India's $10 Laptop is no OLPC Killer

Techtree News Staff, Feb 05, 2009 1624 hrs IST

What you get for Rs.500 are the following: 2GB of storage memory, WiFi connectivity, Ethernet port(s) and USB connectivity

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After being bombarded with various media reports about India's very own $10 laptop, its time to get real.

The much-touted cheap computing device named "Sakshat" turned out to be a fancy "pen-drive" as The Times of India put it, with some bells and whistles. The details of the product, which are still not available, were unveiled by the Ministry of Human Resource Development at Tirupati recently.

As for the product, what you get for Rs.500 are the following: 2GB of storage memory, WiFi connectivity, Ethernet port(s) and USB connectivity. This is a far cry from the laptop it was touted to be. For starters, there is no screen on this one -- so there goes the computing device mumbo-jumbo. What this means is that for it to display data stored on it, it will need a compatible output device (which could be a laptop!).

The "Sakshat" measures 10"x5" and will be priced at $10 even though the manufacturing costs had reached almost $30. But then, thanks to a considerable cost cutting endeavor, the cost was finally bought down to $10.

So, will this be a threat to those other wannabe low cost computers some publications in the US had thought of? No way! However, it is important to understand the purpose of the device, which seems to have been nagged by an identity crisis ever since its initial announcement. While the Sakshat does a bad job of being a laptop, it does make sense if you consider the intentions behind the device. The Sakshat has been designed as a pure educational gadget to offer downloadable lessons and make online textbooks easily accessible. The aim was to set up electronic classrooms and make online textbooks freely available for download across 18000 colleges and 4 000 universities across India. That sounds good doesn't it? However, it was projected as a computing device, which we now know, it hardly is!

The Sakshat will be made available to the student community soon with the first lot reaching the colleges affiliated to The University of Andhra Pradesh soon.

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USER COMMENTS

i wanna to buy $10 laptop,from when it is available in the market?

by suresh, vizag, on May 06, 2009 08:37 PM, Report abuse Reply

Heyyyy I want to know from where can i buy the $10 sakshat or the $100 OLPC laptop in Delhi.Plz tell me soon if anyone knows..

by Sandeep Tripath, New Delhi, on May 06, 2009 10:18 AM, Report abuse Reply

This is a joke on india, all the stupid people behind this project should be fired --

by Nanus Pasru, Mumbai, on Feb 08, 2009 02:12 AM, Report abuse Reply

Joke will become a serious thing once it is released!!!

by deo, Bangalore, on Mar 04, 2009 09:14 AM, Report abuse

I wat to buy it. please give your Ph.no.and address

by Suraj, MARGAO GOA, on Feb 27, 2009 07:31 PM, Report abuse Reply

I want to buy nearly 20-30 cheapest laptops(china laptop will also do) that can run windows and have a screen size of mininimum 10". Plz advice.

by KUMAR, Delhi, on Feb 22, 2009 03:25 PM, Report abuse Reply

how can i purchase it ? send me the detail o this to my eamil PLEASE, contact me I WANT TO BUY ....

by Bharat Virani, Jamnagar, on Feb 15, 2009 01:27 PM, Report abuse Reply

hiiii how can i purchase it ? send me the detail o this to my eamil PLEASE, contact me I WANT TO BUY ....

by Wagderlin Roman, New York,N.Y. 10034, on Feb 11, 2009 03:12 AM, Report abuse Reply

I am curious to see what this device will turn out to be, after all. Regardless of the details, I hope it's something that can help out poor kids around the world.

by Vince Price, Spokane, Washington, USA, on Feb 11, 2009 01:26 AM, Report abuse Reply

excellent invention for indian student community. congrats to scients who made this achievement practiclly usable.

