Tuesday, September 17, 2013

New Launch - Lenovo ThinkPad Edge E431

Lenovo ThinkPad Edge E431

If you are looking for a no-frills, but functional laptop, you might want to consider the Edge E431. It flaunts signature ThinkPad trappings, including the TrackPoint pointing device and a spill-resistant keyboard. Powered by Intel’s third-gen chip, this notebook comes with a fingerprint scanner for secure access, a 720p wide-angle webcam for video calls, Dolby Advanced Audio v2 sound enhancement, and dual noise-cancelling microphones. The E431 also sports the proprietary OneLink port that hooks up to a dock that charges, as well as adds to the USB and HDMI port count.

New Launch - Nikon Coolpix S6600

Nikon Coolpix S6600

The S6600 is an ideal shooter to carry along on a holiday. Its 2.7-inch display is not fixed, which means it can be opened out and twisted so you can be part of your photos. The compact camera even recognizes your hand movements, allowing you to operate the shutter and zoom from a distance. Besides, it even promises improved low-light photography, thanks to its backside illuminated sensor – all of this, aided by 18 scene modes and 30 effects to toy with. Once you are satisfied with your snapshots, use the built-in Wi-Fi to beam your priceless captures to devices nearby, or post them on social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter and Google+.

New Launch - BlackBerry 9720

BlackBerry 9720

If you’re looking for a phone with a physical QWERTY keyboard, then the BlackBerry 9720 should make you smile. It includes the best of both worlds – a 35-key, backlit keyboard, as well as a touchscreen. The 9720 also includes the new BlackBerry Messenger with voice chat support and a dedicated BBM button. You can take blur-free pictures with its image-stabilized 5MP rear camera and quickly share them on social networks. As always, this BB handset promises secure and dependable services, including the new Balance technology that separates personal content from critical work data.

Specs: 2.8-inch touchscreen (480x360px) | 806MHz processor | 512MB RAM | 512MB (internal), microSD up to 32GB | 5MP rear camera | QWERTY keypad | 3G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth v2.1, A-GPS | 1450mAh battery | 66.33x114x12.07mm, 120g | BlackBerry OS 7.1

Website: in .blackberry .com

Price: Rs.15,990

looking for a printer/scanner/copier for home use within a budget of 15,000

I am looking for a printer/scanner/copier for home use within a budget of 15,000. Kindly let me know of the options available.

    For under 15,000, you can expect to pick up a very good colour inkjet printer, or a monochrome laser unit. Go in for the former if you want colour prints for school and college projects, presentations, holiday photographs, etc. On the other hand, a laser printer makes better economic sense if you’re primarily going to print b/w documents.

MONOCHROME LASER PRINTER The Canon imageCLASS MF3010 ( 11,000) or the HP LaserJet Pro M1136 ( 9,900): These monochrome laser printers are capable of churning out 18-19 photocopies or prints per minute. The Canon machine can scan pictures at 600 dots per inch (which is double the dpi used professionally in the print industry), while the M1136 is capable of 1200dpi. A single cartridge for both these printers would cost around 4,000, and would give you an output of around 1,500 A4-, letter-sized pages.
    These devices work best if you’re going to be printing between 250 to 2,000 pages per month.

COLOUR INK-JET The Canon PIXMA MG5470 ( 13,100) or the HP Deskjet Ink Advantage 6525 ( 12,500): These multi-function devices are capable of printing up to 12-15 pages of b/w, 8-10 colour prints, and anything between 15-18 photocopies per minute. The Canon scans at 2400dpi, while the HP Deskjet is capable of 1200dpi. The good part about these printers is that they support Wi-Fi, and also come with a card reader. Additionally, with HP 6525, you get a 3.5-inch colour touchscreen for ease of operation. It should be noted that ink-jet printers require two cartridges – one for black, and the other for colour – and the number of prints per cartridge would depend on individual usage. Also, the recommended monthly print usage for this category is between 150 to 400 pages.

    (Here, if you’re looking for cheaper models, you might want to consider the Canon PIXMA MG4270 at 8,800 or the HP Deskjet 5525 at 8,500)

Looking to buy a gaming laptop within a budget of Rs.50,000

I’m looking to buy a gaming laptop within a budget of 50,000. It should have a 1GB graphics card (at least), and it will be a bonus if it is lightweight, and with a screen not bigger than 14 inches. Kindly suggest a few models.

    You could consider... The Lenovo Z500 ( 50,000 approx) comes with an Intel Core i3 3230M processor, 6GB RAM, 1TB hard drive, a 15.6-inch screen and Windows 8. To handle gaming, this machine is equipped with a 2GB Nvidia GT 740M graphics processor. On the downside, it weighs a heavy 2.9kg – and it does not have an Ethernet port, so you will have to use it with Wi-Fi.

    Then there’s the Asus K55VM-SX086D ( 48,000 approx) that is equipped with an Intel Core i7 3610QM chip, 8GB RAM, 1TB hard drive, 15.6-inch screen and a 2GB Nvidia GT 630 graphics processor. This machine weighs 2.6kg, and it comes with DOS (you will have to pay extra for Windows).

    For a lightweight system, consider the Samsung NP530U4C ( 52,000). Weighing in at 1.8kg, this ultrabook with a 14-inch screen, is equipped with an Intel Core i5 3317U processor, 6GB RAM, 1TB hard disk (with SSD caching), a 1GB Nvidia GT 620 graphics card and Windows Home Premium.

