India’s $35 tablet Sakshat to launch this month … finally!

The Indian government had in July this year, declared its intentions of launching a $35 tablet,  Sakshat , for students and teachers. It loo...

The Indian government had in July this year, declared its intentions of launching a $35 tablet, Sakshat, for students and teachers. It looks like this project is finally set to take off with the laptop being expected to be launched sometime this month.

These tablets will be powered by Linux Operating System and will be made by HCL Technologies. It is rumored that Microsoft had offered Windows CE to the Govt of India, but looks like the Govt finally settled on Linux.

Specifications:

• Operating System: Linux
• Display: 7-inch Touch Screen
• Keyboard: Built in
• RAM: 2GB
• 32GB hard drive
• Connectivity: WiFi, USB port
• Power: 2 watt
• Video conferencing facility
• Multimedia content
• Will support Open/Libre Office, SciLab and Internet browsing.

To begin with, 10,000 Sakshat tablets will be delivered to the Indian Institute of Technology, Rajasthan in late June. Over the next four months more than 90,000 tablet units will be made ready for delivery

They will cost Rs 2,200, but the government plans to further subsidize the cost by 50 per cent. This will bring down the cost to end-users to Rs 1100/-, that’s around $35.