Why Aakash Tablet Is So Cheap?

Days the big bang launch of the Aakash Tablet by the government doubts are being raised over its efficiency and durability. If experts of the industry are to be believed, technical flaws, no hands-on experience, and the total cost of procuring it make the much-hyped gadget a disappointment for the buyers. The after sale report about the Aakash Tablet are extremely disappointing and those who bought the low cost gadget have only one reason to be happy- they are the privileged early users of the gadget.

During its launch, Union HRD Minister Kapil Sibal said, “To improve the system of education in India. Soon, a 35 dollar computer will be made available to every child in school. The tablet shall help enhance the quality of learning of children.”

Ironically, days after its launch doubts are being raised whether Aakash Tablet will really serve the purpose, whether it can aid students and improve the quality of education in the country. However, unfazed by the negative outlook surrounding the ‘fully sold-out low cost gadget’, its makers (Datawind) are preparing to launch the next version of it, the Ubislate Plus, which will have a few better specifications.

According to experts, the new version will have a look similar to the Chinese tablets and have the SIM card option.

Pricing: For those who think that Aakash comes at an astonishing low price-is really cheap, here are some figures:

Tablet cost – Rs 2500

Shipping cost – Rs. 200

A 4GB or 8GB MicroSD card – Rs 500 to Rs 800

No earphones given, purchase one – At least Rs. 400

Total: Rs 4000

Faulty Processor: The gadget may not be able to perform multiple tasks because the Android OS application would require enough memory to run a few applications and graphics. This can be understood from the fact that the cheapest Android mobiles from ‘Spice’ are equipped with 600 MHz processor, whereas the Aakash has just 336 MHz processor. So, half of it would always be kept on use for just running the OS.

Low memory + short storage = no entertainment: Aakash tablet can’t store heavy files and large number of songs since it has less video storage capacity. Although, the tablet’s memory can be expanded to 32GB but that would require more cash spending since a MicroSD card of 8GB is available for a price of around Rs 800 to 1000, making the cost of gadget exceed Rs 2500, as fixed by the government.  

Low battery, 2100 mAh: Experts say the Aakash Tablet does not have a powerful battery backup either. A longer lasting battery is important for a hassle free experience on a gadget like Aakash with comparatively big screen. This is significant since cheaper Android phone available in market come with a 1500 mAh battery, for mere 3 to 3.5-inch screens.

In such a case, most of the battery would be drained from that 2100 mAh capacity to just run the Aakash tablet. Although, the Datawind claims Aaakash has 180 minutes of power backup, but the firm fails to mention what kind of usage is possible with it. It the firm tries to limit the storage, its low processor will slow down the web browsing and reading, but can make the battery last for a max of 3 hours.

Poor display, reflects light: Aakash tablet’s screen resolution is very poor as its basic display has no High Definition output. Its screen reflects the light, and at its maximum brightness too, the tablet won’t be able to display the stuff well in the bright conditions. So, this restricts the use to use the tablet in a closed area, not under the sun.

Touchscreen is resistive, but too resistive: Unlike other sophisticated gadgets, Aakash’ touchscreen feature is said to be too resistive during a push and drag sequence or to select an icon or browsing through other applications. 

Heating up quickly: The processor installed in Aakash is heating up too quickly, experts say, as it is over-burdened to sustain speed needed to multitask. The tablet gets heated up within an hour of continuous usage, which has been confirmed through actual users who tried using the Wi-Fi and browsing the web for an hour.

No Bluetooth support: Aakash Tablets lack support for a USB dongle, unlike other high-tech devices like Ainol Novo 7 tablet that comes with the price of USD 100 and has support for any USB dongle. This feature enables the dongle to use any 3G SIM for the network connection.

No Android Market, no application upgrade: The Aakash Tablet misses the Android marketplace and that limits the usage to the given apps. Those who know how to get things done on it would try to install it separately, but the target buyers (in the rural areas) may have little knowledge of Androids.

Hardware won’t support upgrades: If at all you are trying to use your skills, and install 3rd party applications, the fact remains that many of the latest applications would need the latest Android OS, at least the gingerbread 2.3 version. But with the 366 MHz processor, upgrade would be difficult too.

Wi-Fi connectivity and poor network in India: With Aakash Tablet having the Wi-Fi option, poor connectivity is going to be a big impediment for users in rural areas.  Even the major Metropolitan cities in India struggle in providing Wi-Fi networks through the service providers, so one can easily imagine how will the users get the Wi-Fi network in rural areas?

