Aakash Tablet review

Aakash Tablet Commercial LaunchPostponed To Jan 2012

Themuch anticipated Android tablet, Aakash, will not be launched this year. Youneed to wait little more to own the world’s cheapest Android Tablet, priced atRs 3,000.

Arepresentative of DataWind, the Canadian owned company that is developingAakash for the government of India, has recently announced that an upgradedversion of Aakash Tablet would be available in the market by the end of theJanuary, 2012.

Aakashwas supposed to be available in retail stores by 2011 November end. So, theactual launch has been delayed for about 2 months. The Data Wind representativesaid that the delay in launch of the tablet had been due to improvements in thetablet and some issues related to manufacturing.

 

Thegood news about this postponement is that the improved version would includecertain upgrades in terms of Operating System and processor speed. The originalversion was announced with a 366 MHz processor, the upgraded version wouldpossess a much faster Cortex A8-700 MHz processor along with graphics acceleratorand HD video processor.

Otherspecifications include a resistive touchscreen, , 2GB internal memory, and 256MB RAM, one standard USB port, 3 mm audio jack, 7 inch display with 800 x 480pixel resolution, GPRS and WiFi support.

Thecompany had previously announced that the premium tablets available in themarket are for the higher class and DataWind could not compete with them at theprice it is offering the tablet for; also added that it is manufacturing highquality products in India for Indian users at a reasonable price.

Thechief executive officer of DataWind, Suneet Singh Tulu, had earlier said to themedia that they had not set any time frame for future launches yet they wereworking on 9 and 10 inch Android Tablets. They would include capacitivetouchscreens and the company would try to price them under Rs 5,000.

Aakash Tablet Version 2.0

ByFebruary 2012, an improved and more competent Aakash-2, world’s most affordabletablet PC, is expected to be launched at the same price as its previousversion. Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Rajasthan has confirmed theimprovements made in Aakash-1, which was launched on October 5. HRD ministerKapil Sibal said that new version of Aakash will be launched duringJanuary-February, 2012.

Aakashhas got an ample response internationally, when exhibited at a recent UnitedNations conference in Paris. Aakash has shown so much of interest among severalinternational organizations and world leaders. HRD Minister Kapil Sibal said.“Several prime ministers and ministers have evinced interest in Aakash who wantit for their country in thousands,” he told media correspondents withoutelaborating.

TheAakash-2, based on response from more than 500 users of Aakash-1 in IITs andmany other institutions, will include microprocessor of 800MHz instead of366MHz processor. It will improve the speed of the tablet and will enabledownloading videos from internet.

TheRAM (Random Access Memory) of the Aakash-2 will be enhanced to 1GB from 256 MBin Aakash-1 that restricted multi-tasking.

Asenior professor at IIT Rajasthan, who is leading the Aakash team, said thatchanges would increase the performance of the tablet and would be morecompetent to the existing tablet PCs in the market.

Inorder to make Aakash-2 smarter, the IIT Rajasthan has decided to include abuilt-in camera to it, to ensure video chatting facility to its users. It alsowill include a seven-inch touch screen for a better look.

 

Thisversion is a result of feedback from IIT students, who tested Aakash-1, andclaimed some of the problems of the current version, which include frequenthanging, overheating within 30 minutes, not supporting all formats, poor soundquality, and lack of ability to install software available online.

Thoughthe Aakash-2 will be available by February 2012, to meet the government’starget of supplying it to 2 million students is still a challenge.

“Wehave to evolve an eco-system of several vendors and its testing by IITs andother institutes to provide an Aakash to each child by 2017 (end of 12thplan),” a senior HRD ministry official said.

As incase of Aakash-1, where companies like London based DataWind, India based Quadcame together, the government believes that Aakash-2 will make a biggercollaboration

Asthe HRD Minister Sibal said that several international organizations and worldministers have shown interest to purchase Aakash for the children world-wide,this collaboration will be very essential. The minister, who has been marketingAakash since its launch, also said. “There is a lot of global buzz about Aakashand we have to meet the global expectation”.\

Specifications of Aakash Tablet – TheCheapest Tablet Yet

TheIndian made Aakash LCAD Tablet was launched on 5th October 2011! It has beencalled ‘Aakash’ which literally translates to ‘Sky’. The tablet has basicallybeen developed for students and keeping this in mind the price of the tablethas been kept affordable. The tablet was developed as an initiative by theMinistry of Human Resources and Development under Government of India. Thebasic version would cost a student only Rs 1,500 which is around $35. This isbecause of the subsidies that will be offered to students and institutions usingthe tablet. These would be available through government organizations tostudents and educational institutions. The commercial version which would havea few more features than the basic version would be marginally costlier.However, the Aakash LCAD Tablet still holds the distinction of being theworld’s cheapest computing device.

