Intel announces initiatives to enhance PCs

Bangalore, May 23: Intel today announced major initiatives, including release of affordable PCs, community PCs and Eduwise, to enhance computer literacy in the country.

Intel President and Chief Executive Officer Paul S Otellini, who arrived here on a two-day visit to the country, told a press conference that Intel, along with computer manufacturers, would release an affordable PC, based on mobile computing core, in the Indian market in 60 days.

The new fully featured, low cost, desktop PC platform would be priced 20 per cent less than the lowest available Intel-based PCs in India with similar feature-rich configurations, he added.

India would be one of the first countries where the PC would be available, though it had been introduced in Mexico in March. Six computer makers, including HCL, PCS, Millennium, Wipro and Zenith Computers, would manufacture the PCs in the country. These energy efficient computers, suitable for dense living environment, would be initially made available through Government agencies and telecom companies, he said.

Mr Otellini said Intel power community PC was specifically developed to meet the internet access needs of rural villages and communities. Intel's ethnographic studies in rural India had shown that a single PC could serve many people in remote rural communities where harsh weather conditions and unreliable power sources could compromise typical PCs.

Speaking about Eduwise, the Intel chief, who displayed a prototype of the small form factor, affordable and rugged learning device that incorporated unique software and hardware features, said it would serve the educational needs of developing countries.

Costing less than 400 dollars, the notebook PC was designed for use by an individual student in schools to support the unique needs of teaching and interactive learning. Systems based on the prototype would be available in India next year, he added.

UNI