Computer Tablet Bid 'Winner' Offers US$81 Per Unit: Thailand

[Reasonableman]

Supply ability: 100,000 per month

They must have a lot of unsold inventory waiting to go

Edited March 14, 2012 by Reasonableman

[whybother]

Supply ability: 100,000 per month

They must have a lot of unsold inventory waiting to go

The OP says 24,000 per day.

[Reasonableman]

Supply ability: 100,000 per month

They must have a lot of unsold inventory waiting to go

The OP says 24,000 per day.

They must have really geared up in advance, then

http://www.lcdadvertising-displays.com/china-scopad_sp0712_7_inch_tablet_pc_with_built_in_3g_android2_3_capacitive_screen_1_2ghz_cpu_512mb_ram_8g-174653.html

[billd766]

Extract from Oringal Article:

Parinya Sirisarakarn, a member of the National Human Rights Commission, questioned the government's plan to buy tablets from China, saying he was worried about product quality and whether the government had already prepared facilities for the use of tablets at schools.

"If your classroom has 50 students, it must have 50 electric outlets," he said.

IMHO, this guy is not qualified to commeht. He obviously have no idea how a tablet works or that it does not have to be plugged into the wall socket during usage.

While I do see some obvious issues and some less obvious problems in this PC Tablet thingy, it is really sad to sere most who made public comments do so from a lack of knowledge and obviously basing on their experences of the good old times of what a computer used to be. Maybe the PC XT ?(my 1st PC)

At some time in the school day each tablet will HAVE to be recharged. If they are to be in use for say 6 hours in a school day and the battery lasts 3 hours and needs a 1 hour charge from a flat battery when will it be charged,

Remember ALL of the tablets will have been used and will be flat around the same time.

Do these tablets have a long battery life of perhaps 8 or 10 hours without being charged and if so who will oversee the charging as it will have to be done out of school hours?

Whilst you can use charging strips of 4 or 6 at a time will the charger leads be long enough?

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to realise that if you have 50 tablets they will all need to be charged somewhere at sometime and a socket per desk is the simplest and easiest way of doing it.

[Buchholz]

IT Firm Supports Government's Tablet Handout

IT service provider, Advanced Information Technology, voiced support to the government's policy to distribute a tablet PC to every first grader nationwide.

Meanwhile, the Vice-President of the Thailand Development Research Institute says the government's decision to purchase tablets from China jeopardizes the chance for Thai companies.

Advanced Information Technology, or AIT, President and CEO, Siripong Oontornpan said the government's policy to distribute a tablet PC to every first grader nationwide for educational purpose is a good idea as it will help children to learn more about technology and give them more opportunity to access the internet.

Siripong noted that the government should urgently develop a nationwide telecommunication infrastructure to benefit related industries in the future.

In the meantime, Somkiat Tangkijvanit, Vice-President of the Thailand Development Research Institute, or TDRI, stated that looking at the bright side, the government's handout of tablet PCs will improve educational opportunities for Thai children. However, he noted that first graders may be too young to enjoy the full potential of the tablets.

Somkiat commented on the government's decision to purchase the tablets from China, saying it jeopardizes the chance of Thai companies, as Thai manufacturers also have the potential to produce them.

He added that AIT is collaborating with the Stock Exchange of Thailand to organize a seminar on Thailand's future and the changes in store for information technology and communications after the launch of ASEAN Economic Community.

Academics and experts from many organizations, such as Cisco Symtems, Oracle Corporation and TDRI, participated in the event held at the Stock Exchange of Thailand.

-- Tan Network 2012-03-14

[rubl]

If only the Thai government had known:

"Tesco Direct mistakenly sells iPad 3 for £50, causing website downtime

Tesco Direct website crashes half an hour after tip-off appears on Liverpool FC's online forums

By Mary-Ann Russon | Computerworld UK | Published: 19:01, 13 March 2012"

http://news.techworld.com/personal-tech/3344193/tesco-direct-mistakenly-sells-ipad-3-for-50-causing-website-downtime/?cmpid=TD1N7&no1x1&olo=daily%20newsletter

[Soupdragon]

At some time in the school day each tablet will HAVE to be recharged. If they are to be in use for say 6 hours in a school day and the battery lasts 3 hours and needs a 1 hour charge from a flat battery when will it be charged,

Remember ALL of the tablets will have been used and will be flat around the same time.

Do these tablets have a long battery life of perhaps 8 or 10 hours without being charged and if so who will oversee the charging as it will have to be done out of school hours?

Whilst you can use charging strips of 4 or 6 at a time will the charger leads be long enough?

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to realise that if you have 50 tablets they will all need to be charged somewhere at sometime and a socket per desk is the simplest and easiest way of doing it.

Sorry but my son is not going to sit at a desk in a school in Thailand that is wired to the mains.

