India Shows Apple And Others How NOT To Overcharge

Biggins

India unveils world's cheapest laptop

Touchscreen computing device costing just £23 to be rolled out first to 110 million schoolchildren

India has developed the world's cheapest laptop – a touchscreen device which resembles Apple's wildly popular iPad but will cost just £23.The prototype was unveiled today by Kapil Sibal, the country's human resource development minister, who said 110 million Indian schoolchildren would be the first recipients.
Then, from next year, the device – designed to bridge the digital divide and boost India's economy – will become available to students in higher education.

Sibal said: "The solutions for tomorrow will emerge from India. We have reached a stage that today, the motherboard, its chip, the processing, connectivity, all of them cumulatively cost around $35 [£23], including memory, display, everything."

Past low-cost technologies produced by the country include the £1,450 Tata Nano car and a mobile phone costing less than £11. The iPad retails at about £429 in the UK – 18 times the cost of the Indian laptop.

(The Irish price of the Ipad is from €600 to €800.)

Rest of the article here: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/jul/23/india-unveils-cheapest-laptop

Now, I know a lot of the functions will be much better on the Apple (and similar PC items) but the fact is that they can produce something so cheap with physical parts and a bit of software thrown in that actually looks and works the part!

It makes a hell of a price difference, thats all.

SV

Doesn't have an Apple logo though...rip off!

biko

What's with all the Apple threads lately?
If you think they're too expensive, just don't buy.

Biggins

biko wrote: »

What's with all the Apple threads lately?
If you think they're too expensive, just don't buy.

For me, its got nothing to do with Apple alone.
(Other makers will soon be making similar and charging major money I suspect)
Its just amazing that something similar can be produced at such a price difference.
Thats all.

Dyr

Biggins wrote: »

Touchscreen computing device costing just £23 to be rolled out first to 110 million schoolchildren

Only fair given that they probably assembled them anyway :pac:

MisterAnarchy

£23 ,that's some feat of engineering and it looks like a nice spec too.
€600 for an Ipad ,what a joke,anyone who buys one of them seriously needs their head examined.

Biggins

Bambi wrote: »

Only fair given that they probably assembled them anyway :pac:

:pac:
Good one!

opinion guy

Biggins wrote: »

(The Irish price of the Ipad is from €600 to €800.)

I thought it was more like 800 to 1000 ?

Biggins

opinion guy wrote: »

I thought it was more like 800 to 1000 ?

Despite the recession, it appears that there is still a market for pricey gadgets -- iPads cost from just under €500 to almost €800.

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/ipaddies-rush-to-get-hands-on-apple-gadget-2270962.html

In other related news, the sales of E-books has finally over taken the sales of paper books with Amazon!
See: http://www.independent.ie/business/technology/ebooks-outsell-hardbacks-on-amazon-2265553.html

Shape of things to come...

up for anything

Biggins wrote: »

India unveils world's cheapest laptop

Touchscreen computing device costing just £23 to be rolled out first to 110 million schoolchildren


(The Irish price of the Ipad is from €600 to €800.)

The Irish price of the world's cheapest laptop will probably be €600 to €800 too. :rolleyes:

Biggins

If the Indian version becomes mainstream to the rest of the world, expect them to snapped up on Ebay.
For even 30/40 quid, I'd chance my arm and buy one.

biko

The material and labour for a iPhone is <$190. Rest is marketing salaries etc and profit.
The other tech companies are working on similar margins. That's why everything is made in China and India.

Remember the Tata Nano? Super cheap car, from India.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3sZitve3SUw

run_Forrest_run

MisterAnarchy wrote: »

£23 ,that's some feat of engineering and it looks like a nice spec too.
€600 for an Ipad ,what a joke,anyone who buys one of them seriously needs their head examined.

I agree. I was on boards yesterday and I was just amazed at how many posts were asking a Curry's rep here about the availability of the iPad at various stores around the country...it was pathetic. Fools and their money etc.

Biggins

My point of posting the original post was though that if India could make a complete item using the same type of materials/workforce that produces other outside company HQ based items (be it Apple or many others like Microsoft, etc...), then its shows a hell of an eventual profit margin.
...Like big time!

thebaz

I love apple and google products , but despite theyre hippy/flowery marketing image , both are every bit as ruthless and capitalist as RyanAir or Dunnes Stores

El Guapo!

MisterAnarchy wrote: »

€600 for an Ipad ,what a joke,anyone who buys one of them seriously needs their head examined.

+1
And they look ridiculous aswell tbh.

