A Laptop for just Rs 15K, sounds unbelievable? For several years, there were smartphones that boasted of powerful computing features offered by laptops for a price that computer makers could never manage. But that no longer seems to be the case.
On Tuesday, HCL Infosystems launched its X Series of ultra small laptops starting Rs 13,990.
The laptop sports features just as some other low-cost laptops do — a much smaller display than a regular laptop, single processor and a flash drive amongst others.
“The next generation products will run fit into one’s pocket,” said Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, HCL Infosystems.
HCL’s latest offering runs on a Celeron 400 MHz processor and has a 512 MB DDR II RAM. The base model of the laptop or the ‘leaptop’ as the company calls it does not have a hard disk drive although one can buy the one with an integrated HDD for Rs 15,990. Both the versions come preloaded with the free Linux operating system. There is a third version with a built-in HDD and Windows operating system and can set you back by Rs 16,990.
The laptops have a seven-inch display and are Wi-Fi enabled as well, which means you can access internet wirelessly if you are in a hotspot. “The laptops are manufactured in the company’s manufacturing facility located at Uttaranchal”, George Paul, Executive Vice President Marketing, told reporters.
{{/usCountry}}The laptops have a seven-inch display and are Wi-Fi enabled as well, which means you can access internet wirelessly if you are in a hotspot. “The laptops are manufactured in the company’s manufacturing facility located at Uttaranchal”, George Paul, Executive Vice President Marketing, told reporters.
{{/usCountry}}Although some believe that the latest breed of cheap laptops is closer to being high-end organisers than being lower end laptops, it could still make a compelling buy for first timers.
In December 2007, UK based company ACi had launched its Ethos 7 priced at Rs 14,999 (excluding the four per cent tax). This too has features like a seven-inch display, a 512 MB DDR II RAM, Wi-Fi and a 40 GB HDD. The memory cannot be upgraded. By the end of this month, Asus, a Taiwanese player, plans to launch its Eee PC 4G with similar specs – seven-inch screen, Linux OS and a flash memory. The device is expected to be priced around Rs 16000.
Leading PC vendor Acer’s cheapest laptop costs Rs 19,999 (taxes extra) and has a 14.1-inch display whereas the entry level laptop from HP costs Rs 27,000 and features a Celeron 440 MHz processor, a 14” screen and a DVD drive. The cheapest Intex laptop is at Rs 27, 900.
Last year, Indian company Zenith launched a Rs 25,000 laptop, then touted as the cheapest. When asked whether the company has plans to introduce sub-Rs 15000 laptops, the company’s Executive Director Devita Saraf said, “We don’t plan to enter the sub 15000 category. Most players are offering a seven-inch screen, which cannot give you the same experience of a wider screen display,” She added that even PDAs have found limited success in India.