On Thursday 29 July 2010 22:01:45 Surya Sharma wrote:
On July 22 a $35 (or 1500 INR) hand-held Linux computing device was unveiled by Shri Kapil Sibal, the Union Minister for Human Resource Development of India.
The complete article is available on linux journal at the URL:
http://www.linuxjournal.com/content/indias-35-tablet-everything-k iller
There are no complete articles on this thing, no details, just the same image and hype. I'd really like to see this go into production, but there's too much hype to be here in time and at that cost.
Looks like a con job, EXCEPT that there were some very reputable names (both persons and institutions) linked to it. IMO a BOM price of $35 would be barely acheivable, given a massive and immediate investments in a semi conductor and LCD fab. One might consider this investment by the government a one time subsidy for kick starting a strategically vital LSI industry. IMO they maybe excused for poking their nose in industry with public money. If, after such an investment, the fab does manage to distribute a $50 kit and continues to do so in sufficient quantity for 3yrs, i would consider the investment to be an astounding success.
Inspite of all the evidence I dearly hope that this is true.