Zeebiz Bureau
New Delhi: This news might disappoint a lot of Aakash tablet enthusiasts. The much hyped tab may now come with enhanced features but it may pinch on your wallet.
According to a newspaper report the price of water and shock proof Aakash 2 with four time faster processor and better battery life will cost USD 100 (Rs 4900 approx) double than its inaugural price.
Aakash tablet was launched in last October by HRD minister Kapil Sibal.
Reportedly, technology companies have told the government that it is impossible to supply a million Aakash 2 tablets at the original cost. Datawind, a Canadian company, had got the order to supply the government one lakh tablets at USD 50.
The price hike debate started after Indian Institute of Technology, Rajasthan had specified some test criterions for the tablet and if the government has to follow the criterions than it will not be able to provide the tab in the USD 50 price tag.
The specifications given by IIT Rajasthan are that the tablet should function at 20 degree and up to 50 degree Celsius, withstand steep and sudden fall and waterproof.
It has specified a 1.2 Gega Hertz (Ghz) microprocessor as against 366 mega hertz (Mhz) in Aakash and 700 RAM megabytes, double of the original. The battery specified can run up to eight hours.
First Published: Saturday, February 11, 2012, 20:23