India Unveils $10 Laptop
By Wyatt Earp | February 2, 2009
I’ll take ten, Jim!
What else can you say about this story except, “Thank you, come again!”
India is poised to unveil the ultimate in credit-crunch computing: a 500 rupee (£7) laptop.
A government-developed prototype, due to be shown for the first time tomorrow, will mark the most ambitious attempt yet to bring computers to the developing world and to bridge the “digital divide” between rich and poor.
It is also the latest example of ultra-cheap engineering to emerge from the sub-continent. India has already given the world a 100,000 rupee (£1,420) car, the Tata Nano, and a super-basic £10 phone — goods that are now expected to find favour among relatively affluent Westerners as the global economic downturn bites.
However, the launch of a viable computer that costs less than most paperback books would herald a startling new era in thrifty manufacturing. The Indian laptop, which has been on the drawing board for at least three years, will be the centre of attention at the launch of India’s new National Mission on Education through Information and Communication Technology, a scheme to boost learning in rural areas through the internet. (H/T - TimesOnline)
Although it is not supposed to be unveiled until tomorrow, my sources found a photo of the laptop. You can see it below the fold.
Heh. What do you expect for $10?
Topics: Snarkasm |
February 2nd, 2009 at 6:21 pm
What I always expect from this kind of technology at that low a price: Crap.
There are some things I think one should always be reluctant to purchase because it’s so cheap, and that includes computers.
February 2nd, 2009 at 6:23 pm
Wouldn’t that be a “backtop” ?
February 2nd, 2009 at 6:33 pm
Hey Morgan-
Grab hold of the reins, you’re about to fall off.
Geeeez……
February 2nd, 2009 at 6:43 pm
Does it come with a Slurpee!?
February 2nd, 2009 at 7:04 pm
Morgan - Parachutes would be another one.
Randal - An extra large chutney Squishy. “You can really taste the chutney!”
February 2nd, 2009 at 8:29 pm
They will be so frustrating that the Ganges will be clogged with them.
February 2nd, 2009 at 9:40 pm
Dangit! Randal took my comment.
February 2nd, 2009 at 11:09 pm
I hope they all have Windows Vista! Ha!
Is slurpee an east coast thing like a cheese steak or can you get one in India too?
February 3rd, 2009 at 10:38 am
Just wait until Nigeria gets its first shipment of these things. You thought African princes were randomly emailing you before?
February 3rd, 2009 at 12:39 pm
Mare - Makes for tough inner tubing, huh?
RT - Thank you, come again!
Captain - I’m sure you can get a hummus Slurpee there.
Marvin - Damn. On a side note, you should see the hate mail I m getting from people in India about this story. They don’t find the photo funny.