The Unbelievable Price of the Aakash Tablet

by Admin on October 8, 2011

When news of the Aakash Tablet first made headlines, it appeared to be no less than a myth. The device itself was not a question of debate; it was the cost of the computing device that raised many an eyebrow, within the country as well as overseas. The device was touted to be priced at around $35 and that appeared to be a fairy tale.

Aakash Tablet Price for Students – Expected to be Rs.1500-1750 (After Rs.750 subsidy by the government, only for students)

Aakash Tablet Price in Retail Market – Rs. 3000 (inclusive of all taxes)

Note: Aakash Tablet in the retail market is called as Datawind Ubislate and it will have added features when compared to the student’s version.

Cost Breakup

The Aakash Tablet is priced at an unbelievably affordable price, which is just Rs 2,276 when converted in to Indian money. The price is inclusive of all the taxes that are levied on such products by the Government of India. Though the Aakash Tablet exceeds the originally quoted price of $35, it is still priced low and within the means of the masses.

The device is the result of the arduous efforts by the Ministry of Human Resource and Development which decided on developing a computing device which could be used by students across the country. Their initiative paid dividends and the result is the world’s cheapest Tablet.

The breakdown price of the device is as follows –

Originally quoted price – $ 35
Cost of manufacturing the device – $ 37.98
Cost of warranty, transportation and miscellaneous costs $ 12

The total adds up to $ 49.98, which is the final cost of the computing device. The Government of India will provide subsidy to institutions which will enable them to distribute the computing device to the students at half the cost.

The computing device was designed and manufactured by DataWind, a British firm in alliance with IIT with the support of (NME-ICT) National Mission on Education through Information and Communication Technology that comes under the aegis of the Ministry of Human Resources and Development.

DataWind is supplying the HRD ministry 100,000 tablets for only Rs 2,250 per component, and the price is inclusive of freight charges and taxes. Further, after the successful launching of the computing device in India, the (OLPC) One Laptop per Child chairman Mr. Nicholas Negroponte has extended an offer of giving India the access to all the OLPC technology free of cost for all future innovations and products

The computing device is compact and it is 25.5 cm long and 12.5 cm wide. The device has been examined by leading analyst and found to be working as good as any other computing device.

The specifications of Aakash Tablet are as under

Screen – 7” resistive
Operating System – Android 2.2
Processor - 366 MHz in addition to Graphics Accelerator and HD Video Co-processor
Storage – 2GB Flash Memory with 2GB Micro SD card which is expandable up to 32GB
Memory -256 MB RAM
Network – Wi-Fi Enabled
Connectivity – 2 USB ports
Battery – 2100mAh
Web Browser – DataWind Accelerated Browser
Modem – Inbuilt cellular and Subscriber Identity Module (SIM)

To sum it up the configuration of Aakash is perfect for students. At the price at which it is being made available to students it will be possible for every student in India to own a computing device and become computer literate.

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{ 108 comments… read them below or add one }

Asit Ranjan Paul October 8, 2011 at 8:58 am

Your website shows 2GB Mobile Internet @Rs 98 per month. Do we have to pay DataWind ? Can we not use SIM from open market just like mobiles to access GPRS? Please reply, does the consumer version have a Camera too?

prosun October 16, 2011 at 5:24 pm: dear ,
sir my name is prosun chakroborty ,i am the student of smu,i am very interested to get this akash laptop ,so sir please help me,
thank u

Reply
V MURUGAN October 18, 2011 at 5:06 pm: I will buy 2 aakash tablet so please advance booking

Reply

Abhi October 8, 2011 at 12:48 pm

Your website shows 2GB Mobile Internet @Rs 98 per month. Do we have to pay DataWind ? Can we not use SIM from open market just like mobiles to access GPRS? Please reply,

Jonay November 12, 2011 at 11:42 am: Back in school, I’m doing so much learinng.

Reply

girish rao October 9, 2011 at 1:13 pm

is the one for the retail market compatible with SIM cards
purchased from the open market? Also, can the net be
accessed by using a USB dongle.

Gyan Bharti October 10, 2011 at 12:37 pm

what is the process through which a student has to go to get this tablet?

Can we use sim cards available in the open market?

Does this tablet has a camera?

please reply as soon as possible!!

