<http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jK-xNItHUfhfEVUEP_BvLbXmDlrwD9H4MP680>

<quote>
MUMBAI, India — It looks like an iPad, only it's 1/14th the cost:
India has unveiled the prototype of a $35 basic touchscreen tablet
aimed at students, which it hopes to bring into production by 2011.

If the government can find a manufacturer, the Linux operating
system-based computer would be the latest in a string of "world's
cheapest" innovations to hit the market out of India, which is home to
the 100,000 rupee ($2,127) compact Nano car, the 749 rupees ($16)
water purifier and the $2,000 open-heart surgery.

Mamta Varma, a ministry spokeswoman, said falling hardware costs and
intelligent design make the price tag plausible. The tablet doesn't
have a hard disk, but instead uses a memory card, much like a mobile
phone. The tablet design cuts hardware costs, and the use of
open-source software also adds to savings, she said.

Varma said several global manufacturers, including at least one from
Taiwan, have shown interest in making the low-cost device, but no
manufacturing or distribution deals have been finalized. She declined
to name any of the companies.
</quote>

On Jul 23, 8:06=A0am, Hardon <hardon.qu...@gmail.com> wrote:
> <http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jK-xNItHUfhfEVUEP_B...=
>
>
> <quote>
> MUMBAI, India =97 It looks like an iPad, only it's 1/14th the cost:
> India has unveiled the prototype of a $35 basic touchscreen tablet
> aimed at students, which it hopes to bring into production by 2011.
>
> If the government can find a manufacturer, the Linux operating
> system-based computer would be the latest in a string of "world's
> cheapest" innovations to hit the market out of India, which is home to
> the 100,000 rupee ($2,127) compact Nano car, the 749 rupees ($16)
> water purifier and the $2,000 open-heart surgery.
>
> Mamta Varma, a ministry spokeswoman, said falling hardware costs and
> intelligent design make the price tag plausible. The tablet doesn't
> have a hard disk, but instead uses a memory card, much like a mobile
> phone. The tablet design cuts hardware costs, and the use of
> open-source software also adds to savings, she said.
>
> Varma said several global manufacturers, including at least one from
> Taiwan, have shown interest in making the low-cost device, but no
> manufacturing or distribution deals have been finalized. She declined
> to name any of the companies.
> </quote>

I want one.

Hardon <hardon.quark@gmail.com> wrote:

> Varma said several global manufacturers, including at least one from
> Taiwan, have shown interest in making the low-cost device, but no
> manufacturing or distribution deals have been finalized. She declined
> to name any of the companies.

Hmm.  I guess even a slave's job can be outsourced.

I caught the tail end of a documentary on fast food last night.
I'll have to watch it next time it's on, because it showed these
people training to run the drive-through, and it commented that
even those jobs might one-day be outsourced over the internet...
something to the effect that the only thing standing in the way
was the importance of understanding the voice on the other end,
and possible cultural objections to pushing beef products.

On 2010-07-23, Rockinghorse Winner <ny6p01@gmail.com> claimed:
> On Jul 23, 8:06 am, Hardon <hardon.qu...@gmail.com> wrote:
>> <http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jK-xNItHUfhfEVUEP_B...>
>>
>> <quote>
>> MUMBAI, India — It looks like an iPad, only it's 1/14th the cost:
>> India has unveiled the prototype of a $35 basic touchscreen tablet
>> aimed at students, which it hopes to bring into production by 2011.

>> </quote>
>
> I want one.

Maybe for novelty reasons. But I seriously doubt I could ever be
satisfied with a tablet.

I _have_ considered changing a netbook to a dual-screen touch device as
I found instructions to do for the Aspire One. It'd cost considerbly
more than the item mentioned above. It would also be much cheaper than
the (max)iPad. And probably more useful as well. I still don't think it
would be used much if I did it, though. So I haven't bothered to even
get started.

-- 
Unrecoverable Error #666: Armegeddon in 30..29..28..27..
Aspire One, Linux Mint 9 (LXDE)
Friends don't let friends use Windows