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Govt to launch the “$35” computer on Oct 5

The $35 tablet PC
The $35 tablet PC

The much-awaited $35 (~Rs1500) computing-cum-access device made for students right from primary schools to universities, will be launched on October 5. “The computer/tablet PC will be launched next month,” HRD Minister Kapil Sibal said at a function. “This is not just a dream, it is a reality,” he added.

The device has already been named and which will only be reveled at the time of launch.

The computer is much more of a tablet PC with full touchscreen and a few keys. The Tablet PC will have all functions like any other computer.

Sibal said while it gives scope to a child to transcend boundaries and acquire knowledge using the net, IT can also be used to root out corruption from the country.

The tablet PC is very impressive as it is priced at meager $35. The device runs a modified version of Linux, it has no internal storage and uses external SD card for storing data. It has a built in word processor, video conferencing capabilities, and a Web browser.

We are still waiting for other specs such as the processor used, RAM, resolution etc. The tablet has already generated a lot of fuss. This could actually become a hot piece of cake for developers who are always looking for cheap hardware gadgets to modify and do crazy thing with them.

At $35, the Indian tablet is virtually disposable–far exceeding the $100 laptop developed by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and used in the non-profit One Laptop One Child program. In fact, in many ways the $35 tablet also makes the $500 iPad seem significantly over-priced.

“Much of the talk of corruption that we have had in the recent past will be dealt with through initiative of IT. What we need to do is to ensure the scope of human intervention which is the scope of all corruption is dealt with and IT plays an important role in finding solutions and we are in the process of doing it,” he said.

The prototype of the low cost computing device which Sibal had unveiled in July last year is likely to be a 5/7/9 inch touchscreen gadget. It would be packed with internet browsers, PDF reader, video conferencing facilities, open office, sci-lab, media player, remote device management capability, multimedia input-output interface option, and multiple content viewer.

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  1. Its already getting lot of appraisal from researchers.. Low cost hardware can do marvels…

    Can be deployed into mobile education, energy and healthcare sectors where trendy-shimmery things like iPad etc cant get into…

    If they disclose internal hardware spex and declare it an open hardware platform… it would be the next big thing.. (open source running on open silicon)… AUSUM….

  2. Its already getting lot of appraisal from researchers.. Low cost hardware can do marvels…

    Can be deployed into mobile education, energy and healthcare sectors where trendy-shimmery things like iPad etc cant get into…

    If they disclose internal hardware spex and declare it an open hardware platform… it would be the next big thing.. (open source running on open silicon)… AUSUM….

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