Biggins

thebaz wrote: »

I love apple and google products , but despite theyre hippy/flowery marketing image , both are every bit as ruthless and capitalist as RyanAir or Dunnes Stores

True and at the end of the day, we have all paid for some item that is far too over priced for what you actually get.
Lord knows I probably have more than once.

SugarHigh

How much do you think an iPad costs to make?

There were rip off iPhones on sale in China for $30 so they were probably less than $15 to make. The rip-off actually had higher specs but the build quality was pretty low.

MySelf56

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ok4z9Xpapzc

Cant wait 35$ in euros it will 25 or so.. thats nothing !!

SugarHigh

Biggins wrote: »

My point of posting the original post was though that if India could make a complete item using the same type of materials/workforce that produces other outside company HQ based items (be it Apple or many others like Microsoft, etc...), then its shows a hell of an eventual profit margin.
...Like big time!

Those 3g usb sticks apparently cost less than a dollar to make yet the iPad with 3g support was more than $100 more expensive:eek:

Operating Systems have some of the highest mark up of any product in the world because once they are developed the only cost is a dvd. The cost of development is spread out Hundreds of millions of units so it becomes tiny per unit and then they get sold for over €100.

JuliusCaesar

The interesting thing is not the price - it's that they were developed for a specific market and will be provided to school children.

What are the computer facilities like in most Irish schools?

southsiderosie

One thing I wonder about the who development of what is essentially 'throw away' technology is the environmental impact. For less than 30 quid, there is no incentive to pay to get any of this stuff fixed - you can just toss it and get a new one. But what are the component parts going into this thing, and who has to deal with the waste from it? I know there have been calls in the US to build the cost of proper disposal into the cost of the electronics, but I'm not sure if that has gone anywhere, and there aren't recycling regulations like there are in Europe.

Yakult

run_Forrest_run wrote: »

it was pathetic. Fools and their money etc.

:rolleyes:
Since when did people give a **** what other people buy? Its THEIR money and THEIR choice on what to spend it on. Dont be such a nob.

Pittens

Biggins wrote: »

For me, its got nothing to do with Apple alone.
(Other makers will soon be making similar and charging major money I suspect)
Its just amazing that something similar can be produced at such a price difference.
Thats all.

Yet you and the article mentioned Apple.

I find all computer devices real cheap compared to the usage I get from them. The iPad is cheaper than most furniture, although I am sure that the situation is different in India. But electronics is cheap in the West.

Pittens

R_H_C_P wrote: »

:rolleyes:
Since when did people give a **** what other people buy? Its THEIR money and THEIR choice on what to spend it on. Dont be such a nob.

It's alwAys with Apple. Have a watch which is more expensive than an iPad and no one will comment.

Always the same groupthink.

1) I don't see the use if that.

A few months pass.


2) the android clone of 1) is better.

SugarHigh

The ipad really isn't as bad as some people a making out. If I was buying a computer for my granny I'd get her an iPad because they are so easy to use. It really depends on what you want it for. Some of the apps look brilliant but not something I need so I don't have one.

SugarHigh

Pittens wrote: »

It's alwAys with Apple. Have a watch which is more expensive than an iPad and no one will comment.

Always the same groupthink.

1) I don't see the use if that.
2) the android clone of 1) is better.

That's the main problem people have. They don't realise that their are certain aps which are perfect for people in certain jobs and the iPad works out a lot cheaper than the specialist equipment it can replace.

Biggins

Pittens wrote: »

Yet you and the article mentioned Apple.

Previous posts:

...I know a lot of the functions will be much better on the Apple (and similar PC items)...

(be it Apple or many others like Microsoft, etc...)

...And the thread title to reflect this too!

India Shows Apple And Others How NOT To Overcharge

Pittens wrote: »

...The iPad is cheaper than most furniture...

The Ipad is cheaper than a house too, so what?
I know your trying to make a serious point but I (thru stupidity probably) don't see it.

Pittens

Why do you think that the most uptodate electronic components, chips, displays etc, shoukd cost less than they already cost? An equivalent to the Android or the iPad or iPhone would have cost £5k or more in the nineties. The costs are stupendously low given the human effort that has gone into them. A bed is hundreds of years old technology and costs more. They are all cheap.

Biggins

Pittens wrote: »

...A bed is hundreds of years old technology and costs more. They are all cheap.

I'm sure (with good respect to yourself) that those that bought an iPad this week in Ireland, don't feel that they were cheap. Maybe they do?
I'm not having a go at the actual product or the purchaser of it and not here criticizing their choice to buy it.
For same basic components that can be used in one Indian Item, the same is inserted into another and sold for a much higher price.