In a first, Indian-origin girl is crowned Miss America

Washington: The tiara had barely been placed on her head and the customary tears of joy had just emerged when racist taunts erupted on social media, marring the moment of triumph for Nina Davuluri, the first-ever Miss America of Indian origin.
    “And the Arab wins Miss America. Classic,” tweeted @Granvil_Colt minutes after the usual final flourish ended in the crowning of the Indian-American, who is the current Miss New York. “Ummm wtf? Have we forgotten 9/11?” said @anthonytkr, associating Nina with the terrorist attack on the US. Some called her Miss al Qaida and others dubbed her Miss Terrorist. “How the f*** does a foreigner win miss America? She is a Arab!” followed up @jakeamick5.
    Nina, 24, for the record, is very much American but of Indian origin, just as sundry racist tweeple are of European and Caucasian extract. Daughter of immigrants from Vijayawada in AP, she was born in Syracuse, New York, and grew up in Oklahoma and Michigan.
    But in a flaming demonstration that an egalitarian, non-discriminatory US, like with India, is a work in progress, bigotry and bias kept popping up on social media for hours after the event.
    “Miss America? You mean Miss 7-11,” sneered another racist, referring to the widespread ownership and management of convenience stores by people of Indian-origin. “Miss America is brought by their sponsors PF Changs and 7-11,” jeered another.
    It’s another matter that the Davuluris fit the Indian-American profile of what the US Census says is the academically most-accomplished and highest-earning ethnic group, “native” white Americans included. Nina’s father Davuluri Koteshwara Choudhary, who migrated to the US in 1981, is a gynaecologist; Nina, whose mother is also a doctor, has a degree in Brain Behaviour and Cognitive Science from the University of Michigan and aspires to be a cardiologist, a goal for which she pledged the $50,000 prize money she won with her crown.

Specifications of iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C

Sneak peek into Apple’s new slices

On September 10, the tech world was glued into the Web, waiting with baited breath for arguablyargu its biggest event of the year: the launlaunch of the iPhone 5S and its supposedly cheap che new second cousin, iPhone 5C. his writer, who was in San Francisco at the time, failed to get into the hall where journalists and bloggers witnessed the launch. But he did manage to get a sneak peek of the new iPhones, and here is what it looks like.

Let us get some things aside first. The rurumour of a ‘cheap’ phone was just that – a rumour. Apple had never corroborated analanalyst predictions that an inexpensive model wouwould help the company break into markets such as India in a big way. Sometimes technolonology can’t be made cheap beyond a point withouwithout compromising on what it can do, So, there was no sub-R20,000 iPhone as such as thought -- though chcheaper budgets are possible with telecom service concontracts. Now, the pphones themselves (the prices are for the ones that are “unlocked” -- without any strings attached to data services)

iPhone 5S

$649/R41,500 (16GB), $749/R47,900 (32GB), $849/R54,300 (64GB)

Talking points: New colours, sensitive camera, fingerprin sensor, new OS

Apple popularised the glass-metal combination inn its phones, and it has stuck to the formula with the 5S. For variety, there are three new colours --- space grey, silver and gold. The phone starts at the same price point as the iPhone5, which stands discontinued.

Specs: 4” retina screen; rear 8 MP camera (with f2.2 aperture); front 1.2 MP camera with HD video recording; 4.87” X 2.31” X 0.30”; weight: 112 grams; A7 chip (twice as fast as A6); M7 cochip (motion sensor); nano-SIM

Features: Fingerprint sensor; tru-tone flash, burst mode, slowmotion video; independent motion sensor processor

The fingerprint sensor in the home button is the talking point of this phone. The fingerprint serves as your unlock passcode, and also as your entry into the iTunes store. It makes the phone more secure, and no one can shop on the store (even by accident) using your phone, even if it is unlocked. It opens up a whole new world of possibilities. The home button is encircled with a metal ring that detects when you move your finger to the phone to wake up the sensor.

The A7 processor is visibly faster, especially while using apps such as video and audio editing and presentations. The new co-processor M7 is designed specifically to measure motion data from the accelerometer, so the phone can differentiate between walking and running and driving, and the map mode can automatically change from driving mode to step-by-step mode. Moreover, it will not prompt you to join every unknown w-fi network you pass. If your phone has not moved for sometime, it goes into the idle mode, saving battery life. Get ready for a host of new fitness apps!

The camera is more powerful and sensitive, and the lowlight performance is excellent thanks to the tru-tone flash that adjusts in a range of 1,000 shades according to the colour of the subject/ambient colours. With the burst mode, it shoots as long as your finger is on the trigger, at 10 frames per second. Overall, the phone may not appear much ahead of the current iPhone, but the new processors and the operating system will openup a whole new world. Incidentally, your fingerprint data is stored locally on the phone ALONE. It is not stored on the cloud (Internet storage).

iPhone 5C

$549/R35,000 (16GB) $649/R41,500 (32GB)

Talking point: Plastic body, colour options

This is Apple’s first look at a plastic body that companies such as Nokia and HTC have popularised. The iPhone 5C comes in five gorgeous colours — blue, green, pink, yellow and white — and is a full $100 cheaper than the comparable 5S.

Specs: 4 inch retina screen, A6 processor, larger body (4.9”X2.33”X0.35”) than the iPhone5, 132 grams, rear 8 megapixel camera ( with an f / 2.4 aperture), front 1.2 megapixel camera camera.

Features: iOS7 pre-reinstalled, iWork app, and a battery that promises 10 ours of talk time on 3G.
Handling: The phone feels very comfortable on the hand, and can be further personalised with accessory covers. Plastic is not equal to fragile: there is a steel casing under the plastic.ic.

The buttons are all colourmatched to the body, even the screen lock. One did wish that they had colour -coded the earbuds as well, rather than issue standard white ones.

