Touch and go: iPad’s rival to cost just €27

IT looks like an iPad, only it’s 1/14th the cost: India has unveiled the prototype of a $35 (€27) basic touchscreen tablet aimed at students, which it hopes to bring into production by 2011.

If the government can find a manufacturer, the Linux operating system-based computer would be the latest in a string of “world’s cheapest” innovations to hit the market out of India, which is home to the 100,000 rupee (€1,653) compact Nano car, the 749 rupees (€12) water purifier and the €1,555 open-heart surgery.

The tablet can be used for functions like word processing, web browsing and video-conferencing.