Whenwe talk of the specifications provided in the tablet experts feel that they aregood but could have been better. The PC tablet is not meant for gaming purpose,it has in fact been developed especially for students, and it would be right tosay it meets that purpose. To understand this we must first take a look at thegeneral specifications of the tablet.

Specifications of Aakash LCAD Tablet

•    Cost – Rs 2,276 (approximately $50) –Approximately Rs. 1500 for students
•     Size – 190.5×118.5×15.7mm
•     Screen size – 7” resistive
•     Weight – 350gms
•     Operating System – Android 2.2(AndroidMarketplace is missing, instead Getjar is installed)
•     Processor -366 MHz, plus GraphicsAccelerator and HD Video Co-processor
•     Memory -256 MB RAM
•     Storage –2GB Micro SD card expandable up to32GB
•     Connectivity – 2 USB ports (full sized)
•     Battery – 2100mAh
•     Camera – External USB
•     Network – Wi-Fi Enabled
•     Web Browser – DataWind Accelerated Browser
•     Modem – Inbuilt cellular and SubscriberIdentity Module (SIM)

Thenumber of computer users in the world has grown manifold. In India however thepercentage is less. Majority of school children do not have access to acomputer. This little device will enable all students to own a computer and itcan aid in improving the educational levels especially in rural areas. Thetablet is affordable and is developed for the masses, yet it has everything atablet computer must be. The small size and light weight make it convenient tocarry the device around and this is just the beginning of its advantages.

Advantages of the Tablet

·        It coalesces access to available data in onedevice

·        It provides different learning styles

·        Has inimitable capabilities

Theone big advantage is the touch screen, which can be used to write notesdirectly on the tablet using the stylus. This is of immense help to studentswho can store the notes and access them later for reviewing and compiling thenotes. The flat surface enables the tablet to be placed on a desk or any otherworking surface for easy use. Overall it is a good device with some incrediblefeatures and specifications

The Unbelievable Price of the AakashTablet

Whennews of the Aakash Tablet first made headlines, it appeared to be no less thana myth. The device itself was not a question of debate; it was the cost of thecomputing device that raised many an eyebrow, within the country as well asoverseas. The device was touted to be priced at around $35 and that appeared tobe a fairy tale.

AakashTablet Price for Students – Expected to be Rs.1500-1750 (After Rs.750 subsidyby the government, only for students)

Aakash Tablet Price in Retail Market– Rs. 3000 (inclusive of all taxes)

Note:Aakash Tablet in the retail market is called as Datawind Ubislate and it willhave added features when compared to the student’s version.

CostBreakup

TheAakash Tablet is priced at an unbelievably affordable price, which is just Rs2,276 when converted in to Indian money. The price is inclusive of all thetaxes that are levied on such products by the Government of India. Though theAakash Tablet exceeds the originally quoted price of $35, it is still pricedlow and within the means of the masses.

Thedevice is the result of the arduous efforts by the Ministry of Human Resourceand Development which decided on developing a computing device which could beused by students across the country. Their initiative paid dividends and theresult is the world’s cheapest Tablet.

Thebreakdown price of the device is as follows

·        Originally quoted price – $ 35

·        Cost of manufacturing the device – $ 37.98

·        Cost of warranty, transportation andmiscellaneous costs $ 12

Thetotal adds up to $ 49.98, which is the final cost of the computing device. TheGovernment of India will provide subsidy to institutions which will enable themto distribute the computing device to the students at half the cost.

Thecomputing device was designed and manufactured by DataWind, a British firm inalliance with IIT with the support of (NME-ICT) National Mission on Educationthrough Information and Communication Technology that comes under the aegis ofthe Ministry of Human Resources and Development.

DataWindis supplying the HRD ministry 100,000 tablets for only Rs 2,250 per component,and the price is inclusive of freight charges and taxes. Further, after thesuccessful launching of the computing device in India, the (OLPC) One Laptopper Child chairman Mr. Nicholas Negroponte has extended an offer of givingIndia the access to all the OLPC technology free of cost for all futureinnovations and products

Thecomputing device is compact and it is 25.5 cm long and 12.5 cm wide. The devicehas been examined by leading analyst and found to be working as good as anyother computing device.

How to Buy Aakash Tablet?

AakashTablet is not yet sold to public or distributed to students. Circulation tostudents is expected in one or two months.

Forstudents, it will be distributed through universities. So, get in touch withyour university officials if you are keen to get it.

StudentsVersion Price: Rs.1500-Rs.1750 (without SIM and GPRS facility)

Studentsversion has a wifi connection to access internet.

RetailPrice: Rs.3000 inclusive of taxes (With SIM and GPRS facility)