Saturday, September 14, 2013

घर खरेदीद्वारे महागाईला शह

महागाई वाढत असताना आपली गुंतवणूकही महागाईच्या दरापेक्षा अधिक गतीने वाढायला हवी. त्यासाठी घर खरेदी हा एक अनेक पर्यायांपैकी एक पर्याय. घर खरेदी करून म्हणजेच घरात गुंतवणूक करून महागाईला शह देता येईल.

सर्वसामान्य जनतेला सध्या वाढत्या महागाईने ग्रासलेलं आहे. सरकारच्या महागाईचा निर्देशांक आठवड्यागणिक वर-खाली होत राहिला तरी सर्व सामान्यांना जी भाववाढीची झळ बसायची ती बसतेच. त्यातून कोणाचीही मुक्ती नाही. ही महागाई दिवसेंदिवस वाढत जाणार, हे कोण्या भविष्यवेत्त्याने सांगण्याची गरज नाही. महागाई वाढली की,आपला खर्चही वाढत जाणार. त्यामुळे दिवसेंदिवस पैशाचं मूल्यही कमी होत जाणार. काही वर्षापूर्वी 50 पैशालाही महत्त्व होतं. पण महागाईमुळे आता हे नाणं चलनी बाजारातूनही हद्दपार होण्याची शक्यता आहे. कारण महागाई. पैशाचं असं महत्त्व कमी होत जात असताना आपली गुंतवणूकही महागाई दरापेक्षा अधिक गतीने वाढायला हवी. त्यासाठी घर खरेदी हा अनेक पर्यायांपैकी एक पर्याय. घर खरेदी करून म्हणजेच घरात गुंतवणूक करून तुम्ही महागाईला शह देऊ शकता.

तुम्ही बचत केलेल्या रकमेवर आणि मुदत ठेवींवर सध्या मिळणारं व्याज हे महागाई दरापेक्षा कमी आहे. त्यावर मिळणा-या व्याजावर करही भरावा लागतो. (दहा हजारांपेक्षा अधिक असेल तर.) मुदत ठेवींवर मिळणा-या व्याजाचा दर अन्नधान्य महागाईपेक्षाही कमी आहे. त्यामुळे जेव्हा तुमची ठेवींची मुदत संपते त्यावेळी तुमची वाढलेली रक्कम त्या काळच्या महागाईच्या तुलनेत कमी असते. ठरावीक कालावधीत आपली रक्कम महागाईच्या दरापेक्षा अधिक दराने वाढावी,असं वाटत असेल तर त्यासाठी ‘प्रॉपर्टी’तील गुंतवणूक हा एक जोखीममुक्त पर्याय आहे.

गुंतवणुकीवर महागाईच्या दरापेक्षा अधिक परतावा मिळवण्यासाठी सोने खरेदी हा एक उत्तम पर्याय आहे. शिवाय कमोडिटी मार्केट आणि शेअर मार्केटमध्येही गुंतवणूक केली जाऊ शकते. मात्र, या सर्वापेक्षा ‘प्रॉपर्टी’तील गुंतवणूक जोखीममुक्त आहे. त्यामुळे आपल्या गुंतवणूक पोर्टफोलिओमध्ये प्रॉपर्टीचा समावेश असू द्या, असं अनेक गुंतवणूक सल्लागार सांगत असतात. वाढती महागाई आणि वाढती लोकसंख्या यामुळे येत्या काळातही घरांची, जागेची मागणी वाढत जाईल, यात शंका नाही. अशा परिस्थितीत आपली जर ‘प्रॉपर्टी’त गुंतवणूक असेल तर आपला फायदा होणे अपरिहार्य आहे.

वाढत्या महागाईला आळा घालण्यासाठी अर्थव्यवस्थेतील खेळता पैसा कमी करणं हा एक उपाय आहे. त्यासाठी रिझव्‍‌र्ह बँकेकडून वेळोवेळी व्याजदरवाढही केली जाते. परिणामी गृहकर्ज महाग होतात. महागाई वाढत गेली तर व्याजदरही वाढत जाणार. त्यामुळे घर घेण्यासाठीचे कर्जही महागात घ्यावे लागणार. म्हणजेच मासिक हप्ताही महागणार. त्यामुळे जितक्या लवकर तुम्ही घर खरेदी कराल तितके अधिक फायद्याचे आहे.

कोणत्याही शहरात घर खरेदी केलं तरी ते फायद्याचं ठरतं. कारण देशातील प्रत्येक शहरातील घरांचे भाव वाढतच आहेत. मुंबई आणि पुण्यात तर घरांचे भाव वाढण्याचा दर सर्वाधिक आहे. मुंबई आर्थिक राजधानी असल्याने आणि पुणे आयटी हब असल्याने या शहरांतील घरांच्या किमती गेल्या काही वर्षात जवळपास 30 ते 40 टक्के वाढल्या आहेत. आता हाच दरवाढीचा रोग महाराष्ट्रातील इतर शहरांनाही लागला आहे. ठाणे जिल्हा, नाशिक, औरंगाबाद, नागपूरमध्येही जागांचे भाव झपाट्याने वाढू लागले आहेत. महागाईमुळे हे भाव आवाक्याबाहेर जाण्याअगोदर घर खरेदी करणं कधीही चांगलं.

