The Rs. 1,600 Computing Device

The HRD minister yesterday unveiled a low cost computing-cum-access device. In response to a lot of misunderstanding and ridicule, the government cleared up that the device was not a laptop. The device uses open-source technology to cut down costs said someone close to the source but who wished to remain unnamed.

SOURCE: PC World

Here's an image of the device and its expected capabilities from trak.in

The minimum expected capabilities of the device include:

• Support for video web Conferencing facility
• Multimedia
  content viewer for example .pdf, docx, .ods, adp, .doc, .xls, .jpeg,
  .gif, .png, .bmp, .odt, .zip, AVCHD, AVI, AC3, etc.
• Searchable Pdf reader
• Unzip tool for unzipping zip files.
• Possibility of installing suitable firmware upgradation.
• Computing capabilities such as Open Office , SciLab , cups (for printing support)
• Media player capable of playing streamed as well as stored media files.
• Internet browsing with flash plug-in, JavaScript, pdf plug-in java.
• Wireless communication for Audio/video I/O.
• loud computing option.
• Remote device management capability.
• Multimedia input output interface option (for allowing DTV, IPTv, DTH, streaming etc.)

More details have come out about the device.

According to the Indian Express, the device will run on Linux with a 5"-9" touchscreen.

According to the Economic Times, the device will have a touch screen and a built-in keyboard along with a 2 GB RAM memory, wi-fi connectivity, USB port and powered by a 2-watt system to suit poor power-supply areas.

According to the Hindu work is being done to provide the device with solar panels which would effectively raise its cost.

Here's another picture of the device.

The HRD minister said that one million of these computers will be produced initially for students, increasing capacity in the future. Mass production will start in three months, outside of India but will be brought to India after a few months. An anonymous official indicated that the production will take place in Taiwan.

Source: Live Mint.com

Because the device is open source, it doesn't have a hard drive.

This device is the Indian government's answer to MIT's (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) One Laptop Per Child program five years ago where the institution was selling laptops for $100 to develop computer awareness and education across the developing world.

According to Reuters, Sibal said the Linux based computing
device was expected to be introduced to higher education institutions
from 2011 but the aim was to drop the price further to $20 and
ultimately to $10. India spends about three percent of its annual budget
on school education and has
improved its literacy rates to over 64 percent of its 1.2 billion
population but studies have shown many students can barely read or write
and most state-run schools have inadequate facilities.

Here's another picture of the device, sent by the ministry.