Communications of the ACM
India nveils Prototype of $35 Tablet Computer
It looks like an iPad, only it's 1/14th the cost: India on Thursday (July 22) unveiled the prototype of a $35 basic touchscreen tablet aimed at students, which it hopes to bring into production by 2011.
The tablet can be used for functions like word processing, web browsing and video-conferencing. It has a solar power option too—important for India's energy-starved hinterlands—though that add-on costs extra. A human resource development ministry spokeswoman said falling hardware costs and intelligent design make the $35 price tag plausible. The use of open-source software also adds to savings, she said.
Several global manufacturers, including at least one from Taiwan, have shown interest in making the low-cost device, but no manufacturing or distribution deals have been finalized, the spokeswoman said.
From The Associated Press
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