बचतीचे ओझे

देशातील बचत वाढावी, बचत खात्यांची संख्या वाढावी, सर्वसामान्यांना बचतीच्या माध्यमातून महागाईला तोंड देता यावे आणि सर्वाना बँकांच्या सेवा मिळाव्या, या उद्देशाने भारतीय रिझव्‍‌र्ह बँकेने बचत खात्यांवरील व्याजदर नियंत्रण मुक्त केले. रिझव्‍‌र्ह बँकेचा उद्देश चांगला असला तरी याचे सर्वसामान्यांना ओझेच होण्याची शक्यता अधिक आहे.

महिनाभराच्या खर्चातून उर्वरित रक्कम आपल्याजवळ शिल्लक राहणार नाही, या भीतीपोटी बचत खात्याचा मार्ग अवलंबला गेला. आजही याच कारणासाठी बचत खात्याचा वापर सुरू आहे. शेअर बाजारात, सोने किंवा म्युच्युअल फंडात जे गुंतवणूक करीत नाहीत किंवा ज्यांना अशा प्रकारच्या गुंतवणुकीच्या मार्गाची माहितीच नाही, असे लोक आजही मुदतठेवी, आरडी किंवा बचत खात्यात शिल्लक रक्कम ठेवण्यावरच भर देतात. आता तर रिझव्‍‌र्ह बँकेने बचत खात्याचे व्याजदर नियंत्रणमुक्त केले. त्यामुळे आपल्याला अधिक व्याज मिळेल, अशी आशा सर्वसामान्य खातेदारांना लागली आहे. पण त्यांची ही आशा फोल ठरेल, अशीच अधिक शक्यता आहे.

ग्राहकांना आकर्षित करण्यासाठी आता बँका बचत खात्यावरील व्याजदर वाढवण्यावर अधिकाधिक भर देतील. बँकांमध्ये तशी स्पर्धाच लागेल आणि याचा फायदा आपल्याला होईल, अशी सर्वसामान्य खातेदारांना आशा आहे. मात्र बचत खात्यावर अधिक व्याज देणे हे बँकांना परवडणारे नाही. त्यांच्या मार्जिनवर परिणाम होण्याची शक्यता आहे. सध्या अनेक बँकांचा भर बचत खाते आणि चालू खाते वाढवण्यावर असतो. पण असे वाढलेले बचत खाते बँकांना अधिक खर्चिक ठरणार आहे. अनेक बँकांनी तशी भीतीही वर्तवली आहे. बचत खात्यांवरील व्याजापोटी वाढलेला खर्च भरून काढण्यासाठी बँकांना कर्ज महाग तर करावेच लागेल, शिवाय त्यांना इतर शुल्कही वाढवावे लागतील.

सध्या बचत खात्यांवर वेगवेगळय़ा सुविधांचे ‘तोरण’ लागलेले आहे. बचत खात्यासोबत एटीएम कार्ड, इंटरनेट बँकिंग,मोबाइल बँकिंग अशा सुविधाही दिल्या जातात. धकाधकीच्या जीवनात आपण या सुविधांचा सर्रास वापर करीत असतो. इंटरनेट बँकिंगमुळे आपल्याला बँकेत जाण्याची पायपीट करावी लागत नाही. नव्याने सुरू करण्यात आलेल्या मोबाइल बँकिंगमुळेही खात्यातील पैशांची देवाणघेवाण करणे सोपे झाले आहे. मात्र या सेवांवरही आता शुल्क लागण्याची शक्यता आहे.

बँकेत बचत खाते सुरू केल्यानंतर ते खाते ‘मेंटेन’ ठेवण्याचा खर्च तर येतोच. शिवाय इतर शुल्कही लागू असतात. बँकांनी तयार केलेल्या बचत खात्यांच्या नियमांनुसार बचत खात्यावर विविध शुल्क आकारले जातात. चेक बूक वापरत असाल आणि तुमचे चेकबुक एका वर्षातच संपले तर त्यानंतरच्या प्रत्येक चेकवर काही बँका दोन ते तीन रुपये शुल्क लावतात. तसेच तुम्ही दिलेला चेक न वठताच परत गेला तर दंड आकारला जातो. बचत खात्यांतून किती वेळा पैसे काढावे याचेही काही बंधने आहेत. काही बँका महिन्यातून सहा वेळा पैसे काढण्याची मुभा देतात तर काही बँका सहा महिन्यांतून 50 वेळा पैसे काढण्याची सुविधा देतात.

त्यानंतर मात्र प्रत्येक वेळी 50 पैसे आकारले जातात. तसेच एटीएममधून किती वेळा पैसे काढावेत याचेही बंधन आहेत. आपण कोणत्याही एटीएममधून कितीही वेळा (आपल्या बँकेचे नसले तरीही) पैसे काढतो. त्याचे शुल्क आपल्याकडून आकारले जाते. हे शुल्क 20 ते 25 रुपयांपर्यंत असते. त्याचा थेट फटका आपल्या बँक बॅलेन्सला बसतो.

बचत खात्यात किमान किती रुपये असावेत याचाही नियम बँकांनी घालून दिला आहे. तुम्ही चेकबुक घेतलेले असेल तर तुमच्या बचत खात्यात किमान 500 ते 1000 रुपये असावेत. तसेच सर्वसामान्य बचत खात्यांमध्ये किमान 250 ते 500 रुपये शिल्लक असावे आणि ग्रामीण भागांत असलेल्या शाखांमध्ये बचत खात्यातील किमान शिल्लक 100 रुपये असणे बंधनकारक आहे. मात्र एवढी शिल्लक तुम्ही ठेवली नाहीतर मात्र तुम्हाला 10 रुपये किंवा त्याहीपेक्षा अधिक दंड आकारला जाऊ शकतो. पासबुक हरवले किंवा चोरीला गेले असेल तर तुम्हाला बँकेकडून डुप्लिकेट पासबुक मिळते. मात्र त्यासाठी किमान 20 ते 100 रुपये शुल्कही लावले जाते.

