pc

Microsoft has launched low cost PC in India. It was named IQ PC and having plans to start selling through computer retailers, bookshops in Bangalore and Pune. These systems were aimed at students from kindergarden to 12th grade.

IQ PC was built upon AMD processor and comes preloaded with Microsoft Windows Vista Basic Edition, Office, Encarta, Works and Student 2007 and third party software like exam preparation, English learning programs and other. They are looking at a starting price of around Rs. 21,000 ($513) which may come down in future.

Skype offers free calling
Skype just launched a FREE calling for its US users to call within US & Canada. Yes, you heard me right, FREE. Local landline calls (i think) within the US are generally free, adding mobile within that takes it to another dimension !

Got a WIFI / 3G enabled PDA with skype (though very very few such devices are actually available and sold) and you have an almost nill telephone bill for local calling.

Though skype will never be able to pull that off in India & some other countries which desperately need these kind of facilities, it will be another telecom revolution if such a facility is indeed available. Imagine calling your friends anywhere across the world for RS 1 for 3 minutes (Rs 20 is the standard browsing charge for a high quality broadband at a net centre) from India !..

Now you can take Yahoo! off your computer and put it in your living room for everyone to see. View photos, search for video clips and watch movie trailers on your TV. Plus, your own digital video recorder (DVR) lets you record and watch your favorite shows anytime for free.

The basic requirements for this includes a TV Tuner card, broadband connection and some cables to connect your PC and TV.

Very interesting development indeed, Click here to find more.

Hewlett Packard India has signed Shahrukh Khan, for its mega promotion, "Yeh Hui Na Baat". Shahrukh will be featuring in the promotion for Compaq Presario range of notebooks and desktops, which is scheduled for a national kick off on 1 March. Compaq Presario's aggressive 360 degrees marketing campaign covering print, electronic media, radio, outdoor, sales promotion and merchandising will reach out to consumers across the country with Shahrukh.

At the press conference, I asked him at what age do you think Parents should encourage their children to learn computers, and he was quick to mention that at the same age as they encourage them to watch TV.

I got a chance to talk to ShahRukh Khan today and got to know that he has been a computer geek for a while. He first used computers in school in Class 7, and then bought a computer after graduation and now has been using since about 15+ years. Besides watching movies and playing games on his Vaio, and using email and word, in his office he actively uses software Avid and Final Cut Pro among others and thinks that computers will have more and more role to play in the film making process. He is also actively engaged in teaching computers to his son. Well, you will soon find him endorsing the Compaq PC from March 1 in a aggressive campaign covering print, elecronic media, radio, outdoor, sales promotion and merchandising across the country. Should be good for PC penetration and along with HP, lot more brands and assembled computer sellers would benefit a lot.