by R.Selvaraj., coimbatore, on Feb 08, 2009 01:50 PM, Report abuse Reply

if the darned thing plugs into a regular TV that almost every slumdog has access to, and maybe run on a standardized linux platform, has a virtual keyboard and taps into a regular phone jack for broadband and if the sakshat portal is up to snuff in providing the promised content, then every slumdog has the potential to bark. Unless traditional teaching techniques are fine tuned in India, non-traditional techniques will not only fail, but as we have seen in this instance, defy description! So let us slumdogs put our hands togetherr and ensure each one of us has a shot at being a millionaire taking us out of the ghetto we currently are in. Let not the only winner be a protagonist in Boyle's optic. Let us demand a traditional education system that is better that the conventional one that we are currently being deprived of.

by Peter Vas, Bangalore, on Feb 08, 2009 07:40 AM, Report abuse Reply

when will it be available in the market???

by ratika, kota, on Feb 08, 2009 12:43 AM, Report abuse Reply

only kabarwala can give 10$ laptop

by mohinder, palampur, on Feb 07, 2009 11:57 PM, Report abuse Reply

why people indulge in such laughable activities? Who fooled whom? Who lost credibility & self respect? Let us hope such stupid lies will not be repeated.

by Dr.K.N.Choudary, Hyderabad, on Feb 07, 2009 11:05 PM, Report abuse Reply

all lies...it's jst rubbish..those guys jst makin up stuff as usual..

by King, Somewhere..., on Feb 06, 2009 10:16 PM, Report abuse Reply

I think the reporters are making fun of low cost computing device, it is not presented as a laptop with good finish, it is a prototype model which has a small screen with virtual keyboard. And it is reported on other sites that it can run open office so it is a computer guys.

by Prashant Advani, Mumbai, on Feb 07, 2009 07:04 PM, Report abuse

hi king.. can u plz tell which coutry has designed a flash card with wifi an all the other stuffs which our guys have designed.in INDIA around 40% of population is middle class who don't have the capacilty to buy big gadgets . so this thing fits in our and their budget..think b4 u say something..

by salman, vellore., on Feb 07, 2009 09:28 PM, Report abuse

I want to buy a $10 laptop as fast as posibal please

by Adibabu, Bharuch, Gujarat, on Feb 07, 2009 03:02 PM, Report abuse Reply

want to buy a $10 laptop as fast as posibal

by love, ahmedabad, on Feb 06, 2009 09:11 PM, Report abuse Reply

I want to develop low cost laptop(fully indian operating system+low cost hardware) which will allow us to educate rural area childrens in india, anyone interested??

by Nitin Sawant, Mumbai, on Feb 06, 2009 05:52 PM, Report abuse Reply

contact me

by Preetam M N, Bangalore, on Feb 06, 2009 06:00 PM, Report abuse

If you have any plan,i think many will come forward.If yes you should promote your idea so that more and more people will know about it

by Rajvinder Pal, Bangalore, on Feb 06, 2009 07:48 PM, Report abuse

I didnt understand the main intension here. how will a boy read what he has downloaded. i think that without a output device is better for him to have in his classroom computer. people who went ahead with giving such good piece of hardware should have gone ahead with giving some sort of output device. it could have been just some TV out atleast.

by Preetam M N, Bangalore, on Feb 06, 2009 05:59 PM, Report abuse Reply

I would really apprecite the teams effort to set a laptop price goal for them , if not today possible , may be in future . because it is everybodies dream . So , ! Team very good ! Failures are always way to success.

by vimal kant saxe, noida, on Feb 06, 2009 05:45 PM, Report abuse Reply

what you say may say be right and you are given the right to write but open criticism of valuable cost cutter social service project can be criticized but not should not be discouraged

by george m soni, Cochin, on Feb 06, 2009 05:29 PM, Report abuse Reply

In some countries they use to make fun of Indian cars they imported. In the morning when they used to start they say ONLY NAHIN NAHIN NAHIN. So does our laptop story.

by Anjan Sethi, Teheran, on Feb 06, 2009 05:11 PM, Report abuse Reply

this is simple device that has come long before in the market..., our ministry is walking very slow on tech path....