रिझव्‍‌र्ह बँकेने अद्याप बचत खात्याचे व्याजदर पूर्णपणे नियंत्रणमुक्त केले नाहीत. ज्या बचत खात्यांमध्ये एक लाखांपेक्षा अधिक रक्कम आहे त्या खात्यांचे व्याजदर बँकांना ठरवता येणार आहेत. त्यामुळे ज्या उद्देशाने रिझव्‍‌र्ह बँकेने हा निर्णय घेतला त्या उद्देशाला हरताळ फासली जाण्याची शक्यता आहे. कारण ग्राहकांना आकर्षित करण्यासाठी बँकांनी बचत खात्यावरील व्याजदर वाढवले तरीही कारण याचा थेट फायदा छोटय़ा खातेदारांना होणार नाही. तसेच उत्पन्न घटू नये,यासाठी सर्व प्रकारचे शुल्कही वाढवले जाऊ शकतात. त्याचा फटका छोटय़ा बचत खातेदारांनाच बसेल.

श्रीमंतांना फायदा, गरिबांना तोटा

रिझव्‍‌र्ह बँकेने एक लाख रुपयांपेक्षा अधिक रक्कम असलेल्या बचत खात्यांवरील व्याजदर ठरवण्याचेच अधिकार बँकांना दिले आहेत. त्यामुळे किरकोळ रक्कम जमा ठेवणा-या खातेदारांना याचा फायदा होणार नाही. ग्रामीण भागातील लोकांच्या बचत खात्यात एक लाखाहून अधिक रक्कम असण्याची शक्यता कमीच आहे. त्यामुळे बचत खात्यावरील व्याजदर वाढले तरी त्याचा फायदा फक्त वरच्या स्तरातील लोकांनाच होईल. दुसरीकडे शुल्कवाढीचा फटका मात्र गरिबांनाही बसेल.

बँकांचे मार्जिन धोक्यात

बँकांच्या एकूण उत्पन्नात सर्वाधिक वाटा शुल्कापोटी मिळणाऱ्या उत्पन्नाचा असतो. त्यामुळे व्याजदरवाढीचे ओझे सहन करताना बँकांना शुल्कही वाढवणे भाग आहे. अन्यथा त्यांच्या उत्पन्नावर तर परिणाम होईलच शिवाय नफाही घटेल. हा घाटा कोणतीही बँक सहन करणार नाही.

मुदत ठेवींवरील व्याजदर घटतील

अधिकाधिक ग्राहकांना आकर्षित करण्यासाठी व्याजदरवाढीची स्पर्धा लागल्यास मुदत ठेवींमध्ये गुंतवणूक केलेल्यांचा तोटा होण्याची शक्यता आहे. आतापर्यंत ‘मुदत ठेवींवर आम्ही इतरांपेक्षा अधिक व्याज देतो’ अशा जाहीराती केल्या जात होत्या. आता मात्र बचत खात्यांच्या जाहिराती केल्या जातील. यासह बँकांना आपला नफा कायम ठेवण्यासाठी मुदत ठेवींवर देण्यात येणा-या व्याजाचा दरही कमी करावा लागेल.

गृहकर्ज घेताना बँकांमध्ये भरावे लागणारे शुल्क

गृहकर्ज घेताना बँकांमध्ये अनेक प्रकारचं शुल्क भरावं लागतं. ग्राहक यासंबंधी अनभिज्ञ असेल तर भविष्यात त्याला अनेक अडचणींना सामोरं जावं लागतं. त्यामुळे नंतर नसती शुक्लकाष्ठं मागे लागू नयेत असं वाटत असेल तर शुल्कासंबंधी आधीच माहिती करून घेणं चांगलं.

गृहकर्ज घेण्याची प्रक्रिया जेवढी कटकटीची तेवढीच त्यानंतरची कर्ज फेडण्याची प्रक्रियाही अडचणीची आणि त्रासदायक ठरू शकते. कारण गृहकर्ज घेताना अनेकांना आपल्याला कोणकोणतं शुल्क (फी) भरावं लागणार आहे, याची कल्पनाही नसते. त्यामुळे भविष्यात त्यांना अनेक अडचणींना सामोरं जावं लागतं. मग विनाकारणच जास्त पैसे भरावे लागले, दुस-या बँकेतून कर्ज घेतलं असतं तर कदाचित अधिकचा खर्च वाचला असता, असंही आपल्याला वाटून जातं. अशा प्रकारे भविष्यात पश्चात्ताप होऊ नये यासाठी बँक अशावेळी कोणकोणतं शुल्क आकारणार आहे याची आधीच माहिती करून घेतलेली बरी. कारण त्याची झळ आपल्याच खिशाला बसणार असते.

अ‍ॅप्लिकेशन फी
अनेक बँका अ‍ॅप्लिकेशन फीजऐवजी एस्टॅब्लिशमेंट फीज अशीही संज्ञा वापरतात. गृहकर्जासाठीच्या प्रक्रियेसाठी हे शुल्क बँकांकडून आकारलं जातं. प्रत्येक बँकेचं शुल्क कमी-अधिक प्रमाणात सारखंच असतं. मात्र यात कर्जाच्या रकमेनुसार बदल होत असतो. जितकी कर्जाची रक्कम अधिक तितकं शुल्क आकारलं जातं. त्याचप्रमाणे हे गणित ग्राहकाच्या घराच्या किमतीवरही अवलंबून असतं. त्यामुळे गृहकर्ज घेताना सुरुवातीपासूनच अनेक शुल्क भरण्याची तयारी ठेवावी लागते. अ‍ॅप्लिकेशन फीज म्हणजे प्रक्रिया शुल्क ही त्याची पहिलीच पायरी.

