AAKASH: The cheap Tablet

      Yes you heard me right; the cheapest tablet in the world has been named AAKASH meaning SKY. Yes launched in India on 5^th oct 2011 , the day that ll be remembered for Apple Man Steve Jobs than Kapil Sibal releasing this tablet.

      So cheap means it costs only $35 i.e. approx Rs1750. isn’t that cheap?? An android 2.2, 7” tablet for just a little over Rs1500 is quite affordable.

Best part of the tablet is it ll carry a “Made In India” tag. Though most of the parts have been procured from outside. But still assembled in Hyderbad , Andhra Pradesh. So this is a complete desi product. This is what Mr.Sibal had to say during the launch.

The rich have access to the digital world, the poor and ordinary have been excluded. Aakash will end that digital divide.
Telecoms and Education Minister Kapil Sibal .

The big question is “Will it end the digital divide? “

To go about the problems it can face, first let’s see its specs:

Features

• Unbeatable Price:
• Only Rs.2,999 for the UbiSlate
• Monthly internet charges: Rs.98 / 2GB
• High Quality Web Anytime & Anywhere:
• Connect via GPRS or WiFi
• GPRS: Embedded modem eliminates the need for external dongles and allows Internet access everywhere
• WiFi: Allows fast Youtube videos at hotspots
• Fast web access even on GPRS networks, across the country using DataWind’s patented acceleration technology
• Web, Email, Facebook, Twitter and much much more!
• Multimedia Powerhouse:
• HD Quality Video
• Watching movies in the palm of your hand on a 7” screen
• Audio library software helps manage your full collection of songs
• Applications Galore with Android 2.2:
• Games
• Productivity software: Office suite
• Educational software
• Over 150,000 apps!
• Full sized-USB port & Micro-SD slot:
• Expand memory to 32GB
• Use any ordinary pen-drive
• Even plug-in a 3G dongle
• And It’s a Phone!

So these are the specs I got off the AAKASH TABLET official website.

The problems hindering its success are many.

• ·       First is that the $35 model ll not support inbuilt cellular modem nor sim to access internet. So the only way to access internet is Wi-Fi hotspots and USB dongles. And since this tablet is targeted at poor students or to say student with limited resources the Govt should think about providing better mobile network facilities.

• ·       Wi-Fi hotspots in cities are so rare. Will a village have Wi-Fi hotspots??

• ·       The $60 model ll have support for both inbuilt modem and sim facilities but the network ll still be a problem. The village where my father grew up still runs a GPRS rather than EDGE. Forget streaming videos viewing simple sites can be irritating.

• ·        So for an android device to work with full functionality internet is must. Apart from spending 1750rs, ll the middle class be able to afford the USB dongles again at extra money.

• ·        At present only AIRCEL is supported with the device. That is Rs 98/2GB data plan. This is not the 3G plan for sure. I have a 3G phone but still I don’t use a 3G plan because ill have to shell out more money for that. The Govt must first ensure the 3G rates are less. :P

• ·       Next thing is that it has a 2100mAh embedded battery, means it can’t be removed. And the backup is very poor. Only 3hrs. Huh??

• Yeah only 3hrs. You heard it write. Major cities have power shortages and the situations in village are horrible. So people ll have it plugged in most of the time for better usage.

• ·       Android 2.2 is not bad and I don’t have to say anything about android either. But the worth thing to note here is that the maker of the tab have removed the Android Market and replaced it with their own market/apps.

• ·       This is a perfect move considering the fact that the AAKASH is not a powerhouse. It runs on a 366Mhz(I never new they still manufacture such slow processor) and having so many apps running simultaneously is not advised. And the apps that are provided within the tab are nice and correct for the students.

• ·       Screen is resistive 800*480… this is dull, but for a tab to be cheap using resistive screens was the idea.

• ·       I don’t know how many of the students are gonna buy this , I am sure even if parents ll be interested in buying it. Probably it should be distributed for free just like how jayalalitha the CM of TamilNadu has planned to distribute free laptops.

• ·       Don’t expect hardware like accelometer or g sensors on this tab.

• ·       Personally I feel 366Mhz is enough for running most of the apps they have provided. But still the specs make this Tab look outdated. Don’t know how much the govt has spent and how much has been pocketed by the ministers themselves. But such cheap tabs are available in china with better specs J

• ·       Finally this Tab is not an ipad killer for sure :P this tab is for the students , esp for the students of the villages and small cities where they cannot afford the ipad or galaxy tabs or laptops.

·             It would be interesting to see if AAKASH is a success considering the fact that it is an outdated product in any dept and for its specs. But one thing to be proud of it that it is “MADE IN INDIA “ product.

PS: Wish the Govt had spent the money on providing better educational facilities and hygiene in rural places rather than provide them with an electronic gadget and expect them to read and obtain gyan from it.