-Gyan

Anand October 10, 2011 at 2:46 pm

How can i purchase this tablet ???

samyuktha October 11, 2011 at 6:48 am

From when it z available in the market?

jaleel October 12, 2011 at 8:16 am

where can i buy this ?
can i buy it online ?

shiva krishna October 14, 2011 at 6:53 am

when will this tablet availlable and is this will supply 2 every institution by govt or the institution has 2 take the insiative 2 get this

lokanadham.ch October 14, 2011 at 11:05 am

I am paying more interest to purchase this tablet plz launch in the market as soon as possible

Inderpreet Singh October 14, 2011 at 11:17 am

As the govrnment of India is providing it for the students, it should have more battery backup, it should be made compulsary for every student and should be distributed in each school, and moreover rather than providing this to the students laptops should be provided to every student and should have all the data like ‘smart class’. I think Mr. Kapil Sibal should think on all the points I have listed.
thank you

Maniram Mandal October 15, 2011 at 8:32 am

where I purchase in Kolkata…………….

Arun October 15, 2011 at 5:45 pm

Resistive touch is a big let down….

digvijay singh October 16, 2011 at 5:50 am

mujhe akash teblet lena h or me engineering college bikaner ka student hu. mujhe teblet kha se milege plzzz tell me…

sim December 7, 2011 at 11:53 am: you wil get tablet in medical store

Reply

ravi shanker October 16, 2011 at 5:56 am

Do this have camera and can we access any site ?
whether 98 rs is 2gb space total or its bandwith, please clear as we need to take picture and store on the database / other server.

Buffy November 13, 2011 at 1:22 am: Super informaivte writing; keep it up.

Reply

rabin paul October 16, 2011 at 6:56 am

what is the process through which a student has to go to get this akash tablet.

please email our email ID

Arvind Iyengar October 16, 2011 at 9:14 am

“it will be possible for every student in India to own a computing device and become computer literate.”

First of all, is every student in India English-literate?

As far as I know, the Android OS on the tablet is only in English. What do students who don’t speak English do? (BTW, only 5% of India speaks English. And that 5% is mostly the urban, internet-savvy public.)

Madhur Pramod Rasane. October 16, 2011 at 2:39 pm

I like this tablet most and I want to buy it. Can any one please help me to how to buy it?

Ajay October 16, 2011 at 3:24 pm

What about the Camara with this TAB ???

Deepak October 18, 2011 at 2:21 am

I am eagerly waiting to buy that piece for my dad. can u tel me where it will be available in hyderabad. and do this have 3G?

NADEEM October 18, 2011 at 7:04 am

WHEN IT COME IN COLLEGE I MEANS WHEN STUDENT PURCHASE IT

SHIVASHARAN SAGAR SHASHIKANT October 18, 2011 at 7:13 am

Where i purchases this in solapur (MAHARASTRA)

MOHAMED IBRAHIM ARSHAD October 18, 2011 at 9:50 am

Where i purchase this in Chennai (Tamil Nadu ), i want to buy immediately.

michael bhatti October 19, 2011 at 8:38 am

i am student of b.com 3rd in Punjab university and i want to know from where i can purchases aakash tablet

somnath October 19, 2011 at 8:46 am

Dear
i am very intrested in tablet. from where i can parches it in satara(mah)

sahil vaid October 19, 2011 at 9:01 am

rescpected sir,
i am a student of 9th class and want to purchase akash tablet(studentversion) in jammu so please help me about that
tahnking you,
sahilvaid

Janet November 12, 2011 at 6:06 pm: I never thouhgt I would find such an everyday topic so enthralling!

Reply

prem pandey October 20, 2011 at 4:19 am

rescpected sir,
i am a student of 12th class and want to purchase akash tablet {studentversion] in vrindavan [mathura] so please help me about that
tahnking you,
prem pandey

jagat October 20, 2011 at 6:15 am

Respected sir/mam
i am student of B.Tech. from Sirsa (Haryana). i want to purchase akash tablet (student version)for my brother studing in 12th classin Govt.Sr.Sec.School,Gudia Khera Sirsa (Haryana). so please tell me about the procedure

maharaju October 20, 2011 at 1:06 pm

superb your mini tablate i like where can i buy this ?

sujit October 20, 2011 at 7:56 pm

where i get this tab in delhi….pls reply
thnk u

Ashish Sahni October 21, 2011 at 8:52 am

when will this tablet be availlable in market,i want to buy it asearly as possible>>>pls rply

PC Repair Leicester October 21, 2011 at 10:04 am

Well this is so good that we will be having such a nice device at such low price. I am definitely going to wait for it for 2 months

anugrah October 21, 2011 at 2:02 pm

sir i want to purchase this aakash tab how can i purchase it

parveen October 21, 2011 at 6:19 pm

sir please tell me “any sim work on this pc”

sanket killedar October 22, 2011 at 8:43 am

i m exicted about the aakash tablet.
in this price no one can give facility

ashwin bolane October 22, 2011 at 1:06 pm

is that the pc is in market of nagpur?

javed October 23, 2011 at 5:00 am

i m a college student i want to buy this akash tablets but how i can

manu thakur October 23, 2011 at 8:01 am

what is the cost of tablets

S.MURUGAN October 24, 2011 at 8:52 am

Where i purchase this in Chennai (Tamil Nadu ), i want to buy immediately

immanuel.tata October 25, 2011 at 2:45 am

I,like this tablet,and i tell my frds this tabelet,it.is unaccpeted dives ,place tell me ,where booking cunter?,i am stdaying, B.Com .

srujan October 25, 2011 at 3:09 pm

not unbelievable, its unbeatable

Jayvee November 12, 2011 at 11:55 pm: Essays like this are so impotrnat to broadening people’s horizons.