लेंडर्स मॉर्टगेज इन्शुरन्स
घराच्या किमतीच्या तुलनेत गृहकर्जाची रक्कम कमी असल्यास अशा प्रकारचं शुल्क आकारलं जातं. उदा. जर ग्राहकाच्या घराची किंमत 10 लाख रुपये असेल आणि बँकेने आठ लाख रुपयेच कर्ज मंजूर केले असतील तर अशा परिस्थितीत लेंडर्स मॉर्टगेज इन्शुरन्सचं प्रमाण 80 टक्के गृहीत धरलं जातं. अशा प्रकारे शुल्क का आकारलं जातं, हा प्रश्न पडणं स्वाभाविक आहे. पण एखाद्या कर्जदाराने कर्ज बुडवलं अथवा तो कर्ज फेडू शकत नाही अशी परिस्थिती निर्माण झाल्यास बँकेला या इन्शुरन्सचा फायदा होतो.

व्हॅल्युएशन चार्ज
ग्राहक आणि संबंधित बँकही जेव्हा ग्राहकाच्या घराच्या प्रत्यक्ष किमतीबाबत साशंक असते त्यावेळी बाजारमूल्यानुसार त्या घराची किंमत ठरवून घ्यावी लागते. या मूल्यमापनासाठी बँकेकडून हे शुल्क आकारलं जातं. हे शुल्क प्रक्रिया शुल्कात म्हणजेच अ‍ॅप्लिकेशन फीजमध्येही अंतर्भूत असू शकतं किंवा काही बँका हे शुल्क वेगळं आकारतात.

डिस्चार्ज फी
डिस्चार्ज फीचा उल्लेख काही ठिकाणी एक्झिट फी असाही उल्लेख केला जातो. ग्राहक गृहकर्जातून मुक्त होतो त्यावेळेस हे शुल्क आकारलं जातं. यामध्ये ग्राहकाला गृहकर्जातून मुक्त करण्यासाठी कराव्या लागणाऱ्या प्रशासकीय प्रक्रियेपोटी हे शुल्क आकारलं जातं. प्रत्येक बँकेची ही शुल्क आकारणी वेगवेगळी असते. कर्जदाराने वेळेत कर्ज फेडलं असल्यास काही बँका डिस्चार्ज/एक्झिट फी माफही करतात.

पेनल्टी इंटरेस्ट
एका ठराविक कालावधीसाठी घेतलेलं गृहकर्ज ग्राहकाने त्याची मुदत संपण्याअगोदरच फेडल्यास पेनल्टी इंटरेस्ट म्हणजेच दंड आकारला जातो. कारण ग्राहकाने मुदतीअगोदर कर्ज फेडल्यास उरलेल्या मुदतीत मिळणा-या व्याजावर बँकेला पाणी सोडावं लागतं. कर्ज देण्यासाठी आणि ग्राहकाचं खातं सांभाळण्यासाठी येणारा खर्च भरून काढण्यासाठी असा पेनल्टी इंटरेस्ट आकारणं बँकेला भाग असतं.

अकाउंट किपिंग फी
प्रत्येक बँकेची अकाउंट किपिंग फीज वेगवेगळी असते. त्याचप्रमाणे बँका अकाउंटसंबधी अनेक योजना राबवत असतात. गृहकर्जाचं खातं, क्रेडिट कार्डचं खातं, बचत खातं असं सारं एकाच खात्यात असण्याची सुविधाही बँका देतात. अर्थात त्यासाठी पॅकेज फीज आकारली जाते. हे शुल्क मासिक हप्त्यात आकारलं जातं. काही बँका इन्शुरन्सचीही सेवा देतात. त्यामुळे त्याचंही वेगळं प्रक्रिया शुल्क आकारलं जाण्याची शक्यता असते.

स्विचिंग फी
ग्राहकाला गृहकर्ज फ्लोटिंग रेटमधून फिक्स्ड रेटमध्ये रूपांतरित करायचं असल्यास स्विचिंग फीज द्यावीच लागते.

घर खरेदी करताना भरावे लागणारे शुल्क

घर खरेदी करताना त्यानंतर होणारे अनेक खर्च लक्षात घेतलेले नसतात. सामान्यत: घराचा प्रति स्क्वेअर फूट भाव किती, एवढंच गृहित धरतो. त्यानुसार रक्कम जमवायच्या कामाला लागतो. पण त्यानंतर भरावे लागणारे शुल्क असे प्रकार अनेक असतात, ज्यांचा आपल्या एकूण बजेटवरच परिणाम होतो.

संबंधित लेख : गृहकर्ज घेताना बँकांमध्ये भरावे लागणारे शुल्क

घर विक्री करताना बिल्डरकडून जो भाव सांगितला जातो त्यात कोणत्याही शुल्कांचा समावेश नसतो. तो केवळ घराचा एकूण दर असतो. समजा तुम्ही बिल्डरकडे गेलात आणि तुम्हाला त्याने 500 स्क्वेअर फुटाचा फ्लॅट दाखवला. त्याचा दर समजा प्रति स्क्वेअर फूट 5,000 रुपये सांगितला असेल; तर फ्लॅटचा एकूण दर 25 लाख रुपये होईल. मात्र हा दर सर्व कर वगळता असतो. तो घराचा मूळ भाव असतो. यात वेगवेगळ्या प्रकारची शुल्क जोडली जातात. यामुळे घराच्या एकूण दरात किमान चार ते सहा लाख रुपयांचा अधिक भार पडतो.

