Archive for January, 2008

After TATA’s Nano, 1 lakh car, time for the cheapest laptop for the markets.

HCL Infosystems launched MiLeap or ‘My Internet Leap’ – a fully functional, portable range of laptops that sport a starting price tag of Rs 13,990.

Slated to be the world’s cheapest ultra-portable laptops (Allied Computers announced laptops priced at Rs 14,999 a couple of days back), the MiLeap would be available in two series, X and Y, at a starting price of Rs 13,990 and Rs 29,990 respectively.

While the cheapest notebook begins at around Rs 20,000, MiLeap breaks the price barrier and makes it easy for the average man to own a laptop.

Nothing is more important to academic achievement than being a good reader. Parents know their children best and can provide the one-on-one time and attention that will lead them to success in reading. Here is a list of ways to help your children become more effective readers.

1. Set aside a regular time to read to your children every day.
Studies show that regularly reading out loud to children will produce significant gains in reading comprehension, vocabulary, and the decoding of words. Whether your children are preschoolers or preteens, it will increase their desire to read independently.

2. Surround your children with reading material.
Children with a large array of reading materials in their homes score higher on standardized tests. Tempt your kids to read by having a large supply of appealing books and magazines at their reading level. Put the reading materials in cars, bathrooms, bedrooms, family rooms, and even by the TV.

Continue reading…

You may not be able to teach your preschoolers how to read, but you can teach them some preliminary fundamentals. For instance, by pointing at the words as you read to your children, you’ll teach them that, in English, we read from left to right.
Here are some other ways to help prepare your children for the reading instruction they will receive in kindergarten. Continue reading…

Girish Wagh, the brain behind the Nano says that the length of the car is 8% smaller than the smallest car available in the market.

Tata’s Nano is going to “put India on wheels” what Ford’s Model T did for America nearly a century ago in 1907.

Excerpts from the exclusive interview with Girish Wagh:(moneycontrol)

Q: What is the key under pinnings of the 1-lakh-car project?

A: The cost target was the most important and of course that was the most underpinning. But at the same time, the day we started the development of this product, we were also looking at two other important points, vectors or underpinnings. We were looking at meeting all the existing regulations, be it emission or safety and also package-protect the car for forthcoming regulations.

At the same time, we were also looking at bringing in an acceptable performance in low cost. So, these three things were the underpinnings in the sense we kept on working different concepts for all aggregates, subsystems, components, even the entire product, so that it fits all these three requirements. Continue reading…