The Jig Saw

Saturday, June 25, 2005

Made for India

Intel's working on a Made for India PC - a “a platform unique for India” and their team has been conducting extensive studies especially in the rural markets on PC usage. According to their findings user's would -

  • Be more willing to invest in a PC that works for a longer time despite abrupt power cuts
  • Invest in a PC that would work with the press of a single button, boot up, despite a system failure

However Mr L Wilton Agatstein Jr, VP, channels platforms group, Intel dismissed the view that low price would increase PC penetration; he said that price is rarely the primary concern for most users. The Intel platform would however be cost effective, he added.

Was wondering what’s Intel's definition of cost effective? And don't Indian's love 'low cost anything'?!

click here to read more

posted by Saloni Malhotra at 09:53

2 Comments:

  • Inspired by Thailand's successful information and communication technology (ICT)ministry's low-cost PC project in 2003, a number of other governments, such as in
    Malaysia, Indonesia, and Vietnam, are trying to implement similar programs this year in the interest of boosting IT awareness in their countries.

    Currently, 15 million people in India own a PC and there are 5 million Internet connections in the country. The aim of the Indian government is to increase the number of people owning a PC to 75 million and the number of Internet connections to 45 million by 2010. To achieve this objective, the country needs low-cost PCs. Some of teh issues relayted to low cost PC penetration are

    *Many of the programs will fall far short of targets due to challenges related to pricing and profitability, ensuing competition, and execution issues such as distribution and raising awareness.

    *Although Microsoft is under pressure to lower licensing fees as a result of such projects, it should be able to contain this to the local markets. Regardless, Linux will get some increased awareness and adoption, however small it may be.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 3:13 AM  

  • The PC, called the HCL Ezeebee Pride, has been manufactured by an Indian computer company called HCL Infosystems, which launched the system in Madras. It is priced at 9,990 rupees ($225) and includes all the basic features required for a first-time user.

    The system specifications include a 1GHz processor, 128 MB RAM, 40 GB hard drive, 15" CRT monitor, 52x CD-ROM drive, floppy drive, keyboard, mouse, and a Linux operating system.

    If they have built these machines which are aimed at poor families and rural areas of India ,I wonder how many users will actually be comfortable on a Linux platform. And even if they are how long will these machines work? How cost effective are they gonna be? People might as well pay a little more for much reliable computers.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 3:26 AM  

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