by karni singh, jaipur, on Feb 06, 2009 04:55 PM, Report abuse Reply

Hi This shows how edgucated our our ministers are, they need to understnd between simple devices. As usual it's a simple publicity effort Keep expecting more True Indian

by Indian, Pune, on Feb 06, 2009 04:19 PM, Report abuse Reply

want to buy a $10 laptop as fast as posible

by love, ahmedabad, on Feb 06, 2009 03:47 PM, Report abuse Reply

hiiiiiiiiii this laptop is very good effort for india......m also like to buy this laptop so plz tell me the more detail............

by mandeep, bratea, on Feb 06, 2009 03:13 PM, Report abuse Reply

Crap

by Philip Peter, Bangalore, on Feb 06, 2009 03:13 PM, Report abuse Reply

How can i purchase it?send me the detail of this to my email id..........

by sumandeep, amritsar, on Feb 06, 2009 03:04 PM, Report abuse Reply

Common guys lets appreciate the efforts. Its only step 1. If lack of screen is a problem then any work in the direction of integrating this device with tv may be a solution. I say this becuase I hail from a remote village and see a positive penetration of tvs in villages. For those who are not in posession of tvs, govt can take an initiative here. After all this has already been done in states like TN (Karunanidhi's election soap)

by tejes, Hyd, on Feb 06, 2009 02:12 PM, Report abuse Reply

pls read "come on" instead of "Common' :)

by tejes, Hyd, on Feb 06, 2009 02:15 PM, Report abuse

This is got affort done by INDIA and it really so cheap and a poor student can also take advantage to the all category of studnet in INDIA AND it will be great helpful for every student even a poor one also

by PAWAN, Delhi, on Feb 06, 2009 02:06 PM, Report abuse Reply

Realy Its good for educational students and kids. And i don't bleave our country is going to give this much of cheaper laptop and tel me how to apply for this laptop.

by Ramadass, Chennai, on Feb 06, 2009 01:47 PM, Report abuse Reply

Hi sir i m interest this new laptop.plz sir

by shivrajkhakhlar, udalguri, on Feb 06, 2009 01:11 PM, Report abuse Reply

it will be great helpful for every student even a poor one also

by rambabu, hyd, on Feb 06, 2009 12:08 PM, Report abuse Reply

hiiiiiiii i want to buy this laptop, so plese give me a detail........................

by sumandeep, amritsar, on Feb 06, 2009 11:44 AM, Report abuse Reply

Where is the power to charge up this computing device? Rural parts of Maharashtra face power cuts from 8 to 12 hours and it is very erratic and unstable too. I suppose it will be better fo add a crank up handle for charging this device.

by Patel, India, on Feb 06, 2009 10:53 AM, Report abuse Reply

it really sounds great that india too has got its own laptop.. but i think still more upgradation is required..

by phiyjhlkf, mangalore, on Feb 06, 2009 10:45 AM, Report abuse Reply

Another scam from our scamdhra pradesh, what with 60% of IT engineers from here with bogus degrees, and IT honchos who are land grabbers, this is not entirely unexpected. At least the HRD ministry and the Press should have verified the product before endorsing it for a public release.

by srinivas, hyderabad, on Feb 06, 2009 10:11 AM, Report abuse Reply

Asus has similar laptop for Rs.15000 with same config. If you are getting the same for Rs.500 it should be great

by herdie, chennai, on Feb 06, 2009 01:19 AM, Report abuse Reply

ASUS is sellin a notebook-pc for that price. ie screen, intel processor, keyboard, pointing device, and can run windows. What is the config of Sakshat. all we know is 2GB RAM. There are no descent pictures available and neither any mention of configuration. All I am saying that reports indicated that this device was expected to compete with OLPC

by NiK, Mumbai, on Feb 06, 2009 10:10 AM, Report abuse

I am very appriciated to india govt.for provide laptop at $10 this is good for indian people and abroad.May we hope we shall get the above laptop in cheap price in our country myanmar.We are waiting for your abroad sale laptop made in india. Thank you sincerely kyaw tun