Regardless of whom they are later marketed towards, the initial cost runs and component bulk buying prices would differ little besides each different product possibly coming from the same cultural cheap workforce.

Duggy747

Jeez, not bad specs for that price! But it's all down to the software, though, and what it can do..................still, not bad!

No surprise this came from India, give it a few more years and those guys are gonna be a giant fùck-off IT powerhouse to match or even surpass any of the bigger countries in the field.

Biggins

Duggy747 wrote: »

...No surprise this came from India, give it a few more years and those guys are gonna be a giant fùck-off IT powerhouse to match or even surpass any of the bigger countries in the field.

True.
Them and many a company in South Korea (providing it's not invaded or bombed by then) are playing serious catch-up.

jimi_t2

An iPad costs about 2 weeks of the average industrial wage in Ireland

This other touchpad costs about 2 weeks of the average industrial wage in India

Where is all this confusion arising from? If such a device made it to the Irish market you'd expect to be pay 100 euro+

Biggins

jimi_t2 wrote: »

An iPad costs about 2 weeks of the average industrial wage in Ireland

This other touchpad costs about 2 weeks of the average industrial wage in India

Where is all this confusion arising from? If such a device made it to the Irish market you'd expect to be pay 100 euro+

You have a point but if it was made in Ireland?

jimi_t2

Biggins wrote: »

You have a point but if it was made in Ireland?

if me aunty was me uncle she'd have a bollocks

If it was made in Ireland it'd probably cost 2k+ given the man hours/wage per hour in this country; I don't really get what you're trying to say?

MySelf56

southsiderosie wrote: »

One thing I wonder about the who development of what is essentially 'throw away' technology is the environmental impact. For less than 30 quid, there is no incentive to pay to get any of this stuff fixed - you can just toss it and get a new one. But what are the component parts going into this thing, and who has to deal with the waste from it? I know there have been calls in the US to build the cost of proper disposal into the cost of the electronics, but I'm not sure if that has gone anywhere, and there aren't recycling regulations like there are in Europe.

Hmmm.. some how because iPad/i<SmugSomething> is expensive reliable and when you throw away it doesn't damage environment. Right?? Which App told you that anyway?
cost of timex watch is 35 yoyo bought 8 yrs back did throw it away, because it cheap, recently i changed battery and i am still using it.. Cost of USB drive cheper than chips does it mean i have throw it away every time i use. When did we care about environment anyway?? unless i just woke up from coma??!!!

Biggins

jimi_t2 wrote: »

if me aunty was me uncle she'd have a bollocks

If it was made in Ireland it'd probably cost 2k+ given the man hours/wage per hour in this country; I don't really get what you're trying to say?

Well you said:

An iPad costs about 2 weeks of the average industrial wage in Ireland

This other touchpad costs about 2 weeks of the average industrial wage in India

Seeing as both are supposedly being made by the same type of workforce in the same geological area roughly, being paid in similar wages according to some, similar components, etc... The cost of it made in Ireland is not relevant to the cost runs of where is actually IS made.

Thats all - but I can see what your meaning or trying to say anyway.

southsiderosie

MySelf56 wrote: »

Hmmm.. some how because iPad/i<SmugSomething> is expensive reliable and when you throw away it doesn't damage environment. Right?? Which App told you that anyway?
cost of timex watch is 35 yoyo bought 8 yrs back did throw it away, because it cheap, recently i changed battery and i am still using it.. Cost of USB drive cheper than chips does it mean i have throw it away every time i use. When did we care about environment anyway?? unless i just woke up from coma??!!!

When I had an expensive Mac laptop, if something went wrong, I took it in to get fixed. But should my cheap no-warranty plastic PC netbook die, the cost of buying a new one would be comparable to getting it fixed. So a product that you would stretch to 3-4 years use you could reasonably replace annually; i.e. there could conceivably be 3-4 times the waste generated from the same product, and many of the parts are extremely toxic.

Capt'n Midnight

Until these devices start shipping it's vapourware
they have been announcing the $10 laptop since at least Feburary last year

The One Laptop Per Child, more than doubled it's original price

vtec computers are cheap

DVD players are cheap , most of the price is the middlemen's cut and the decoding licenses , strip those away and you have the guts of a low cost computer just need a keyboard and possibly a little ram and most of them probably run Linux already

Capt'n Midnight

Biggins wrote: »

True.
Them and many a company in South Korea (providing it's not invaded or bombed by then) are playing serious catch-up.

