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NEWS: Returned SVI's dream... computers many can afford
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Returned Silicon Valley India's dream: computers (almost) everyone can afford
By Frederick Noronha
If Ravi Pradhan had his way, hardware vendors would find it rather
difficult to load unwary buyers with the maximum amount of computing power
they could sell and that users simply don't need.
Pradhan, a returned Silicon Valley Indian-expat who spent 23 years with top
IT companies there, says an 'affordable computing solutions lab' which gets
inaugurated in IIT-Bombay in mid-April is a first step towards this goal.
"Today a lot of work has gone into R&D for computer software. But little has
been done on optimisation. We need to know for a particular solution, what
exact hardware could be optimally used," Pradhan who is India country
manager for Via Technologies Inc told IANS in an exclusive interview.
This lab will see the setting up of some 60-plus computers of various
capacities, at the IIT-Bombay, which can be used by anyone wanting to test
their software functionality and hardware requirements, says Pradhan.
These PCs are being "permanently given, not sold" by Via Technologies Inc to
IIT-Bombay. Via, over recent years, has grown into a billion-dollar hardware
manufacturing company, that works mainly out of Taiwan.
Pradhan's next goal is to build links and similar centres with other IITs.
"We want to take India to the next level (in hardware). In the world of
software, the people here have already done a phenomenal job," says this
former top engineer of IBM, who has a IIT-based mechanical engineering
background and one of the expat Indians to strike it big in the hardware
world in Silicon Valley before opting for a return home.
If his plans materialise, Pradhan sees some 30 such labs across India. "We
would like the IITs to give a third-party, honest opinion." This plan, says
he, could cost "one or two million dollars" and take upto two years to
implement.
"If there are times when my solution (Via chips) do not work, I'm fine with
that," says he, traces of his American accent showing. But Pradhan is
confident that price-sensitive India could gain from avoiding the
herd-mentality of using the fastest and latest computer processor even for
simple tasks like running an office computer.
"People say lowering the cost of computers (to Rs 15,000) is doable in the
next two years. Actually that's not true. It's here today!," says he.
Recently Pradhan linked up with Rajesh Jain, the Mumbai-based IIT-educated
whizz who made history by selling his content-packed websites for nearly Rs
500 million and is now focussing on software solutions to lower the cost of
computing in India.
"Jain has some great ideas. By providing hardware solutions, we can (really
move ahead together)," said Pradhan.
So far, Via is claiming that its low-cost computers that it is bringing in
to India to expand the computing base of the country have been doing well.
"In March 2003 we sold 12-14,000 computers. That's a decent number," claims
Pradhan.
Each computer -- with an 800 MHz processor, 128 megs RAM, a CD-rom drive,
floppy drive, 20GB harddisc, internal modem, keyboard, mouse and monitor --
costs Rs 15,000 plus taxes. Lower-end 'thin-clients' that can be used on
networks cost as little as Rs 11,000. Services charges could be extra.
India, inspite of claiming to be a software superpower, has only a limited
number of PCs available to its 1000+ million population. It is estimated
that less than five out of every thousand Indians own a PC, on average.
"For me, it (expanding computing in India) is a mission... even if I have to
put in hundred-hour weeks," says Pradhan.
Via Technologies president and CEO Wenchi Chen of Taiwan is expected to be
in Mumbai for the April 14 launch of the affordable solutions computing lab
at the IIT-Bombay. (#)
Contact: Ravi Pradhan <ravipradhan at viatech.com>
--
Frederick Noronha : http://www.fredericknoronha.net : When we speak of free
Freelance Journalist : http://www.bytesforall.org : software we refer to
Ph 0091.832.2409490 : Cell 0 9822 122436 : freedom, not price.
