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India Officially Launches Simputer

Posted by timothy on from the high-hopes-still-high dept.

aravind writes "The Communications and IT Minister, Pramod Mahajan, has launched India's indigenously developed low-cost handheld Personal Computer -- Simputer -- at an IT and Communication expo, SMAU 2002, in Milan. A low-cost handheld PC on GNU/Linux working through a browser for international markup language IML, priced at Rs9000 (less than $200). 200Mhz StrongArm processor, 32MB DRAM, 24 MB flash, touchscreen, speakers, USB, text-to-speech, MP3 capability ... " Look here for some of the previous stories we've run on the Simputer.

7 of 194 comments (clear)

  1. ... and you poke at it... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    From the FAQ:

    Q: How do I enter text? Can I attach a keyboard?

    A: There are two options on the base simputer for entering text: one is a soft keyboard, that can be brought up on the touch screen and you poke at it to enter one character at a time...

    I guess they took it to the point that that even the description is simplified. :)

    1. Re:... and you poke at it... by LittleBigScript · · Score: 4, Funny

      Well, it could be simpler.

      Do they mean to poke at the Simputer? or something else...perhaps the person sitting next to you.

      Stranger: Hey, stop that.
      User: I was only trying to use my computer. It says to poke.
      Stranger: You must use AOL, too, huh?
      User: ...

      Ahh, humor, it cures all forms of frustration.
      Even the frustration of being unable to poke people.

  2. Re:Posted @05:14AM EDT? by Twirlip+of+the+Mists · · Score: 4, Funny

    Let's see how many days it takes for CmdrTaco to notice the problem and fix his cock.

    Funniest typo ever.

    --

    I write in my journal
  3. from the FAQ by jas79 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Q: Can I create a Beowulf cluster using many Simputers?

    A: You must be a /.er; in which case you know the answer!

    1. Re:from the FAQ by Large+Green+Mallard · · Score: 4, Funny

      I thought you were just making this up.. but this is actually on the FAQ.. how cool :D

    2. Re:from the FAQ by Subcarrier · · Score: 2, Funny

      Q: Can I create a Beowulf cluster using many Simputers?
      A: You must be a /.er; in which case you know the answer!

      Which would be no. Your average slashdotter has to strain a little just to imagine a Beowulf cluster of those.

      --
      "I have opinions of my own, strong opinions, but I don't always agree with them." -- George H. W. Bush
  4. This could be trouble... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    All the IT professionals reading this, if this causes a boom in the number of qualified Indian techs, we could all be either out of a job or being forced to work at 3rd world rates.
    Be afraid.