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India to Unveil $10 Laptop

Low-cost computer is part of plan to update nation's colleges

By Nick McMaster, Newser Staff

Posted Feb 2, 2009 2:06 PM CST

(Newser) – India’s government will launch an ultra-cheap laptop computer tomorrow as part of a new initiative to update the nation’s educational system, the Guardian reports. The Sakshat will sell for $10 (500 rupees), a price India hopes will be accessible for most students. The laptop is the centerpiece of a national plan to give college students access to textbooks, class lectures, and homework online.

Each laptop costs about $20 to make, but India’s top education official said the cost is bound to come down “with mass production.” Nonetheless, some tech experts are skeptical: "You cannot even make a computer screen for $20. And India does not build much computer hardware. So where will the savings come from?" asked the director of India’s Netcore Solution.

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Intel South Asia, Director Sales, R. Ravichandran, unseen, shows newly launched Intel Centrino 2 processor technology in New Delhi, India, in this Tuesday, July 15, 2008 file photo. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup, FILE)

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If the government could pull this off, does it not imply that the entire global computer industry is either totally incompetent or a huge scam which produces stuff at very little cost and sells them at exorbitant prices?
- Atanu Dey, Netcore Solutions

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COMMENTS

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Showing 3 of 5 comments

Guest

Feb 2, 2009 7:12 PM CST

India a 3rd world country.... LMAO!! That's a new one on me!! Good one. This could easily be done. It doesn't have to be top of the line components and of course they would use a LINUX variation. The US could do some good following in this example.

Mr.C

Feb 2, 2009 4:59 AM CST

The One Laptop Per Child group originally saught to make a 100$ laptop. Even with hundreds of thousands of laptops produced they were unable to achieve 100$. but who are we to criticize the land that produced a car for 2,500 USD?

Newser001

Feb 2, 2009 4:30 AM CST

At least they want to try... For a 3rd world nation, I think it admirable. Yes, it seems a little far fetched, but let's wait and see before flaming...

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technology • Internet • India • higher education • WiFi • laptop • computer

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India to Unveil $10 Laptop