India's $35 Android 7-inch Tablet to Hit in January
We've been hearing about India's plans for a $35 computer for a few months now, and for a while we thought it might be all talk. However, it seems India is pushing ahead with plans for the educational tablet.
Engadget reports that India has just awarded the manufacturing contract to HCL Technologies. The first shipment will supposedly only contain the 7-inch model and is set to arrive on January 10. It's unclear if the $35 price has stuck or whether India's been successful in plans to eventually drive the price down to $10 with the help of large orders and government subsidies.
Unveiled by the Human Resources Minister of the Union of India, Shri Kapil Sibal, in July, the device has generated significant interest among colleges and schools. The tablet device will have web browsing, including the ability to access YouTube. Official specs have yet to be confirmed, but it's said to have WiFi, come in a variety of sizes, and pack 2GB of storage. Though the press release is hard to decipher, it would seem the Indian government also has plans to launch a wesbite containing quality educational content for the devices.
Source: Engadget
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If I can get one shipped to the U.S., $35 wouldn't be a bad price even just to try the thing out. Maybe even do what the OLPC people did, and double the price and donate a second one to some impoverished nation. I want a cheap tablet (however unfunctional) just to see if it serves a purpose before I dump a few hundred into a full-fledged Android tablet that I end up never using.
$35 is cool, but tablet is not a substitute for computers.
This is just awesome. If they do the OLPC thing, I will buy a couple for sure.
I'd buy two.
Holy crap 35 dollars,china is officialy out of bussines
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It doesn't have to substitute for a computer, just run text books that have been exported to HTML and save homework to an SD card till it can be uploaded to the classroom. This could be the PADD every other person on a starship is walking around with.
Holy crap 35 dollars,china is officialy out of bussines------------------------Media Tablet
Finally
that thing looks awesome! i'd buy one.
My inner geek desperately wants a tablet, and this thing would be perfect for trying out the concept to see if I'd actually use it. Even as an e-reader this thing would be great!
But can it play Pac Man?
So... what it run on some stripped down Soc and AA batteries or something?
I wonder if McDonald's could eventually have a mini-tablet in a happy meal.
And having tried the OLPC laptop, it might have been the worst experience with technology I've ever had.
$35 tablet made in India
...
Probably a stone tablet, with God's 11th Commandment carved on it
"Thou shalt not copy the iPad"
It can't possibly copy the ipad, there's not nearly enough price gouging, nor will it randomy explode after overheating
LOL, it's a thin client connected to India. $35 buys a lot of human processing power over there.
Made in India = don't buy.
Reason - child worker exploitation.
The device is aimed at students in a developing country. I think it's a great price for it's purpose but it likely won't satisfy the needs of the average US consumer (at whom it's not targeted in the first place).
Reason - child worker exploitation.
As If you Experienced it First Hand...
We do not have Child labor in High tech Industries....
Child labor is prevalent in small jobs to lean it (apprenticeship)...
Now Part Time job @ restaurants become child labor?? Then Your country will be on the top of the List
As If you Experienced it First Hand...We do not have Child labor in High tech Industries....Child labor is prevalent in small jobs to lean it (apprenticeship)...Now Part Time job @ restaurants become child labor?? Then Your country will be on the top of the List
You know, the part time jobs is the Child's choice, which isn't exploiting them in any way...
I hope other laptop manufacturers join the bandwagon. That will drive down the prices too.Demand could be anywhere btn 30 mn to 50mn a year if it is done properly. I dont see HCL measuring up to the task ahead.
YAY!!!
china will be ruined!!!
Sorry, but i don't like China
Better to give profit to a democracy than a tyrannical Communist marketing itself as the new world power.
haha, its just a paper tiger.
They already own the IT industry.. now with this on schools and so affordable.. give this 1-2 generations and you will see amazing results.
I have a cheap 7" tablet from China, and if it's any slower than that thing, I would find it less helpful than regular paper and pen. My device cost me 100 bucks or so, and it's ok for various things, but PDFs are not fun to use, and many other things are less than perfect. 35 bucks is...cheap. If it's as good or better, then it's a fine device for the intent.
gezz...sign me up. It's pretty cheap and i'm willing to fork out and try it out.
Made in India = don't buy. Reason - child worker exploitation.
Well sir, you are merely speaking a troll. All countries have something dark about their industries. It is mere elitism to give such logic when people are so happy to have reducing prices on electronics, toys, clothes made in third world countries.
2 gig won't hold alot of pirated torrents or music.you know..school stuff lol
To all the super excited guys here, I would like to add that this is heavily subsidized and will be available only to the educational institutes for the time being. I remember an interview in which Mr Sibbal quoted that the prices would definitely be higher for the commercial market.
Also, those whining about child labour in India, yes it is a fact and it is through these measures that we are trying to improve the condition of our future generations. If you can not get a simple fact like this, I have nothing to say then.
I wonder how much slave labor they have to employ to get it to $35.
yess!!!!! i live in india
This is going to be awesome!!! Can't wait to buy it!...however the company is HCL Infosystems and not HCL technologies..check out the link
http://epaper.livemint.com/artMail [...] =1&pub=422
Glad to see a country thinking of education and it's younger (non-voting!) members, and being prepared to back up talk of innovating in the classroom with money and action. Respect due and duely earned.
Made in India = don't buy. Reason - child worker exploitation.
what are you some kinda a nomad speakin about other countries like trash. also i dont see your location listed............... get your facts right, child labor doesnt take place in the world of tech