A cheap prototype of Apple's much sought-after iPad has been unveiled in India, reports said on Friday.
Despite the uncanny similarity, the gadget from India, which was developed some of the country's top technology institutes, costs a mere $35, less than one-tenth of the iPad's $499 price tag.
The successful culmination of an initiative launched by the Indian government, the gadget is likely to hit the markets next year after a suitable manufacturer is identified.
India's Human Resources Development Minister Kapil Sibal, who unveiled the yet to be named 'techno-marvel' at a glitzy function in the capital New Delhi, indicated that it is likely to be introduced to the country's higher education sector in 2011.
He added that efforts were on to further slash costs which would enable the gadget's selling price to be pegged at an unbelievable $20 and finally to just $10 apiece.
The computer tablet includes features such as web browsing, video conferencing and word processing. The usual hard disk seen in computers has been replaced by a memory card, very similar to the ones used in mobile phones. The gadget can also run on solar energy- a tremendous advantage especially in India's rural areas-prone to erratic power supply- with the add-on costing a little bit extra.
According to a Ministry spokeswoman, falling hardware costs have made the gadget all the more attractive for the market. And she revealed that a couple of firms including some from Taiwan had evinced interest in the product without actually naming them.
Back in 2005, Nicholas Negroponte, who co-founded Massachusetts Institute of Technology's (MIT) Media Lab, came up with a prototype of a laptop costing $100 but New Delhi was none-too-impressed with the product's price which was deemed as too high.
The development is also expected to provide a major boost to the Indian government's plan to extend broadband connectivity to 500 varsities and 25000 colleges nationwide.
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June 12, 2026 17:14 ET Major central bank action was the focus this week in economic news. The European Central Bank became the first major central bank to move in response to the rising inflationary pressures in the backdrop of the conflict in the Middle East. In North America, the U.S. inflation and trade data as well as Canada’s central bank decision gained attention. The Chinese trade data was the main news in Asia.