'Iterative' is right ...
I purchased an Akash tablet in May, along with a separate keypad. Seemed like a good deal for some 3000 + 500 INR (60+10USD). Assuming it worked, right? I got it soon enough, over eBay and opened it with some excitement.
It was an utterly shoddy piece of work, looked like some primary graders had been given some parts produced in a rural casting facility, and put it together! I pressed the power button - it started overheating immediately, no way I could hold it for more than a few moments. There were no apps on it, despite all the hyped announcements. The single sheet that served as manual stated something about charging it fully before using, so I went to charge it. Just would not charge - the charger was ok, its a generic thing and I got it tested. No real instructions of any kind, no user manual or contingency resolver.
Then the real nightmare started. I had purchased over eBay. Neither the vendor nor eBay would take any responsibility for it despite having taken my money - both simply said it was under warranty and that I should contact the manufacturer. I should have known something was fishy when before getting the device itself, the vendor sent a mail saying something to the effect that these devices sucked and they should not be held accountable!
So I called the manufacturer 800 number. And called and called and called and called. For a week. Either it was continuously busy, or no one picked up! I passed the duty on to a friend who set up an automated repeat calling thing, and he finally connected. After some 2 or 3 conversations over the following month, they finally agreed to pick up the damn thing. After another 2 weeks the pickup happened. After another 2-3 weeks of repeated calling from our side, finally they said they would call us back. Then suddenly one day someone calls - to ask - what the problem was with the device. On being informed that the damn thing does not charge or boot, another few weeks of silence. That's where it stands now.
And this thing is intended for rural students? People who have never seen a computing device before? Kids who may form their first impressions based on these devices? Good God! I am certain that eventually things will clear up! But what unnecessary pain people are put to for these egomaniacs who can't wait to announce the next latest and greatest thing, without having the slightest execution capacity. Shame on them!