1. मुद्रांक आणि नोंदणी शुल्क

2. सेवाकर (सíव्हसटॅक्स)

3. मूल्यवर्धित कर (वॅट)

4. मीटरजोडणी

मुद्रांक आणि नोंदणी शुल्क

सरकाने मुद्रांक आणि नोंदणी शुल्कात काही दिवसांपूर्वीच वाढ केली. पहिल्या पाच लाखांसाठी 7,500 रुपये आकारण्याऐवजी आता सरसकट पाच टक्के मुद्रांक शुल्क वसूल केले जात आहे. पूर्वी 10 लाखांचा व्यवहार असेल तर पहिल्या पाच लाखांसाठी 7,600 रुपये आणि पुढील पाच लाखांसाठी 25 हजार रुपये मुद्रांक शुल्क आकारले जात होते. त्यामुळे ग्राहकांना 32,600 रुपये अधिक एक टक्का नोंदणी शुल्क असे 42,600 रुपये भरावं लागायचं. मात्र, आता सरसकट पाच टक्के आकारणीमुळे याच व्यवहारासाठी 50 हजार रुपये मुद्रांक शुल्क अधिक एका टक्क्याप्रमाणे नोंदणी शुल्क असे 60 हजार रुपये मोजावे लागणार आहेत. ग्रामीण भागात तर याचा सर्वाधिक फटका बसणार आहे. पूर्वी ग्रामीण भागात टाऊन प्लॅनिग असल्यास दोन टक्के मुद्रांक शुल्क आकारले जात होते. आता ते सरसकट पाच टक्के आकारलं जाणार आहे. त्यामुळे 25 लाखांच्या घरासाठी पाच टक्के दराने एक लाख 25 हजार मुद्रांक शुल्क आणि एक टक्का नोंदणी शुल्कानुसार 25 हजार रुपये म्हणजे एकूण एक लाख 50 हजार रुपये केवळ नोंदणी आणि मुद्रांक शुल्कापोटी जाणार आहेत.

सेवाकर

यावर्षी सादर झालेल्या अर्थसंकल्पात घर विक्रीवरील सेवाकरात दोन टक्के वाढ करण्यात आली आहे. त्यामुळे आता घराच्या किमतीही वाढलेल्या दिसतात. हा कर 10 टक्क्यांवरून 12 टक्के करण्यात आला आहे. हा कर भरावाच लागतो. कारण तुमच्याकडून वसूल केलेला सेवाकर केंद्र सरकारला भरला जातो. सेवाकर भरल्याची बिल्डरकडून पावती घ्यावी. हा कर गोळा करून बिल्डर एकत्रितपणे तो सरकारला भरतो. त्यामुळे टी.डी.एस. सारखा या कराचा तुमच्या खात्यावर परिणाम दिसत नाही.

मूल्यवर्धित कर (व्हॅट)

नोंदणी रकमेवर एक टक्का मूल्यवर्धित कर (व्हॅट) आकारला जातो. म्हणजे 25 लाखांच्या घरावर 25 हजार व्हॅट लावला जातो.

मीटर जोडणीचा खर्च

मीटर जोडणीचा खर्च साधारणपणे 18 हजार ते 20 हजारांच्या घरातच जातो. मात्र, बांधकाम व्यवसायिकांकडून मीटरमागे सर्रास 50 ते 60 हजार रुपये घेतले जातात. ही ग्राहकाची फसवणूक आहे. खर्चाबाबत ग्राहक बिल्डरकडे मीटर जोडणीच्या मूळ पावतीची मागणी करून ही लूट थांबवू शकतो.

हे सर्व शुल्क जर तुम्ही गृहित धरलं तर 25 लाखांचे घर घेताना तुम्हाला तीन ते चार लाख रुपये अतिरिक्त लागतात. ही तयारी आपण अगोदरच करून ठेवणं आवश्यक आहे. अन्यथा ऐनवेळी तारांबळ उडू शकते.

गृहकर्ज परतफेड करताना..

गृहकर्ज घेताना त्याचे हप्ते आपण कशा प्रकारे फेडू शकतो, त्यांचे कोणकोणते पर्याय उपलब्ध आहेत, मुदतपूर्व परतफेडीची सुविधा आहे का, मुदतीआधी अधिक रक्कम भरली जाऊ शकते का, आदी सा-यांची माहिती करून घेतलेली कधीही चांगली.

घर खरेदी करताना आपण घराची प्रत्येक बाजू, प्रत्येक कोपरा,प्रत्येक डिझाइन अगदी पाय-यांच्या टाइल्स कशा आहेत इथपासून ते नळ कसे आहेत इथपर्यंत सा-याच बारीकसारीक गोष्टी तपासून पाहतो. मात्र गृहकर्जाच्या बाबत तसं होत नाही. कर्ज मिळतेय या आनंदात आपण गृहकर्जातील बारकाव्यांचा विचारही करत नाही. इथेच भविष्यातील मनस्तापाची बीजे रोवली जातात. साधारण 15 ते 20 वर्ष कर्जाचे हप्ते फेडताना आपली फरपट होऊ नये म्हणून आतापासूनच त्याचे आर्थिक नियोजन केलेले कधीही चांगले. गृहकर्ज घेताना त्याचे हप्ते आपण कशा प्रकारे फेडू शकतो, त्यांचे कोणकोणते पर्याय उपलब्ध आहेत, मुदतपूर्व परतफेडीची सुविधा आहे का, मुदतीआधी अधिक रक्कम भरली जाऊ शकते का, आदी सा-यांची माहिती करून घेतलेली कधीही चांगली.