No external speakers: As there is no external speakers connected to the device. Audio would need earphones and that would cost money.

Kerala University Offered Job to Einstein For Rs 6000 pm

Decades before India made a name for itself in the field of education, the tiny princely state of Travancore aimed it high in higher education and even made an unsuccessful bid to enlist services of great physicist Albert Einstein as Vice Chancellor of its fledgling university for a monthly pay of Rs 6000.

The Nobel prize winning scientist, considered as the founder of modern physics and one who developed the theory of general relativity, politely declined the invitation saying he wanted to join Princeton University in America.

The University, set up in 1937 as Travancore University, was renamed as University of Kerala later, and is planning year-long celebrations to mark its Platinum Jubilee this year.

According to late historian Prof A Sreedhara Menon, who authored a comprehensive history of the university, seeking Einstein's service for the state was the idea of the then Diwan (Prime Minister) of Travancore Sir C P Ramaswamy Aiyar.

Aiyar was a shrewd administrator and multi-faceted scholar who kept abreast of contemporary developments including those concerning modern science.

Citing records of local people’s council, Menon says Aiyar advised the reigning prince Chithira Tirunal Balarama Varma, the last Maharaja of Travancore, to invite Einstein to decorate the prestigious academic post.

Aiyar thought that the prestige and status of the university would get elevated if a great scientist like Einstein agreed to head it. According to writer and historian M G Sashibhushan CP, as Aiyar was popularly known, had tried to bring not only Einstein but many famous personalities from various academic disciplines as faculty of the university.

"I have heard people talking of CP’s public announcement about the proposal first at the Sree Chitra State Council. But as far as I know, unfortunately, the copy of the letter sent to Einstein is yet to be traced," Sashibhushan told Saroja Sundararajan, in her 'Sir C P Ramaswami Aiyar – A Biography', also says that the visionary administrator had tried to bring Einstein to Travancore University as Professor and Vice-Chancellor, Sashibhushan said.

Referring to Travancore's unfulfilled dream, Menon in his 'Sir CP Thiruvithamcore charitrathil' (Sir CP in Travancore History), says that Aiyar tried to bring Einstein to head the university offering a monthly offering a salary of Rs 6000 per month. But, due to his own reasons Einstein turned down the offer and joined Princeton University.

"An invitation to a genius like Einstein by a tiny state like Travancore is something truly amazing. But CP was such an astute administrator who would try to make impossible things possible," Sashibhushan said.

But there are some historians who think CP floated Einstein's name only to outwit those local academics who would have pulled strings and lobbied for the high post

Aiyar's intention was that only those who had proven excellence would be bold enough to propose themselves as candidates for the post when a great name like Einstein was doing the rounds.= The University of Travancore, now Kerala University, came into existence on November 1, 1937 with King Chitira Tirunal Balarama Varma as Chancellor, mother-queen Sethu Parvathy Bai as pro-Chancellor and CP as Vice-Chancellor.

The first university in Kerala and one of the 16 pioneering institutions of higher learning in India, Travancore University was set up on the model of Oxford and Cambridge in Britain. Before that, colleges in Travancore were affiliated to Madras University.

The Travancore administration in general and Aiyar, in particular, had faced stiff opposition from the Madras government (then British province) to get permission to set up an independent university.

Though a politically controversial figure and often at the receiving end of the nationalists and Communists, CP had made valuable contributions to developing Travancore as a modern state.

He had made sincere attempts to bring many leading academic figures of the time to the university as faculty to enhance the status of the institution.

After Einstein, CP tried to rope in a great scientist like CV Raman, philosopher and former President Dr S Radhakrishnan and Dr Meghanatha Saha as pro-Vice Chancellors of the university, but those attempts also failed, Menon says in his book.

"It was also said that CP once made a similar request to scientist Julian Huxley, eminent biologist and brother of British writer Alduos Huxley, who also declined the offer citing personal difficulties," Sashibhushan said.

Now having 220 affiliated colleges and around two lakh students, the Kerala University is gearing up to celebrate the platinum jubilee of its formation.

Dr Jayakrishnan, the present Vice Chancellor, told a news agency that the jubilee proposals include conferring honorary doctorates on co-founder of Infosys and alumnus Kris Gopalakrishnan, and well-known scientists PNR Rao and Jayant Narlikar. The proposal is before the senate and its ratification is expected, Jayakrishnan said.