Reply
Pebbles November 15, 2011 at 7:57 am: Essays like this are so imptorant to broadening people’s horizons.

Reply

Vivek Pandey October 26, 2011 at 4:08 am

sir,
i am a student of class 12th and intersd to buy the akash tablet so please reply the date of its launching in Kanpur city(U.P).
thank you..

ankush pratap singh October 26, 2011 at 12:01 pm

hi sir,
i am verry intrested in this tab. plz tell me, from where i will take it…..

rajesh October 29, 2011 at 12:03 pm

i m a college student i want to buy this akash tablets but how i can

aakash ahuja November 1, 2011 at 11:06 am

I LIKE UR THIS POST ND EVRY1 WANT TO PURCHASE THIS TABLET……

RK Gupta November 1, 2011 at 12:02 pm

Sir, I M A STUDENT OF VIBRANT ACADEMY PREPARING FOR IIT JEE 2013
sir pls tell me in student version can we use external sim card or GPRS facility on aakash tab:
THANK YOU

ajinkya November 4, 2011 at 1:10 pm

i like this

sagar pednekar November 5, 2011 at 8:03 am

i am learning in mumbai university , how can i buy the akash tablet?

Sunil Dhindwal November 9, 2011 at 3:02 pm

i wana to buy it plz send me detail or contact no on this mail

a koti reddy November 9, 2011 at 5:05 pm

i want to buy a tablet pc of aakash

NEERAJ MITTAL November 10, 2011 at 6:00 am

sir i m a student in du university how purchase is aakash tablet

Dheebakaran November 10, 2011 at 11:09 am

Is it possible extend the memory?

sandeep November 10, 2011 at 2:28 pm

when it will be avilable in market

prashant sahadev pawar November 11, 2011 at 3:50 pm

i am student
i need this tablet (with sim included)
please you ask to me where this tablet buying

prashant sahadev pawar November 11, 2011 at 3:54 pm: please ask me where this tablet sold shop address in my email,
i am leaving in mumbai

Reply

TUSHAR RANJAN DASH November 11, 2011 at 3:54 pm

sir, i am a student how purchage it

Raj November 12, 2011 at 8:15 pm

please tell me abt the batery backup nd life of tab ?

Sydney Duhe November 12, 2011 at 8:18 pm

hey guys, i want to know from all who were asking about external sim…..is there some problem with sim? and um,,,,howz the internet speed?

LOKESH November 13, 2011 at 10:15 am

this is awesom tab i,m waiting for it…i think my BE study will be very easy by this tap really this is superb yar…

rakesh banerjee November 14, 2011 at 6:01 am

Hi
I m student i m 4m kolkata and i want 2 know wen we’ll get the student version of akash tab.

arka prava lahiri November 14, 2011 at 12:44 pm

sir, i am a student of class 12, i am very interested to purchase a aakash tablet, from where i have to purchase it ? plz inform inform….in my email

SREERAJ V M November 15, 2011 at 3:36 am

Sir , I am a student having studying B.Com Final Year . I am very interested to purchase the a Aakash tablet form where did u get this product ?
How will u order this in reserved form before available in market ?
Please inform in my male ….!
I hope you Consider this mail .

AMIT PANKAJ November 16, 2011 at 9:14 am

i want to buy a tablet pc of aakash. where is the outlet of akash in india

Mohammed Ali November 17, 2011 at 10:55 am

Sir , I am a student having studying B.Com First Year . I am very interested to purchase the a Aakash tablet form where did u get this product ?
How will u order this in reserved form before available in market ?
Please inform in my male id….!

ravikant tiwari November 17, 2011 at 1:48 pm

how can i got aakash tab..

