Laptop for 500 Rupees
Update: The ToI today carries an article stating that this entire piece of news does not seem to be validated. Most likely the device is just capable of simple computing operations and not as full-fledged as a laptop. End of update
Laptops and the internet are more or less ubiquitous for most urban high school students. However, the cost barrier is still high and hence only a limited section of the student population can afford it. This is poised to change in the near future with the advent of a new Rs. 500 laptop (currently in prototype phase)
This Rs. 500 laptop prototype will be on display on February 3rd at Tirupati. This prototype is a joint effort by the students of Vellore Institute of Technology, scientists in Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, IIT-Madras and involvement of Public Sector Units like Semiconductor Complex.
Akshaya Mukul writes in this article at the Times of India:
The $10 laptop project, first reported in TOI three years ago, has come as an answer to the $100 laptop of MIT’s Nicholas Negroponte that he was trying to hardsell to India.
“At this stage, the price is working out to be $20 but with mass production it is bound to come down,” R P Agarwal, secretary, higher education said.
Another very interesting launches on this day will be those of an e-classroom, a virtual laboratory and an improved version of the existing ‘Sakshat’ portal.
The following is an interesting turn of events:
Sources also said that the ministry has entered into an agreement with four publishers — Macmillan, Tata McGraw Hill, Prentice-Hall and Vikas Publishing — to upload their textbooks on ‘Sakshat’. Five per cent of these books can be accessed free.
Of course, all these initiatives also require that the current infrastructure be improved significantly. The article mentions that:
In this context, government would give Rs 2.5 lakh per institution for 10 Kbps connection and subsidise 25% of costs for private and state government colleges.
The mission would seek to extend computer infrastructure and connectivity to over 18,000 colleges in the country, including each department of nearly 400 universities and institutions of national importance.
It is wonderful to see that the government and other institutions are coming together to herald in a new age of education and making use of technology to drive positive change.
Read the complete article here.
Image courtesy: incasoftware.co.uk
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February 1st, 2009 at 9:24 pm
Did you see the blog post by Atanu Dey at http://www.deeshaa.org about this?
February 2nd, 2009 at 10:55 am
Oh Please>> Yes, I have read that post. Well, our idea of showcasing the story was not in the numbers (or arithmetic as Mr. Dey puts it). It was more a stress on the initiative that the government has taken to lower the barrier of access to technology. That, we believe, is a great step forward for our nation. The laptop of course could be $10 or $100 or any other number. But the fact that there is progress being made to bring accessibility to people who cannot afford it, is a concept worth mentioning.
February 10th, 2009 at 5:43 pm
I have been hearing this cheaper laptops cheaper laptops for ages now, but there are only in newspapers. Have not seen any results of the much hyped OLPC project. I remember this huge talk about simputers earlier from IISc but have no idea where it all went.
Hope this comes out well at least.
February 15th, 2009 at 10:12 pm
is the dream of these laptops are true?
when it will be provided to us(student=undergraduates)?
February 26th, 2009 at 1:27 am
can anybody tell me about the functions & features of this laptop,and when it’s going to be manufactured.please
March 1st, 2009 at 4:08 pm
I have been hearing this cheaper laptops cheaper laptops for ages now, but there are only in newspapers.but have no idea where it all went.is the dream of these laptops are true?
when it will be provided to students of india.Hope this comes out well at least.
March 2nd, 2009 at 4:34 pm
Abhishek & Asharam>> It is true that we have been hearing about the cheaper laptop for a long time now. And still it is still on the drawing board with no actual prototype. However, we do hope that as more people become aware of this initiative (or mere promise) they are able to force the government’s hand in actually showing some results, as it would be a real boon to the students of India.
March 7th, 2009 at 5:30 pm
Respected sir,
I AM S.VISHNUKUMAR B.SC (I.T).THIS IS VERY USE FOR THE POOR STUDENTS THIS GREAT ACHEIVEMENT OF THE INDIAN GOV.THIS IS GREAT PROJECT WHICH IS R.S.500 LAPTOP PROJECT.KEEP THIS…
May 26th, 2009 at 1:13 pm
respected sir.
Rs. 500 laptop is a miracle ahievementin indians R&D. it is helpful to provide i.t to ruralstudents . intimate the sales details.
May 26th, 2009 at 1:13 pm
respected sir.
Rs. 500 laptop is a miracle ahievementin for indians R&D. it is helpful to provide i.t to ruralstudents . intimate the sales details.
February 19th, 2010 at 3:03 pm
this laptop is good if it is given to students but i dont think this laptop is going to be given to students of india before 15 years. any one can tell me now onward progress of this project?
March 8th, 2010 at 2:26 pm
hai super laptop sir
April 29th, 2010 at 10:31 pm
i am from chennai student. how can i get this laptop? when it will distribute to students? where can i buy properly?
June 18th, 2010 at 4:48 pm
Sir, i am student i really need this laptop so please tell me how can i buy this laptop.
June 18th, 2010 at 4:50 pm
Sir, i am student of IT. in polytechnic mysore. i really need this laptop so please tell me how can i buy this laptop.