[Buchholz]

Whoops... seems there's been yet another delay in the procurement process.

ICT Minister Anudith said they now need to wait for a formal response from the Chinese government on this government-to-government buying scheme in regards to the price change.

After receiving word from China, it will go to the Cabinet for approval.

The promise to be operational on the opening day of school looms larger with every delay.

.

[bubba]

Have a look at the minimum specs provided in the below. Now Google Scopad SP0712, or have a look at the Scope company page for their 7" tablet at:

http://www.scope.com...t.asp?SortID=90

Here is what the specifications are for that model together with ICT's requirements:

Scopad Resolution: 1024x 600 ICT requirement: 1024x768

Scopad Processor: 624Mhz single processor ICT requirement: 1GHz dual core processor

Scopad OS: Android 2.1 ICT requirement: Android 3.2

Does anyone else here see a slight problem with Scope's tablet meeting ICT requirements?

Scope wins tablet PC bid at THB2,400

BANGKOK, 6 March 2012 (NNT) - The committee overseeing the purchase of tablet computers has agreed to acquire the electronic device from Shenzhen Scope Scientific Development Co. Ltd., which proposed the lowest price of 2,400 baht.

Information and Communications Technology Minister Gp. Capt. Anudith Nakornthap has revealed that the committee, headed by Education Minister Suchart Thadathamrongwate (สุชาติ ธาดาธำรงเวช), has chosen to acquire the tablet PCs on a government-to-government (G2G) basis from Shenzhen Scope Scientific Development Co. Ltd.

Once the contract is signed, the company will have to produce and provide the tablets within three months. The products are expected to be delivered to Thailand in time for the start of the new school year in May.

The Chinese government had previously proposed four tablet PC manufacturers who met the Thai government's specifications, including Huawei, TCL, Haier and Scope. Among the four candidates, Scope proposed the lowest price at THB2,400. The committee also traveled to China during 3-4 March to study the details of these companies before opting to make the purchase from Shenzhen Scope Scientific Development Co. Ltd. The decision will be proposed to the cabinet for approval during today's session.

The acquisition of 860,000 tablet PCs requires an initial budget of 1.9 billion baht, which may be increased as deemed fit. The specifications set by the Thai government include a seven-inch touch screen, 1024x768 pixel resolution, 16-gigabyte memory and 1GHz Dual Core CPU. The tablets must also operate under the Android 3.2 or Linux Kernel 2.6.36 system and support Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) and Linux Kernel 3.0.1.

-- NNT 2012-03-06

Edited March 15, 2012 by bubba

[bubba]

oops, duplicate post deleted

Edited March 15, 2012 by bubba

[whybother]

PM's Office Acting Spokesman Clarifies Delay in Free Tablet PC Scheme

BANGKOK: -- An acting spokesman for the Prime Minister's Office says the free tablet PCs for students is delayed because the government is considering another bidder and whether the devices should come with wireless capability.

The Prime Minister's Office acting spokesman Anusorn Eiamsa-ard has clarified about the delay in the One Tablet PC per Child program, which is still pending the Cabinet's consideration.

He said the Education and the Information and Communication Technology ministries are considering another bidder who offers tablet PCs at the price of 2,400 baht each, rather than the 2,800 baht proposed by Shenzhen Scope Scientific Development.

However, Anusorn reaffirmed that the procurement deal will be made between the Thai and Chinese governments.

He added that the ministries are looking into whether to include WiFi on the devices, how much the add-on would cost, and who would be responsible for the additional expense.

Anusorn said the delay could be due to the fact that the government is planning to extend the program to students above the first grade, which will require an additional 800,000 tablet PCs.

He added that the 20-member policy committee will consider the possibility and submit its suggestions for the Cabinet's consideration.

The acting spokesman expressed confidence that the free tablet PCs will be handed out to first-graders nationwide at the start of the new semester in May.

-- Tan Network 2012-03-15

[volk666]

Bubba, specs you are quoting seem to be outdated by a week or two. This week ICT wants single core processor and Android 4.0 and Scopad satisfies them with 1.2GHz singe core and the OS as well.

http://www.china-telecommunications.com/products/scopad_sp0712_7_inch_tablet_pc_with_built_in_3g_android2_3_capacitive_screen_1_2ghz_cpu_512mb_ram_8g_memory_wifi_support_3_axis_se-mpz5423fd1-z57e1684.html

Note that there's no mention of Android 4.0 on the website, which means they will have to start adapting the OS to their hardware from scratch. Big manufacturers spend at least a month with source code before coming up with ready to use OS, but Scopad might have better engineers and no proprietary software (why? they should have at least something designed for Thai kids to use).

Screen resolution of 1024x768 is unnatural for Android tablets - it's the 4:3 ratio of old monitor displays, vacuum televisions and iPads, they don't do in Android world.

