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Computer @ Rs 500 - what the readers say

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CIOL Bureau
New Update

BANGALORE, INDIA: When the Government of India announced the much-hyped dream project of launching a laptop at Rs 500, the people were quite anxious (and also apprehensive) about it. A society that is more used to false promises than the genuine ones, an average Indian likes to take it with a pinch of salt only.

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A glimpse of the readers' response to the article, 'Computer @ Rs 500 - Govt of India dreams high', appeared on www.www.ciol.com on January 29, evidently reflects that apprehension, disbelief and some anticipation...

“Sounds Good, but making it reality requires a long way to go. Even the below 10K INR PCs didn't take off well. Providing more details about the usage configuration and other limitations will make it popular and penetrable,” wrote Maharasan.K.S.

“It's impossible,” the reader identified as P R Dalmia, snubs the dream device. “It is possible only with hidden tag lines and * marks with it. What we are forgetting is the screen for the comp, keyboard and mouse for the comp. Earlier also the government had declared a model for Rs.5000, and now it is 500. I ask where is the model worth Rs.5,000? This is just a stunt and nothing else,” he affirms.

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Despite all this there are people who has hope in the mysterious dream computer, which no one has seen so far.

“If this happens, definitely India will become the role model for the entire world.... Please make this real” was the immediate response of a reader identified as Devaraj.

Another reader, Anjali, who seconded this view, said: “This is maybe one of the best promises by Indian Govt to the student community... Hope it turns out to be a reality soon.”

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Though there are readers who dream high about India making millions by selling it in the international market, many of them see the so-called laptop project as a political gimmick, with an eye on the forthcoming Parliament election.

Suspecting a foul play by politicians, a reader identified as Sunder Thadani said: “I hope this is not an election stunt. Within six months, election will be over, and so is the promise... why waste public funds in publicity? It is time to say 'bye-bye-false promises'."

And this is the opinion seconded by quite a few.

Going a step further, another reader, identified as Sun, says: “Monitor, Keyboard, Mouse, RAM, Hard Disk sold separately. Software given free, monthly broadband charges Rs 300, monthly education software update charges Rs 200. Politicians so far fooled us on good road, job, etc. Now they are fooling us on Computer products. Simple philosophy, when there are millions of fools to get fooled with such announcements, why not continue to fool them.”

So, is it that India is making a mountain out of a molehill? Looking at the prototype, it seems so.

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