Faster Aakash-2 By February at Same Price

So You've Read about Aakash The Indian Tablet specially designed for Indian Students Its yet to hit the market but the Government has already announced its Second and a better Version.

Come feburary 2012, a better and more efficient Aaskash02 the world's cheapest tablet computer, will be available at the price of its first version-- Rs 2,276 ($49).
Indian Institute of Technology Rajasthan, has finalised improvements in Aakash-1 that was launched on October 5. "we expect to launch the new version of Aakash by January-February next year" said human resource development minister Mr Kapil Sibal, who is overwhelmed by international response to Aakash, which was showcased as device for "children of the world" at a recent UN Conference in Paris.

The Aakash-2 Based on he feedback received from over 500 users of Aakash-1 in IIT's and other insitututions , will have a new microprocessor of 800 megahertz as compared to 366 megahertz processor. This will fasten the tablet computer and will enable downloading of videos from youtube. The Random Access Memory of the new version will be enhanced from 256 Mb to 1 GB.

ASenior IIR-Rajashtan professor who is heading the Aakash team said the changes would increase the 'functionality of the tablet', making it more "competitive" in the market respect to existing tablets in the market. To make Aakash-2 more  attractive the IIT-Rajashtan has also decided that the new version will have an in-built front camera for online video chatting and a better seven-inch touch screen .

This comes after the IIT students,who were testing Aakash-1, cited overheating within 30 minutes , frequent 'hanging' poor sound quality, absence of support for all formats and inability to install free softwares available online as some problems with the device.

Although the better version of Aakash will be ready by February next year, the Government's inspirational target of providing  the tablet to two million students is still a challenge. "We have to evolve an eco-system of several vendors and its testing by IIts and other institutes  to provide Aakash to each child by 2017 (end of 12th plan)," a senior HRD Ministry said.