Let's not rush to judgment, however, specs and prices might change again, and after yesterday's meeting even politicians couldn't put a favorable spin on the proceedings and decided not to disclose the chosen supplier.

That means something has gone seriously wrong.

[bubba]

I didn't know ICT had downgraded the processor specs since that last story that I quoted from a few days ago. So is this a case of revising the specs to fit the desired vendor's product?

Bubba, specs you are quoting seem to be outdated by a week or two. This week ICT wants single core processor and Android 4.0 and Scopad satisfies them with 1.2GHz singe core and the OS as well.

http://www.china-tel...1-z57e1684.html

Note that there's no mention of Android 4.0 on the website, which means they will have to start adapting the OS to their hardware from scratch. Big manufacturers spend at least a month with source code before coming up with ready to use OS, but Scopad might have better engineers and no proprietary software (why? they should have at least something designed for Thai kids to use).

Screen resolution of 1024x768 is unnatural for Android tablets - it's the 4:3 ratio of old monitor displays, vacuum televisions and iPads, they don't do in Android world.

Let's not rush to judgment, however, specs and prices might change again, and after yesterday's meeting even politicians couldn't put a favorable spin on the proceedings and decided not to disclose the chosen supplier.

That means something has gone seriously wrong.

[rubl]

Now let me check my calendar again. Today is the 15th of March, schools open again mid-May. Uniform, tools, books etc. need to be bought before. Having worked in IT since 1981 I feel like predicting a disaster. Poor kids

Edited March 15, 2012 by rubl

[Buchholz]

May 23rd is the first day of school.

tick tock, tick tock...

I'm sure they'll pull it off and have 900,000 tablets delivered, tested and distributed, 2000 schools newly wired with electricity, 20000 schools with newly installed WiFi, and thousands of teachers suitably indoctrinated into tablet computing in 68 days.

.

[thaicbr]

May 23rd is the first day of school.

tick tock, tick tock...

I'm sure they'll pull it off and have 900,000 tablets delivered, tested and distributed, 2000 schools newly wired with electricity, 20000 schools with newly installed WiFi, and thousands of teachers suitably indoctrinated into tablet computing in 68 days.

.

First day is 14th May where I am. So even less time for this plan.....hahaha plan. what plan

[whybother]

PM calls meeting of ministers, agencies concerned over 1 child 1 tablet PC policy, expresses worry may not be ready for this academic year /MCOT

[volk666]

Another interesting look at this scheme:

http://www.telecomasia.net/blog/content/thailands-otpc-project-will-be-mess?Don%20Sambandaraksa

Opens up two angles - competition between Ministry of Education and Ministry of Information and Technology to win the right to provide the tablets,and giving children devices that can consume content outside of government approved and licensed media, which I think is a bit of an overkill.

[Buchholz]

Another interesting look at this scheme:

http://www.telecomas...20Sambandaraksa

Opens up two angles - competition between Ministry of Education and Ministry of Information and Technology to win the right to provide the tablets,and giving children devices that can consume content outside of government approved and licensed media, which I think is a bit of an overkill.

It also highlights the similarities between this fiasco and earlier flops, such as smart card ID's and ePassports....

the parallels with the disastrous smart ID card project in 2005 are clear. That project was completed but never put to use. The ICT Ministry was to procure it, but the Ministry of Interior, which was charged with using the cards, wanted the budget for itself. Then the MICT tried to wrestle control of the national ID database from the MoI instead. When that failed, the cards were procured by the MICT but never put to use beyond a fancy paper or plastic replacement.

The same can be said of Thailand’s never used e-Passport system that also was concluded in 2005 under Thaksin Shinawatra. Seven years later, the e-Passport gates in Bangkok airport have not been used beyond a couple of trial runs.

.

[Buchholz]

The other paper has an article today on a member of the tablet committee who has raised concerns over the ability of the tablets to function properly when loaded with more than 4 GB of content on their 8 GB capability.

.

[Buchholz]

ICT to sign a contract with tablet supplier by April 5

BANGKOK, 3 April 2012 - Information and Communications Technology Ministry is to sign a purchase contract with the Chinese supplier in the government's "One Tablet Per Child" project to procure the first batch of the 900,000 devices on April 5.

ICT Minister Anudith Nakornthap said that, following the announcement that Shenzhen Scope Scientific Development had been awarded the concession to supply tablet PCs to Thai students, the tablet procurement committee late yesterday finalized the first draft of the purchase contract.

The ministry will today submit the proposed contract to Office of the Attorney General for further review.

The contract to purchase tablet PCs is expected to be signed on April 5, with each device priced at 2,400 baht.

A budget of 19 billion baht will be spent to procure the first batch of 900,000 tablet computers.

-- NNT 2012-04-03