13th Jan 2011
Mumbai -- India finally launches the Rs 1500 tablet - Sakshat, which is said to be the world's cheapest tablet. Priced at around $35 (around Rs 1,500), the new tablet will be available in different screen sizes like 5-inch, 7 and 10 according to reports.
Other features include 2GB of RAM, web-conferencing, PDF reader unzip, WiFi, camera and USB connectivity.
HCL Technologies, which is manufacturing the new tablet, plans to initially produce 100,000 units. Government has assigned Rs 300 million for Sakshat tablet project.
Though it was touted to be a laptop, designed specifically for students, it later turned out that the product is actually a tablet. At the time of showcasing the product in July 2010, Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal had said that the low cost-access-cum computing device could become even cheaper if more companies decide to manufacture a similar device.
When the ministry floated the concept of a low cost device some years ago, officials said it would cost Rs.500 ($10). Also the government had showcased a prototype of the Rs 500 computing device at a function in Tirupati in Andhra Pradesh in February 2009.
COMMENT:
Other features include 2GB of RAM, web-conferencing, PDF reader unzip, WiFi, camera and USB connectivity.
HCL Technologies, which is manufacturing the new tablet, plans to initially produce 100,000 units. Government has assigned Rs 300 million for Sakshat tablet project.
Though it was touted to be a laptop, designed specifically for students, it later turned out that the product is actually a tablet. At the time of showcasing the product in July 2010, Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal had said that the low cost-access-cum computing device could become even cheaper if more companies decide to manufacture a similar device.
When the ministry floated the concept of a low cost device some years ago, officials said it would cost Rs.500 ($10). Also the government had showcased a prototype of the Rs 500 computing device at a function in Tirupati in Andhra Pradesh in February 2009.
COMMENT:
From what I know, 1,00,000 are to be manufactured as a pilot lot and distributed across all states (about 5,000/state/UT) for testing and feedback. Only then would it be launched nation-wide. Even then it may be distributed by the Government to students and some might become available in the open market. It is likely to be 1-2 years before it would be widely available. Incidentally, IIT Jhodpur is given this pilot project, under Prem Kalra, Director, IIT Jhodpur. He had a demo piece with him when his proposal had come up and was passed before the Committee under Chairmanship of Kapil Sibal (1st September 2010).
