugh projects with huge impact and succeed at them. Lay off the stupidity and admire his resolve to make the seemingly impossible reality.OK,this is product made with low wages and government subsidies. India is one the few remaining countries in the world, whose economic and social model fits this kind of "breakthrough". Well, there's always Sub-Sarahan Africa, I suppose.
So, my suggestion to you would be, cut your own stupidity, and go over there and get a job on the $35.00 (USD) tablet assembly line. Help make the dream a reality. Drop us a line when you get there.
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This is one of the most amusing threads I've read in a long time, LOLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL
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Hope it doesn't fall apart.
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taimuraly said:
So are the AA batteries included?
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princeton said:
Until we all realize that somehow it's actually worse than the notion ink adam. In terms of tech India is great for thinking and terrible for execution.
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Leave out Windows and you're really sailing. Hope its a success and sells well. I wonder what the Bill of parts is? and is the central CPU actually made in INdia. Could this be the first project in a nascent Indian IT juggernaut that is about to relegate Intel, Amd Via to a high priced niche in the west? $50 tablet today , $100 PC tomorrow $120 laptop .. whats not to like? except the loss of jobs.
I for one welcome our INdian IT overlords.
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if this $35 tablet was to go at maybe $200 we wouldnt get this pessimistic comments. There's nothing u can do to please people
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$50 tablet today , $100 PC tomorrow $120 laptop .. whats not to like? except the loss of jobs.I wouldn't hold your breath on that.
I for one welcome our INdian IT overlords.
Governments would impose trade tariffs, then cut off credit to the Indian government. The only reason we haven't done that to China is we owe them too much money.
With India it's a different situation. Their chief "export thus far.is answering customer service telephone calls under assumed names.
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kevnn said:
if this $35 tablet was to go at maybe $200 we wouldnt get this pessimistic comments. There's nothing u can do to please people
The comments are more skeptical then pessimistic. I can appreciate the insanely unbelievable task of producing a tablet that will sell for ~$49 but in this day and age i gotta think whats the catch?
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The screens are old recycled screens. That's just the way they are. Each one is unique and has a story to tell. Just like Italian marble.
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The screens are old recycled screens. That's just the way they are. Each one is unique and has a story to tell. Just like Italian marble.Dude, if Italian marble speaks to you.....never mind, just something to think about....
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its neither the screen is bad nor the camera attached over it. its just a plastic cover.
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It's about time that somebody comes out with an affordable tablet, without a lot of hype or proprietary bloatware installed. Using Linux is an excellent choice. I would even buy it if it came with no OS, so that I can install my Linux distro of choice. Many companies use images, too, so pre-loading an OS isn't always necessary. It will definitely be interesting to follow this one....
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secretassasin69 said:
ihaveaname said:Honestly, they try to make a tablet with a seemingly impossible target, actually pull it off, and the comments here are either irrelevant or pessimistic. Where are the gasps of astonishment that this project deserves? Even if it ends up costing more than the goal, it's FORTY-NINE DOLLARS!
thank you for posting the one optimistic comment afte reading through a load of negative ones i do agree with you ihaveaname i think respect is due and as for the price-tag at least it's more affordable compared to other tablets
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thank you for posting the one optimistic comment afte reading through a load of negative ones i do agree with you ihaveaname i think respect is due and as for the price-tag at least it's more affordable compared to other tabletsYes, $49.95 is cheaper that $499.95, (iPad2 start price), thanks for pointing that out for us.
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Hey, I wouldn't be too quick to dismiss it.
In India, peasants too poor to afford a pair of shoes, have cell phones -- and affordable cell-phone plans.
Just think about that.
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My brother in law just bought a pyjama for his all glass phone.
It cost him.... $49.
Functioning tablet for the same price?
WOW.
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The ugly dude is a member of parliment. He is the education minister.
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For $50 I would buy one. The fact that it has Linux is a big plus. I know that there is a lot of subsidies from government and vendors etc. to help make it inexpensive but if it means that a larger percentage of Indian students can have access to a computer I think it is a great deal.The fact that it may be a little materialistic may keep it used for real work and study and not used for playing mindless games.
When will it be available here in capitalistic USA?
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The ugly dude is a member of parliment. He is the education minister.
Well listen, that's just a euphemism for "camera wh**e. I know this because that's all we manage to elect also.
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Well said .. all ministers in India are considered corrupt unless proven otherwise.. and as far as him doing work .. he must have only signed files and sat down for the photo op. I doubt he knows how to open a browser window without seeing the start icon on the taskbar
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Profit is good. I Believe that in America our company's want too far too much profit margin. What ever happened to selling at a reasonable mark up and profiting from the VOLUME of SALES?
What does happen is lower production and less work available across the economy. With only some able to afford what cr*p is being offered.
I see sale ads daily Buy one get one free and other such. If the product is so great just sell it at 50% of current price. Obviously these sales would not go on if they were not making a profit.
No wonder the US does not produce anything near what we used to and no wonder nearly everyone is in debt up to their eyeballs.
If India can build this and market it for their students bully for them.
Quit bashing at least they are trying to improve the lot of all of India's people.
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I see sale ads daily Buy one get one free and other such. If the product is so great just sell it at 50% of current price. Obviously these sales would not go on if they were not making a profit.Yeah well, I we did it that way, we would have no method of verifying exactly how f***** stupid the average american consumer is, now would we? 'Cause they'll still buy the exact same s*** @ one for 100%.
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