For students, tablets are absolutely great. Why? Because textbooks are ridiculously expensive. They can easily reach $250 each. I'm not kidding. Electronic versions of them are substantially cheaper. If you are going to read eBooks, then you want the lightest, most portable reader there is. That's usually a tablet. If you save $150 per textbook by buying e-versions, then a $99 investment for a tablet reader has an immediate net return.
Besides, with an eBook, you can adjust the size of the print and the page. Makes studying easier. Plus, the tablet weighs a lot less than the huge, heavy text.
This is a lesson for any company that needs to have heavy documentation on hand for any purpose. A tablet lets every employee keep a full set of docs on hand for easy, immediate use. Plus you have communications, the ability to read QR codes, and who knows what else?
I like both my laptop and my iPad tablet but I will not trade the former for the latter. Tablets are great devices, but you don't buy one just to follow the current trends. I bought one because I needed an e-reader, but I was not satisfied with my experience with a standard reader. I haven't regret my purchase, even though I'm doing "very" little thing with my tablet than I would like to.
Barbara - I can relate. Many of these convenience devices such as e-readers and tablets, do not promise the return I'd be looking for. But then, like you, I too am using an old non-smart cell phone, so we're not necessarily prime targets.
Ashish, your great post allows me to put on present board one of the thoughts got back to me while reading Barbara's editorial and below posts. Will be in the future a unique device for everything, I mean for any personal needs? (making call, watching video, word processing, reading e-book)
I would think university students might be on a budget, but not economically disadvantaged.
@stochastic excursion in India 50% of the university seats are reserved for economically/socially backward students. They can't afford to buy 100$+ tablets. The main reason behind the government providing tablets to university students is to erase the digital divide between rich and the poor.
Aakash isn't going to appeal to the mass market either as a souped-up e-reader or as a stripped-down tablet.
@Barbara, In my opinion Aakash is going to appeal to the mass market. One of the engineering colleges here where my brother is studying is offering this tablet at 1600 INR (32$). He was saying that 90% of the college has registered to buy this tablet. I think 30$ price tag will attract many customers.
I'm curious as to why the Indian gov't would need to provide tablets to university students. I would think university students might be on a budget, but not economically disadvantaged. Also the money might be better spent advancing literacy among the public.
I wouldn't want to get too dependent on a computer provided to me by the government. In light of recent events the government may well want to keep tabs on students, and that would be a good way to do it.
Anne,
The Nano was actually a big flop in India.
The main reason being-People wanted a higher quality product and are willing to pay more for it.
Now Tata Motors is planning to export it countries poorer than India like Sri Lanka,Nepal and parts of Africa were they hope it will be a better success than in India.
Regards
Ashish.
Backorder,
I had posted on this issue here as well.
http://www.ebnonline.com/messages.asp?piddl_msgthreadid=242468&piddl_msgid=477802#msg_477802
Lets just wait and watch the initial reviews and results first.
At the price-point you mention[Maximum USD 60];there are about 3 smartphones(with reasonable internet connectivity in the Indian market today]
However none of them come from the major/well-established vendors.
That's primarily because of the Huge amount of Sales tax slapped on all phones sold in India.Give tax-breaks on the lowest cost phones and see adoption zoom upwards...
The moment you add more complexity into an electronic product the cost and reliability immediately suffers.
This is an issue which will not be escaped by the Akash as well.
Regards
Ashish.
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Thailand Stages a Comeback Join EBN contributor Jennifer Baljko on Thursday August 23, 2012, at 11:00 a.m. EST for a live chat on how electronic manufacturers in Thailand have shored up their supply chain to reduce the impact of future natural disasters.
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Join EBN contributor Jennifer Baljko on Thursday August 23, 2012, at 11:00 a.m. EST for a live chat on how electronic manufacturers in Thailand have shored up their supply chain to reduce the impact of future natural disasters.
Peter Drucker famously said "Trying to predict the future is like trying to drive down a country road at night with no lights while looking out the back window." Yet in the razor's-edge world of electronics—with a lean supply chain and just-in-time demands—the need to know the future is vital.
While no one really can accurately predict the future, we can take guidance from another Drucker saying which is the best way to predict the future is to create it.
You've heard the saying "the No. 1 supply chain risk is your people." That hasn't always been the case. But today's complex global supply chain requires a new type of multitalented employee. It's one who understands, finance, marketing, economics, is savvy with technology, graceful with relationships and can think analytically.
Where are these people? Are universities properly preparing the next generation supply chain professionals? How do train your existing workforce for these new, demanding positions?
Brian Fuller, editor-in-chief of EBN, will lead a 60-minute Avnet Velocity panel discussion that will ask and answer these and other questions swirling around today's supply-chain talent challenges.
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