India Shows Prototype $35 Tablet Computer

July 23, 2010 By Geoff Duncan

India is showing off a tablet computer aimed at education, running Linux, with a solar charging option...and a cost of just $35.

At a press event in New Dehli, India’s Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal showed off prototype touchscreen computers the country hopes to roll out to students beginning next year—and the end cost could be as low as $35, which the government hopes get down to the $20 or even $10 range.

Unveiling the still-unnamed device as a response to the OLPC‘s so-called “$100 laptop” project—which have yet to hit a $100 price point—the prototype devices have a color display and can handle Web browsing, email, word processing, and even display YouTube videos. The devices run the open source Linux operating system, although the minister was vague on the specifications of the device—some reports have the tablets bearing 2 GB of RAM, USB ports, and integrated Wi-Fi connectivity. Users will also apparently be able to get a solar-power add-on that will enable them to charge the tablet using sunlight, rather than having to be in range of wall power at all times. Sibal indicated that the ministry plans to introduce the tablets to higher education institutions next year,

To develop the tablet, the ministry says it turned to the Indian Institute of Technology and the Indian Institute of Science after the designs received muted interest from the private sector. Now that the prototypes are done, Mamta Varma, a ministry spokesperson, says several major manufacturers—including one in Taiwan—have expressed interest in manufacturing the device. Varma declined to name any of the companies and emphasized no deals were currently in place.

The promise of $35 touch-screen tablets running Linux definitely has some appeal; however, the ministry doesn’t have a great track record with following through on technological promises: last year, the same ministry announced it was on the verge of unveiling a $10 “Sakshat” notebook computer; that turned out to be a prototype handheld device, which never saw the light of day.

[Image: NewsX]

Showing 6 comments

p ,p.singh at 2:40am 12th August 2010 bravo bravo mr. sibel, i aprisiate your honest try.. for the people who are not agreed should wait and see p.p.singh hunts ville alabama U, S A
Penguin at 3:33am 28th July 2010 $35 for 2 gb of RAM? Looks like a RETAIL price in wealthy America. In India it should be cheaper, especially if it is made domestically (in India), especially if they do not pursue ultra high speed. Wish them good luck. Hope this device will be available outside India.
Ben Lee at 8:14pm 24th July 2010 In case you're wondering, I've posted the specs for this device developed by AllGo Systems. It's not too bad actually. http://ebookreader-ben.com/india-develops-35-stud...
idiot sibbal at 8:55am 24th July 2010 Idiot Sibal. And, they think they can deliver it? 2 GB of RAM costs almost 35$ and Sibal says he can deliver it for just $20.Not impossible unless Ministry is ready to subsidized rest of the cost, which would not come anything below $100.Be realistic, Mr. Sibal. Idiots!!!
Gary at 3:05pm 24th July 2010 Give them time.............India is the longest living civilization that ever existed on this Earth. It was here before the Greeks and Romans and while those civilizations have come and gone the Vedic (Indian) system still is alive and thriving. West is largely ignorant.
Ms. A at 11:21am 23rd July 2010 "... the ministry doesn’t have a great track record with following through on technological promises". I say this is still pretty cool.