by u kyaw tun, Yangon, on Feb 06, 2009 08:57 AM, Report abuse Reply

I cant realy get u guys,u mean dat there is no screen? Hw can one knw wat he/she is doing.Pls reply cuz i wuld lyk 2 have one

by Michael, Benin,Nigeria, on Feb 06, 2009 07:52 AM, Report abuse Reply

i think our polititian are makeing our country as hell...... i don't know what will be the future of india

by tinku, mumbai, on Feb 06, 2009 04:41 AM, Report abuse Reply

I am totally surprised that many of you have critized blindly without looking into what the device is really. It has everything except a monitor. That should be something we have to be proud about. People who criticize should look into the mirror and see if you reflect what India is... and then comment on other's inventions. Some think that MIT is great... it is very important to see how much money goes into MIT and how much their alumini give.... has anyone bothered to give a dime to their alma matter here! I am ashamed of you guys who only know to criticize.

by Suresh, Indianapolis, indiana, on Feb 06, 2009 02:34 AM, Report abuse Reply

sound so nice as India then 10 $ then LAPTOP..........please think what the message you want to spread, We are able in all sense and if you manufacture any thing please Name it in it's realistic capacity........... Link our nations name for some PRIDE...................

by RATNESH, KANPUR, on Feb 06, 2009 02:17 AM, Report abuse Reply

Once more time it is proved that India will be just a backoffice for BPO. Not an R&D hub.

by Citizen Journal, NY, on Feb 06, 2009 02:02 AM, Report abuse Reply

Cannot expect much from VIT - Tamilnadu and the joint venture IISC - Bangalore. MIT - US is truly a research institute more than a college. Dumb colleges like VIT and IISC cannot walk by the side of MIT.

by Karthik, Bnagalore, on Feb 06, 2009 12:55 AM, Report abuse Reply

I think the R&D of pvt lab came out with recent innovations. Not from MIT. Many asian R&D is doing a better job in electronic innovations. Name few Samsun, Sony etc

by Citizen Journal, NY, on Feb 06, 2009 01:59 AM, Report abuse

It is a shame to all the tech community in India. You India find a name for your shame not laptop.

by Citizen Journal, NY, on Feb 06, 2009 01:57 AM, Report abuse Reply

Dongar pokhrun undir kadhala...

by Prasad, Pune, on Feb 05, 2009 11:05 PM, Report abuse Reply

the storage capacity can be upped a bit more, as the cost is already 30$ a bit more can be punched through and more capacity gives more freedom for usage as for output devices i think projectors would fit in well

by suran, delhi, on Feb 05, 2009 10:54 PM, Report abuse Reply

What the hell!! Pen drive ios already there so why a big box!!! of storage device

by Kaukab, NC, on Feb 05, 2009 08:37 PM, Report abuse Reply

Is this a pen-drive or a net-top? Does it have a processor or needs to be connected to mobile/laptop systems?

by marees, chennai, on Feb 05, 2009 08:31 PM, Report abuse Reply

It is a shame because of wrong publicity and creation of unrealistic expectations all around the world. Creating big expectations and when it comes to delivery, it s so poor!

by Anand, Bangalore, on Feb 05, 2009 07:22 PM, Report abuse Reply

A big shame!

by Anand, Bangalore, on Feb 05, 2009 07:17 PM, Report abuse Reply

When will our ministers understand the difference between a computer and a compooter?

by Aaruni Upadhyay, Allahabad, on Feb 05, 2009 06:15 PM, Report abuse Reply

What a goofup by the Indian Ministries. People world over were crying that its never possible to have a laptop costing $10, but still Indian media insisted. What a shame.

by Rahul, hyd, on Feb 05, 2009 05:49 PM, Report abuse Reply

by Danish Ahmad, ranchi, on Feb 05, 2009 05:40 PM, Report abuse Reply