The government of India has demonstrated a prototype of a slate-type personal computer that costs $35. The governmental structures are now looking forward manufacturers for the device that it expects to launch in 2011.

The prototype of the tablet is powered by a version of Linux operating system. The slate does not have internal storage, but sports a flash card reader, a microphone, speaker, and video conferencing capabilities, reports PC World web-site. The product features touch-screen, 2GB of RAM, Wi-Fi connectivity, USB ports, according to NewsXLive local TV channel. The product also comes with pre-installed word processor, PDF reader and Web browser. The concept was developed by the Indian Institute of Technology and the Indian Institute of Science.

"We have reached a (developmental) stage that today, the motherboard, its chip, the processing, connectivity, all of them cumulatively cost around $35, including memory, display, everything," said Kapil Sibal, the minister of human resource development in India, reports Reuters web-site.

The ministry have already started negotiations with contract makers of electronics to start mass production of the slate. Mr. Sibal said the slate was expected to be introduced to higher education institutions from 2011, but the longer-term aim was to drop the price further to $20 and ultimately to $10.

The inexpensive slate is an element of India's plan to modernize its schools and universities.