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General discussion

India's $10 laptop that isn't...

Feb 3, 2009 11:46PM PST

India's $10 laptop that isn't...

http://i.gizmodo.com/5145998/indias-10-laptop-basically-a-big-dumb-joke
excerpt:
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The thing, as described by the Times of India:
{"}A storage device containing megabytes of data info which can be accessed by a user by connecting this device to a laptop.{"}

Oh. That description sounds an awful lot like a USB drive, observed through computer-illiterate eyes. However, the only picture available of the device shows a small white box with lots of attached cabling, indicating that there's more happening here than simple storage. You know, something exciting, like networked storage!
*****

Mega-disappointment, fail. Surprised? By the original claim, I'm not. If I had to guess, it was some way to drumming up press coverage. In an age where government transparency is demanded, governments cannot keep playing this card...

Honestly, I thought it would be a calculator + many extra features.

I do wonder if this the government is keeping other details under wraps - such as if the device is to be a terminal-like device and dependent on massive IT infrastructure for it to function.

--S

Discussion is locked

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epic fail. very annoyed. vvtf.
Feb 4, 2009 12:13AM PST

sresly, i mean everyone bought into it depite the fact that, cmon. 20 bucks... how would you get it down to that cheap... i mean none of the articles i ever read was able to explain the cost, but they did explicitly say that they were not being subsidized.

this whole thing is a really annoying advert stunt? pffft. id never buy anything like that ever after that farce... jerks.

-dr. k

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and think of the disappointed indian families...!
Feb 4, 2009 12:16AM PST

i mean what if a poor family was excited about being able to finally have a computer...? and now its a stupid brick of a usb drive? guh! freakin jerks!