India's $35 tablet disaster now becoming apparent

[untitled]

What's the internet coverage like in those poorer areas?

Even in many poor countries mobile phone/internet coverage is pretty good and cheap

 

[888jamie888]

BBC News - Does India's budget tablet computer work?
Yes the BBC report is less than favourable.
It's for a good cause undoubtedly.
If you really want to be able to use technology and the internet as an education tool then, in my opinion, it has to be much better than this. Therefore I think investing in some textbooks would have been better.
The BBC raises a good point, the battery life is very low, 2-3 hours. How will students use them at school?

 

[livingdead]

Even in many poor countries mobile phone/internet coverage is pretty good and cheap

Exactly. Now due to mobile telephony, communication has become affordable everywhere.
Similarly, due to falling hardware price, there should have been really cheap computing device, but for some reason(low margin) such devices are lacking in the market.
Buy buying in bulk, I think govt can provide it at very low price to poor students.

 

[livingdead]

BBC News - Does India's budget tablet computer work?
Yes the BBC report is less than favourable.
It's for a good cause undoubtedly.
If you really want to be able to use technology and the internet as an education tool then, in my opinion, it has to be much better than this. Therefore I think investing in some textbooks would have been better.
The BBC raises a good point, the battery life is very low, 2-3 hours. How will students use them at school?

Govt provides text books free of cost in schools for poor students, in many states. Colleges have lending libraries, where you can get text books.

A text book is not a computing device. And in most places text books are dirt cheap.(Wahy too cheaper than this device)
It is not one or the other thing.
The battery life is a cause for concern, but I think the second tablet will have longer life.

 

[fd24]

BBC News - Does India's budget tablet computer work?
Yes the BBC report is less than favourable.
It's for a good cause undoubtedly.
If you really want to be able to use technology and the internet as an education tool then, in my opinion, it has to be much better than this. Therefore I think investing in some textbooks would have been better.
The BBC raises a good point, the battery life is very low, 2-3 hours. How will students use them at school?

Look its Thursday evening mate and i really find it difficult to come down to your intellectual level but i will try.
What do expect for £23? Why are you trying to knock an item that has specifically been designed to aim for a market that will feel this is potentially the rolls royce of computer technology? Why cant you see that kids that have this don't give a hoot if it lasts 2 hours - they will treat it like an apple iPhone 4s. You don't know what it is to live with limited resources and don't realize the value and quality this will bring to millions. Try to comprehend when you have nothing this is heaven.
BTW shame about Cardiff City beating you the other night mate - never mind...

 

[888jamie888]

Govt provides text books free of cost in schools for poor students, in many states. Colleges have lending libraries, where you can get text books.

A text book is not a computing device. And in most places text books are dirt cheap.(Wahy too cheaper than this device)
It is not one or the other thing.
The battery life is a cause for concern, but I think the second tablet will have longer life.

If the text books are so cheap then why don't they just dish them out?
If education for the masses is the aim, then I think that would be better than a poor excuse of a tablet.
If they are going to use technology, then do it properly.
Yes, the 2nd version looks to be a marked improvement.

 

[below_freezing]

For 5 more dollars you can buy a Chinese tablet that's far better.

 

[888jamie888]

Look its Thursday evening mate and i really find it difficult to come down to your intellectual level but i will try.
What do expect for £23? Why are you trying to knock an item that has specifically been designed to aim for a market that will feel this is potentially the rolls royce of computer technology? Why cant you see that kids that have this don't give a hoot if it lasts 2 hours - they will treat it like an apple iPhone 4s. You don't know what it is to live with limited resources and don't realize the value and quality this will bring to millions. Try to comprehend when you have nothing this is heaven.
BTW shame about Cardiff City beating you the other night mate - never mind...

Regardless of it's novelty value to the kids, I think there are better ways to educate someone and this money could have been better spent. It seems they are using technology for the sake of it.
Oh, I do my friend. Volunteered in Ethiopia for 6 months, not pleasant.
do not mention that.

 

[IndoUS]

If the text books are so cheap then why don't they just dish them out?
If education for the masses is the aim, then I think that would be better than a poor excuse of a tablet.
If they are going to use technology, then do it properly.
Yes, the 2nd version looks to be a marked improvement.

The idea is to introduce people to technology, rather than giving them a high end item which they have no idea how to use and will probably break it in two or three days. It is much better to give them a cheap water down alternative and get them accustomed to the technology.

 

[livingdead]

Regardless of it's novelty value to the kids, I think there are better ways to educate someone and this money could have been better spent. It seems they are using technology for the sake of it.
Oh, I do my friend. Volunteered in Ethiopia for 6 months, not pleasant.
do not mention that.

We can agree to disagree on this.

Bihar(a provice in India) gives free bicycles to girls so that they can easily come to school.
There is an argument that same money could have been used for "More Books", and its only a bicycle not a motor cycle, but then, different perspective.

I am excited about this device. Hope it will reach India too.
http://www.raspberrypi.org/

 

[Aramsogo]

I know something that costs $0.15 and is much better for learning. It's called a pencil and paper.

When is India going to stop these stupid gimmicks and actually get to work teaching your "demogrphic dividend" something, anything ???

 

[Edevelop]

Didn't India make something like a $40 laptop? If that failed, then obviously a tablet has to fail...

 

[Ammyy]

Didn't India make something like a $40 laptop? If that failed, then obviously a tablet has to fail...

Important thing is India made ... not like your country that depend on others

 

[Edevelop]

Important thing is India made ... not like your country that depend on others

We did develop a tablet: PAC PAD 1 and computer named PAC N Book 1

 

[IndoUS]

Is it really that hard for people to understand the concept of introducing the people in rural areas to technology.