Indian HR Ministry brings $35 low cost computing device 2 reality
by Avinash Manegar on Jul 23, 2010 12:36 PM | Hide replies

Rs 1600/- Computing device from Indian Gov.

This is big news – Finally a low-cost computing-cum-access device has been unveiled by HRD minister Shri. Kapil Sibal. The price is this device is expected to be around $35. However, HR ministry is aiming at bringing down the cost of this device to $20 and ultimately to $10. IIT’s and other Technical Institutions are setting up research teams to cover wide range of issues and capability enhancements to achieve the ultimate goal of bringing down the the cost of this device to $10.
Minimum Functionalities expected:-

1. Support for video web Conferencing facility
2. Multimedia content viewer for example .pdf, docx, .ods, adp, .doc, .xls, .jpeg, .gif, .png, .bmp, .odt, .zip, AVCHD, AVI, AC3, etc.
3. Searchable Pdf reader
4. Unzip tool for unzipping zip files.
5. Possibility of installing suitable firmware upgradation.
6. Computing capabilities such as Open Office , SciLab , cups (for printing support)
7. Media player capable of playing streamed as well as stored media files.
8. Internet browsing with flash plug-in, JavaScript, pdf plug-in java.
9. Wireless communication for Audio/video I/O.
10. Cloud computing option.
11. Remote device management capability.
12. Multimedia input output interface option (for allowing DTV, IPTv, DTH, streaming etc.)

Forward | Report abuse

Message deleted by moderator

Re: Indian HR Ministry brings $35 low cost computing device 2 rea
by jayantachakravorty on Jul 23, 2010 03:33 PM
congratulations to our Government for giving us a very very good lowcost,handy Laptop (no should be named as palmtop).
Thanks once again to our Government.
Hope other nation has not yet developed this type of computing device.

Forward | Report abuse

Re: Indian HR Ministry brings $35 low cost computing device 2 rea
by True Voice on Jul 23, 2010 12:39 PM
This product will die fast. Many such concepts were brought in by India. Hope you ppl remember "simputer". Then another small device was brought just to see text emails. When other feature rich products emerging with equal or slighlty more price, every one will go for it.

Forward | Report abuse

Re: Re: Indian HR Ministry brings $35 low cost computing device 2
by Avinash Manegar on Jul 23, 2010 12:46 PM
You are right @True Voice, but the simputer timing was not right for India at that time I believe. But we should be proud of IIT & IISc team who developed this device which can be used as e-reader for rural students. I believe it is "IPAD" for rural students. Its kinda Tata Nano type right..

Forward | Report abuse

Re: Re: Re: Indian HR Ministry brings $35 low cost computing devi
by True Voice on Jul 23, 2010 12:54 PM
I dont understand why you need such a product. It will add up e-waste like anything with lots of mercury and lead add to your drinking water. I live in a metro with very decent take home. My child is in 9th std. I dont have a computer or broadband at home. So she developed reading habit. Oh my.. It is really amazing. She reads plenty and keep nagging me for more library membership. It is better to keep children away from gadgets sothat they will have deveope their natural good habits

Forward | Report abuse

Re: Re: Re: Re: Indian HR Ministry brings $35 low cost computing
by Avinash Manegar on Jul 23, 2010 01:09 PM
@True Voice, I also care for environment and also know abt the e-waste. I know kids should be given books to read rather than e-book reader but as you said, you live in metro where library's are there and also you can afford book but this device is designed to help rural students where everybody cannot afford books nor they have proper library to subscribe the books.
Also government should take care of this e-waste management properly if they are giving this device to each and every student.
I really happy for your daughter that she has developed reading habit. Nowadays kids don't play outside like we used to play in those days. I am against gaming device to kids but e-reader is ok .. your thoughts plz :

Forward | Report abuse

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Indian HR Ministry brings $35 low cost comput
by parkash ji on Jul 23, 2010 05:24 PM
one can enjoyed reading a bookss without strain on "EYE" and "MIND" compare to this gadgets.

Forward | Report abuse

Re: Re: Re: Re: Indian HR Ministry brings $35 low cost computing
by srik on Jul 23, 2010 01:08 PM
How do you define a "good" habit. instead of maintaining "paper" based books which are "bad" for the environment it is better but buy a gadget eg(kindle) to load and store 1000's of books instead without any "waste"

Forward | Report abuse

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Indian HR Ministry brings $35 low cost comput
by Avinash Manegar on Jul 23, 2010 01:57 PM
Well @srik you are right but paper can be recycled and it’s not the same with e-waste :) but it can be properly managed to reduse environmental issue.

Forward | Report abuse

Re: Indian HR Ministry brings $35 low cost computing device 2 rea
by srinivas satyanarayan on Jul 23, 2010 05:27 PM
it will be like old transistor,he he he

Forward | Report abuse

Re: Re: Indian HR Ministry brings $35 low cost computing device 2
by SeriousFun on Jul 23, 2010 06:35 PM
but it will be a great and helpfull product for millions of people in india other than political Obsessed people like you

Forward | Report abuse

Discussion Board	View article