The Rs. 1,600 Computing Device

The HRD minister yesterday unveiled a low cost computing-cum-access device. In response to a lot of misunderstanding and ridicule, the government cleared up that the device was not a laptop. The device uses open-source technology to cut down costs said someone close to the source but who wished to remain unnamed. - Source: PC World

Here's an image of the device and its expected capabilities from trak.in

The minimum expected capabilities of the device include:�

• Support for video web Conferencing facility
• Multimedia content viewer for example .pdf, docx, .ods, adp, .doc, .xls, .jpeg, .gif, .png, .bmp, .odt, .zip, AVCHD, AVI, AC3, etc.
• Searchable Pdf reader
• Unzip tool for unzipping zip files.
• Possibility of installing suitable firmware upgradation.
• Computing capabilities such as Open Office , SciLab , cups (for printing support)
• Media player capable of playing streamed as well as stored media files.
• Internet browsing with flash plug-in, JavaScript, pdf plug-in java.
• Wireless communication for Audio/video I/O.
• Cloud computing option.
• Remote device management capability.
• Multimedia input output interface option (for allowing DTV, IPTv, DTH, streaming etc.)

This device is the Indian government's answer to MIT's (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) One Laptop Per Child program five years ago where the institution was selling laptops for $100 to develop computer awareness and education across the developing world.

Here's another picture of the device, sent by the ministry.