India launched world’s cheapest tablet computer

New Delhi: India launched the world’s cheapest tablet computer named “Aakash” on wednesday. The device is assembling by the British company Data Wind in India. The Government purchased each piece for Rs. 2250. Initially, it will given free to the students in a pilot run of 10 lakh units.

On the launch, the Telecoms and Education Minister Kapil Sibal said,

“The rich have access to the digital world, the poor and ordinary have been excluded. Aakash will end that digital divide.”

Features of world’s cheapest tablet

• The tablet runs on Android 2.2 (Froyo) with 366 Mhz processor
• 7-inch resistive touch screen with 800×480 resolution
• 256 MB of RAM
• 32 GB expandable memory slot
• 2 USB slots
• Supports formats like DOC, DOCX, PDF and PPTX, etc
• A standard 3.5 mm headphones jack
• A 2100mAh battery, about 3-4 hours battery life depends on usage.
• Supports video conferencing
• WiFi connectivity for internet access
• 1 one year free replacement warranty

The initial reaction to the device were mixed, as the fact that the machine seemed slow and the touch screen not very agile, some of the students at the launch were saying that it will needed some refinement but can be a good option for poors.

After the device giving free to the students, the Government is planning to sell the device on subsidised price of Rs. 1100 next year. A retail version of device also will be available to the retail outlets of just Rs. 2999 with inbuilt cellular modem and SIM to access internet.

“As we will scale up manufacturing capacity, the prices will fall. My target is to provide tablet for $10 to our children in coming years,“ Sibal said.

“The upgraded version of the tablet will allow its users to make calls as well and have connectivity within and outside their premises,“ Datawind CEO Suneet Singh Tuli said.

“It could be better,” said Nikant Vohra, an electrical engineering student. “If you see it from the price only, it’s okay, but we have laptops and have used iPads, so we know the difference.”