I saw a news report about that $38 tablet, and believe me, its no ipad or playbook. its a very low quality version of a tablet designed just for students.
I don't see this tablet as a game changer or a competitor. it is just to make life easier for students, it can hardly do anything else.
@Prabhakar - I suspected that when I read the article. But it sounds like an effextive way to get the product into the hands of the public. It will be iteresting to hear reviews on it.
For a Govt which is in as much debt as the Indian Govt is(which is effectively leading to more and more Money-printing and the end result is Inflation);do you think the Indian Govt can afford to subsidize a Tablet to such an extent(over 50%),especially a device which may or may not be reliable.Would'nt it have made more sense to go with one of the bigger and more established players and get it sold through Govt channels at Cost Price(without any subsidies)???
What comes in $38 is a base product with limited memory and no camera. The Govt of India will be giving subsidy on this product when it is sold to the students. So my guess is the actual price with optional add-ons and without govt subsidy will turn out to be around $100.
This sounds like an excellent price point to get many people interested, or to use in schools as cheaper alternatives. My wife and I have the same thoughts as you. We would like a tablet, but wondered what would we really do with it. The laptop goes anywhere when the possibility of work is there, we both have smartphones to take care of things when we don't have the laptop. We had the chance to buy the Touchpad, and decided not to at the last minute because we just didn't see the need for it right now.
I'm sure the time will come when we buy our first screen, and hopefully just take that along instead of the laptop but who knows when that will be.
I hemmed and hawed for a while on the value of an Ereader considering I already have a laptop and smart phone (and I am a thrifty Scotsman too) but eventually I spent the $100 on a Kindle and was immediately hooked. It is perfect for reading and I like it much better for reading novels than laptops, phones and even the books themselves.
I guess a lower price will not be atractive but instead people with doubt in Quality of the produt, they should improve their marketing skills... dont you think?
the Aakash isn't going to appeal to the mass market either
@Barbara, Aakash will be distrubuted among college students at very affordable rates. This device is released by the government of India with the intenet of erasing the digital divide. This device is a very good news for many of Indian rural students who couldn't have afforded a Tablet.
Most people use only 10-20% of feature of most advanced product. It is not really the need of some essential feaures or need of device in itself. But when one has more money, ones need increases to spend this money and they end up buying extra screens - TV or computer or other devices.
For example, I have advanced laptop at home alongwith two other highend desktops, but I mainly use it only for internet and email. My wife always complain for it. Now, I may like to get iPAD!
If the prices in the tablets continue to decrement like that in a few years, everything will have a touch screen with android os inside. I am going beyond the article, and I can say that don't be surprised if you see the new electronic revolution taking part inside your house.
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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.
Euro-Crisis: What It Means for High-Tech Firms Join EBN Editor in Chief Bolaji Ojo and Contributing Editor Jennifer Baljko on Thursday, July 12, at 10:00 a.m. EDT for a Live Chat on high-tech and Europe's economic difficulties.
Microsoft Surface: Potential Winners & Losers What are the implications for the electronics industry supply chain of Microsoft Corp.'s decision to launch its own tablet PC? Join industry veteran and EE Times' systems and OEM expert Rick Merritt on Tuesday, July 3, at 12:00 pm EDT for a Live Chat on this subject.
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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