HRD minister Kapil Sibal will launch the much-awaited Rs 1,500 computer cum access device, labelled as the cheapest computer in the world, for students on October 5. “The computer will be launched next month,” Sibal said. The new device is a seven-year-old project of the HRD ministry,
started after MIT proposed to sell $100 laptops for school education in India. The ministry had rejected the MIT proposal and said it could produce a cheaper computer and formed a committee to indigenously develop it.
Kapil Sibal announced the launch of a tablet computer by next month in his bid to let children go beyond the boundary of classroom and teachers to acquire knowledge through IT. He said, “Soon, a 35 dollar computer will be made available to every child in school. The tablet shall help enhance the quality of learning of children.”
Sibal said the new device, whose name will be announced at the launch, will perform all functions from browsing the web to gaming. “That's an enormously empowering tool,” he said, while giving away the first IGNOU-instituted Rajiv Gandhi International Prize for technology to Azim Premji.
Aakash Tablet is not yet in marker for sold to public or distributed to students. Circulation to students is expected in one or two months.
Students Version Price: Rs.1500-Rs.1750 (without SIM and GPRS facility).
Students version has a wifi connection to access internet. Retail Price: Rs.3000 inclusive of taxes (With SIM and GPRS facility)
