India's $35 tablet disaster now becoming apparent

[davidson]

Jan 2012

I've been very negative about India's so-called $35 tablet, called the Aakash. Here's why.

25% of hardware components were sourced from from China, 16% from the USA, 16% from India and 8% from other countries.

The original promise was that Indian engineering geniuses at Indian universities had "made a breakthrough" that would enable millions of $35, solar-powered touch-tablets to be distributed to Indian students, transforming education. Well, it's not solar powered, it's manufactured in India but not made by an Indian company and it costs more than $35.

India's $35 tablet disaster now becoming apparent.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aakash_(tablet)

 

[davidson]

25% of hardware components were sourced from from China. So sorry to tell you

 

[davidson]

WELCOME TO DATAWIND

 

[davidson]

The tablet will be offered at a sufficiently low price threshold – distributed by the government to students at a subsized price of $35 and to the public for $60

 

[canadian icehole]

"2100 mAh li-po battery, 2-3 hr life"

That's it?! No thanks.

 

[888jamie888]

I know these are mega cheap, but whats the point if the specs are so bloody awful??

 

[fd24]

It was designed and aimed at a market that normally could only dream of something like this. It was an attempt to aim at the poor and educate them. People that have never seen computers and perhaps never will. Is it a crime to reach out and offer a part of society that cant afford the spec that me and you perhaps have? I will let you decide.

 

[IndoUS]

People fail to understand that the product was never designed for major international market. It is for the rural areas and for people that can't afford a computer. Most likely it will be used in government schools.

 

[888jamie888]

It was designed and aimed at a market that normally could only dream of something like this. It was an attempt to aim at the poor and educate them. People that have never seen computers and perhaps never will. Is it a crime to reach out and offer a part of society that cant afford the spec that me and you perhaps have? I will let you decide.

What's the internet coverage like in those poorer areas? If this thing breaks or has problems, which I believe there many, who will fix it?
I cannot help but feel that buying some old fashioned books would have been far easier.

 

[IndoUS]

What's the internet coverage like in those poorer areas? If this thing breaks or has problems, which I believe there many, who will fix it?
I cannot help but feel that buying some old fashioned books would have been far easier.

Wireless coverage is pretty good, there are many cell towers around. Though the internet speed is not that good.

 

[davidson]

People fail to understand that the product was never designed for major international market. It is for the rural areas and for people that can't afford a computer. Most likely it will be used in government schools.

You can already buy cheap and better chinese tablets for as low as 40.99 USD

Cheap chinese tablets

 

[IndoUS]

You can already buy cheap and better chinese tablets for as low as 40.99 USD

Cheap chinese tablets

You forgot to add shipping cost.

 

[livingdead]

What's the internet coverage like in those poorer areas? If this thing breaks or has problems, which I believe there many, who will fix it?
I cannot help but feel that buying some old fashioned books would have been far easier.

It is for bridging digital divide. This could as well be the only computing device a poor person can have.
This is not only for book reading.
When we had landlines, only a few had them, not with mobile technology poor are part of communication age.
Govt does not want to leave them out again.

 

[fd24]

What's the internet coverage like in those poorer areas? If this thing breaks or has problems, which I believe there many, who will fix it?
I cannot help but feel that buying some old fashioned books would have been far easier.

I think the attempt India has made in trying to provide the dream for millions and getting people to the edge of technology is a commendable thought and one i admire. Perhaps the likes of you would feel more comfortable if people had some "old fashioned books" just in case they academically catch up to the likes of you mate.
Dont knock a nations dream and knock something like coverage and technical issues unless you have checked up the facts - go to the bbc website to learn what the tablet offers as regards to its technical support.

 

[IndoUS]

It is for bridging digital divide. This could as well be the only computing device a poor person can have.
This is not only for book reading.
When we had landlines, only a few had them, not with mobile technology poor are part of communication age.
Govt does not want to leave them out again.

There was a time when rarely you would see a mobile phone in India, but today its like everyone any anyone has it. Two years back at nagpur railway station I saw two beggars who had Nokia mobile phone. And I was like WTF!! you can afford a mobile phone, but you can't try and find a F**king job.