AMD powers cheap Indian PC launch

AMD powers cheap Indian PC launch
INDIAN FIRM HCL Infosystems unveiled a low-cost PC in New Delhi yesterday that costs less than 10,000 Rupees (£130).

The firm said the PC would help bring the wonders of the Internet to more folk on the sub-continent. The launch was trumpeted as part of AMD’s 50x15 scheme, which aims to bring "affordable Internet access and computing capabilities" to 50 percent of the world's population by the year 2015.

The PC features an AMD "x86 1600MHz processor", 128Mb RAM, 40GB hard disk, 15-inch digital monitor, 52x optical drive, keyboard, mouse and Linux. Microsoft Windows XP Starter Edition costs an extra £16 (1250Rs). More details on the processor have proved hard to come by.

Ajai Chowdhry, chairman and CEO, HCL Infosystems Ltd said the PC demonstrated his firm’s commitment "to ensure that the power of computing reaches the common man". He praised AMD for having "taken the initiative "to increase Internet penetration and enable a computer with AMD's x86 1600MHz processor".

President of AMD India, Ajay Marathe, described the PC as an important step in bringing "affordable computing and internet connectivity to the Indian people." He delivered no further details of the processor inside the beast.