LOL
South Korean companies have been setting up factories in the UK since the 1980's because labour costs are cheaper there than at home.

Catch up with whom ? Apart from Daewoo many of the Chaebol are still major players
Samsung
Hyundai
LG

Celly Smunt

irish duty fee of €600 euro

Biggins

Capt'n Midnight wrote: »

Catch up with whom ?

Microsoft and Apple based operating systems. Not companies.
Software, not hardware.

pmcmahon wrote: »

irish duty fee of €600 euro

Jeasus... don't give them ideas. :pac:

SugarHigh

Biggins wrote: »

Microsoft and Apple based operating systems. Not companies.
Software, not hardware.


Jeasus... don't give them ideas. :pac:

What S.Korean company is even trying to compete in the OS market?

There is very little to gain from entering into the OS market at this stage since Google are going to take over the low end computer market with it's webOS, Apple already has the fashion market, Linux has the supercomputer and small device market and MS has the majority of the home consumer market with 100% of the game market.

Outside of those 3 companies and open source there simply isn't room for anyone else.

kowloon

Biggins wrote: »

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/ipaddies-rush-to-get-hands-on-apple-gadget-2270962.html

In other related news, the sales of E-books has finally over taken the sales of paper books with Amazon!
See: http://www.independent.ie/business/technology/ebooks-outsell-hardbacks-on-amazon-2265553.html

Shape of things to come...

Biggins

SugarHigh wrote: »

What S.Korean company is even trying to compete in the OS market?

There is very little to gain from entering into the OS market at this stage since Google are going to take over the low end computer market with it's webOS, Apple already has the fashion market, Linux has the supercomputer and small device market and MS has the majority of the home consumer market with 100% of the game market.

The point that was made earlier by someone else was that techies who were also coming from countries such as India, etc, are making strides (catch-up) in software areas.
India alone had one northern major city that is whole about computer software, tech support and all things related to the area of I.T. - and thats just one town. There are now a good few.
They are contributing (if not initialising themselves) towards alternative products.
One example is the Android software for the HG phones and the upgrade to that software that will be out before the end of the year ...but that just a simple example.
Over all, The eastern countries for some time now have been seen to be starting to make their own stuff indeed.
For example:
* http://www.asia-soft.com/en/default.asp
* http://www.asiasoftpk.com/

Never mind such companies like Thai Software Enterprises, and BKIS Security, a Vietnamese company that makes anti-virus programs.
Apple, Microsoft and other major USA/European companies might be big players for sometime to come but others are starting to seriously snap at their heels.

"Outside of those 3 companies and open source there simply isn't room for anyone else."

China alone given its population numbers would disagree with that.
They are already working on a soon to be released operating system for the mass market to rival others.

A good indicator of how fast they are catching up is here: http://software.einnews.com/south-asia/

Capt'n Midnight

Biggins wrote: »

China alone given its population numbers would disagree with that.
They are already working on a soon to be released operating system for the mass market to rival others.

http://www.xp.com

Biggins

Capt'n Midnight wrote: »

http://www.xp.com

Yea, good one. I don't think Bill Gates or Steve Balmer would be impressed with it. LOL

Here is an example of a new Chinese one:
* http://www.physorg.com/news161355225.html
* http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kylin
* http://www.honeytechblog.com/downlod-kylin-operating-system-by-chinaqingbo-wu/
* http://www.schneier.com/blog/archives/2009/05/kylin_new_chine.html
* http://www.redorbit.com/news/technology/1687563/new_chinese_operating_system_designed_to_block_us_intelligence_probes/

Those dastardly Chinese! :pac:

Capt'n Midnight

Biggins wrote: »

Microsoft and Apple based operating systems. Not companies.
Software, not hardware.

Canonical have invested a tiny fraction of what the Irish state spends on software into Ubuntu and it now accounts for about half of the installed Linux desktops.

Most people don't need to pay for software for most tasks,

for large organisations and governements the main cost is for specific projects and not the OS licenses, and TBH most of it could be thin client anyway

bleg

can it play flash?

Biggins

bleg wrote: »

can it play flash?

I would assume so but yet to be confirmed.
I assume it will play "Queens" other tracks in the meanwhile!

Sorry... couldn't resist!

bleg

Biggins wrote: »

I would assume so but yet to be confirmed.
I assume it will play "Queens" other tracks in the meanwhile!

Sorry... couldn't resist!

No thanks.