1. Nano Car: 

After four years of research and untiring efforts of its team of engineers, Tata Motors Group led by Ratan tata finally succeeded in keeping its promises to manufacture a low priced car (Approx. $ 2500 or Pounds 1300)) to the ordinary people of India. Today i.e. January 10, 2008, Ratan Tata himself drove the car straight to venue of Auto-Expo 2008. Looks (getup and interiors) and other features of car did not disappoint the eagerly waiting people. This car is popularly known as “Lakhtakia Car”. Tata Motors has christened it as “Nano”. Average mileage of the car is about 20 km/liter. It can accommodate 4 to 5 people. Car has to compete with “Maruti 800” manufactured by Maruti Suzuki Ltd. In the small car segment. People were expecting this car to be inferior to Maruti 800 as price tag of Nano was just half to the Maruti 800. However, this car appears in no way inferior to Maruti 800 neither in looks nor in features. In size it is 8 percent smaller than Maruti 800 and have 20 per cent more inner space (inner space) than Maruti 800. Engine of the car is of 33 HP and mounted in the back side of the car. This is a 624 CC car and meets the Euro IV as well as Bharat III standards. It can run at an average speed of 70-80 km/hr. Car comes in three color variants (Red, Yellow and Silver). It has to be seen whether there will be or not a decline in prices of small cars manufactured by other car makers. In any case customer are going to be benefited by introduction of Nano in small segment. However, other manufacturers have also indicated to cut prices of cars belonging to small segment. This car is believed to be popular among the rural population. Allaying the fears of environmentalist, Ratan Tata assured all that this car will pollute less than the two whealers and will not increase traffic congestion.

Reactions from printmedia:

The Telegraph (U.K.): Tata Motors has compelled other car makers to reduce prices of small cars. Tata Motor's Nano has looks of Jaguar and Land Rover.

Guardian: Lakhtakia car has made it possible to ordinary men to own a car.

Nano has made India a hub of small cars.The Newspaper comares introduction of Nano to boom created by Ford in the past

ASSOCHEM has urged Indian Government not to levy VAT on this car.

Recent News: Rennault-Nissan reduced prices of their small car from $ 3000 to $2550 to compete with "Nano"

2. Ultra small compact Laptop Series

HCL unveils MiLeap Laptop Series

Cheapest laptop models with 7 inch LCD screens and full keyboard functionality were launched by HCL Infosystems in New Delhi and will be available across HCL’s countrywide marketing chain from January 26, 2008. HCL launched two series namely MiLeap X Series and MiLeap Y Series. X-series, touted as the PC platform targeting to the masses in India, uses Linux operating system while Y Series uses Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium.

Important features:

a). MiLeap X Series: Price tag Rs 13,999/- (US $ 350), conventional hard disk drive with 2.0 GB internal Flash module and dispensing with an optical drive (CD/DVD). WiFi and LAN ports provide full functionality to connect wireless data.

b). MiLeap Y Series: Price tag Rs 30,000/- (US $ 750), weigh approx. 970 g, 2.5 inch 80 GB hard drive, touch screen, and incorporates a 1.3 Megapixal camera. Similar machines in market costs about US$ 1500.

Asus

EeePC: price tag @ Rs 18000/- ($450), Linux based, inbuilt camera,7 inch screen, an all-solid state 4 GB storage, 512 MB memory, weight 920 g, external CD or DVD required

for installing new CD or DVD based programs.

ACi Ethos: price tag @ Rs 14999/- ( $ 380), 1 GHz processor from Via, 512 MB memory, 40 GB hard disk,

Linux based but can run on Windows XP, WiFi and ethernet- enabled, weight 950 g,