Dharm Raj Sharma November 18, 2011 at 12:56 am

After viewing features of the Akash tab, i want to suggest to increase it’s battery power.
Because 2100 mah is not enough for work.

oma November 18, 2011 at 5:41 am

How can i buy aakashtablet

pankaj burde November 18, 2011 at 2:34 pm

i want gifted Aakash Tablet to my younger brother for his brithday . but i dont know how i purchase this

Dinesh kumar November 20, 2011 at 8:45 am

i am studing dip EEE I will interest to buy aakash tablet so how to buy; where purchase pls inform my id :tq

AJAY VEDMUTHA November 22, 2011 at 9:27 am

I AM STUDING BBA IN 1YEAR. I WILL INTEREST TO BUY AAKASH TABLET SO HOW TO BUY, WHERE PURCHASE IN AHMEDABAD. PLS INFORM MY ID

nitin kataria November 22, 2011 at 11:09 am

plz tell me sir that can we make calls through this tab

Sudip Patra November 22, 2011 at 3:18 pm

I am Sudip Patra,student from Supreme Knowledge Foundation Group of Institution(an engineering college). I am very… interested to buy it as soon as possible. Please advance book my name.

varun November 23, 2011 at 7:07 am

when is the new version going to be available for students n for others too?

tuhin November 23, 2011 at 9:33 am

Your website shows 2GB
Mobile Internet @Rs 98 per
month. Do we have to pay
DataWind ? Can we not use SIM
from open market just like
mobiles to access GPRS? Please
reply

AQIB MALIK November 24, 2011 at 12:31 pm

Sir , I am a student having studying B.Com Final Year . I am very interested to purchase the a Aakash tablet form where did u get this product ? How will u order this in reserved form before available in market ? Please inform in my male ….! I hope you Consider this mail . Reply

mohd shaan November 24, 2011 at 3:22 pm

when it is coming in the market it’s feature and what is the cost for student

IMRAN KHAN November 25, 2011 at 8:27 am

Sir! my name is imran khan. i am purseing B.C.A. Course. so I am very intrested for akash tablet. Please inform in my mail..so please..please .

arpitgoel November 25, 2011 at 2:33 pm

ir , I am a student having studying class 12 . I am very interested to purchase the a Aakash tablet form where did u get this product ? How will u order this in reserved form before available in market ? Please inform in my male ….! I hope you Consider this mail

VIKAS TAKSANDE November 27, 2011 at 11:35 am

sir i want a hurry this tablet pc, i very like pc, so u help me the buy this tablet, pls

hindu November 27, 2011 at 4:36 pm

it is political stunt but nothing no akash tablet will lonch more.!!

maulik turakhia November 28, 2011 at 2:29 pm

hi, i m from malegaon when tab will provided in malegaon?
plz tel me i m very excited

mayuri November 29, 2011 at 1:29 pm

hi
i am studying in t.y.b.a student
how to purchase akash tablet

jaydip kotila November 29, 2011 at 6:31 pm

hello my self jay kotila i m studont of third year of b.com and want to by this teblet so pls give me reply that how to by this product pls give me some sojjetion 2 by this product soon as posible thank you.

mukul kumar November 29, 2011 at 6:42 pm

hi… I m a engineering student in gndec ludhiana please tell me what is the difference btwn student tab nd open market tab ?

Rajendra November 30, 2011 at 6:51 am

I like this tablet.
i want to parchase it soon..

deepak paliwal November 30, 2011 at 8:54 am

sir , i am in b.tech college .
i want this akash tablet pc so you help me the buy this tablet
any information for akash tablet then information send my i.d

mini soni December 1, 2011 at 4:44 am

i am studying in XIth … i like to purchse AAkesh tablet …how it possible ..

rahul December 1, 2011 at 5:22 pm

where i can buy this in nashik?

Hirva shah December 2, 2011 at 5:04 pm

i want akaash tablet …
how it will possible,now
or advance booking?
plz.reply

Hirva shah December 2, 2011 at 5:04 pm

how to purchase akash tablet

satish patel December 3, 2011 at 4:06 am

which place in rajkot we get this tablets

Hukam Chand December 3, 2011 at 11:09 am

Hi… whenever it will be in market please i want this machine immediately

Jd sanghani December 5, 2011 at 5:07 am

hello sir,
i want this tablet.
which place in rajkot,gujarat i get it,?
can we use wi-fi for net in student version.??

Jaydeep December 5, 2011 at 5:15 am

can advance booking is possible??
pls tell me how can i advance book it?

manan December 5, 2011 at 5:15 pm

how to purchase akash teblat in mehsana gujarat

JB Fernandes December 6, 2011 at 8:06 am

I have already booked Akash PC on November 11. Please confirm whether if I can get the latest version of the same if not whether I have to book again.

Parveen December 8, 2011 at 2:29 pm

when it comes in jalandhar ,Punjab i am very interested to get this device

vaibhav raj soni December 9, 2011 at 6:20 am

sir,
i vaibhav raj want to know that this tab is also for engg student . if yes then it cost be 1700 or 3000 plz clear…
i am be 2nd year student from info tech branch….

Vikash Gupta December 9, 2011 at 2:41 pm