मुदतपूर्व कर्जफेड
  नोकरी किंवा व्यवसाय करताना कधीतरी मधेच आपल्याला अधिक लाभ होतो, बोनस मिळतो. ही रक्कम कधीकधी सहा आकडीही असू शकते. अशावेळी आपण कर्ज फेडण्याचाच अधिक विचार करतो. डोक्यावरचे कर्जाचं ओझं जितकं लवकर फेडता येईल तितकं चांगलं असं आपल्याला वाटत असतं. त्यासाठी आपल्यासमोर मुदतपूर्व कर्जफेडण्याचा पर्याय उपलब्ध असतो. मुदतपूर्व कर्ज फेडणं म्हणजे आपल्याला असं वाटतं की व्याजातून आपली सुटका होईल. पण प्रत्यक्षात त्यावर लावण्यात येणारं शुल्क हे व्याजाची रक्कम भरून काढण्यासाठीच असतं. मुदतपूर्व कर्ज फेडण्याचेही दोन प्रकार आहेत. एक म्हणजे अर्ध परतफेड आणि दुसरा प्रकार म्हणजे कर्जाची पूर्ण पतरफेड.

मुदतपूर्व अर्ध परतफेड

जेव्हा एखादा गृहकर्जदार कर्जाची संपूर्ण रक्कम मुदतपूर्व न फेडता काही मोठी रक्कम बँकेला देतो, तेव्हा त्याला मुदतपूर्व अर्ध परतफेड म्हणतात. यामध्ये कर्जदार काही टक्के कर्ज फेडतो. जेवढी रक्कम शिल्लक राहिली असेल त्याच्या किमान पाच टक्के रक्कम एकाचवेळी फेडता येते. त्यावर कोणतेही शुल्क आकारलं जात नाही. मात्र जर ही रक्कम पाच टक्क्यांपेक्षा अधिक असेल तर त्यावर तीन टक्के शुल्क आकारलं जातं.

पूर्ण परतफेड

गृहकर्ज दुस-या बँकेत शिफ्ट केल्यानंतर कोणत्याही कर्जदारांना जुन्या बँकेकडून घेतलेल्या कर्जाची मुदतपूर्व परतफेड एकगठ्ठा करता येते. अशावेळी बँकेला व्याजापोटी मिळणा-या उत्पन्नावर पाणी सोडावं लागण्याची शक्यता असते. त्यामुळे बँका काही प्रमाणात शुल्क वसूल करतात. ही रक्कम एकूण शिल्लक रक्कमेच्या 2 ते 3 टक्के असू शकते. मात्र प्रत्येकाला गृहकर्ज शिफ्ट करण्यासाठी अशी दुसरी बँक मिळेलच असं नाही.

How partial prepayment of home loan mortgage relieve people from burden of high interest on home loan?

A beautiful home at the centre of the city equipped with all the necessary amenities is a dream of every individual. To fulfill this dream, one could easily get a home loan and acquire the house without saving large sum of money. However, with the recent fall in rupee the home loan interest rates have gone up. People who have already applied or are intending to apply for loans with floating interest rates are going to suffer the most, reports Rediff.com.

To relieve people from the burden of high interest, partial prepayment of home loans can be an effective way to save money and enjoy various benefits.

What is partial prepayment of home loan?

Longer the tenure of the loan more will be the money spent in home loan interest. An effective way of bringing down the tenure of loan is partial prepayment in which one should pay additional principal amount along with the usual EMI. Partial prepayment is feasible when the amount that is accumulated to prepay loan is saved after taking care of short-term liquidity needs. The person paying the loan should be comfortable with his current EMI and should not have any other high cost loans. The method of prepayment helps to reduce the outstanding principal amount and therefore the tenure comes down while EMI remains the same. Most banks don’t charge any penalty for prepayment but the amount that can be prepaid should be discussed with the respective banks.

The benefits of partial prepayment are invaluable. It guarantees savings in interest expenses and sometimes it is more beneficial than tax savings. Some of the benefits are as follows-

1. Guaranteed saving in interest expenses

When loan tenure comes down, the interest expenses see a dip as well since the number of years for which interest has to be paid comes down. This is guaranteed saving in interest expenses while investing money for better return might not always mean saving. Under section 80C, prepayment of principal leads to reduction in debt and hence one could reap the benefits of reduced interest expenses.

2. Sooner the prepayment better the savings

In the beginning of the payment period of home loan, the interest rate is highest and therefore partial prepayment of principal in this period will be more meaningful than prepayment done on the later years. For example, if at the end of one year someone has prepaid an amount of

3 lakh for a loan of

30 lakh at interest rate of 11 percent for 30 years, he would be able to save

15 Lakh. While partial prepayment done at the end of 5 years for the same amount of loan at the same interest and tenure would lead to savings of only

9.8 lakh. Hence, sooner the prepayments better the savings.

3. Impact on tax savings

On taking a home loan, one could avail tax benefits which may get impacted by prepayment of principal. However, a careful analysis reveals that the savings in interest expenses is higher than tax savings, especially when the prepayment is done in the beginning of payment period. For self-occupied property there may not be any change in tax benefits since interest deduction is limited at

1.5 lakh. For let-out-property the person may have to sacrifice on tax benefits but even then the savings on interest expenses will be better than tax benefits.

4. The process of prepayment should not continue

Most of the people believe that to enjoy maximum benefits one should prepay till the loan becomes zero. But since the interest is highest in the beginning, the bank receives the major amount of interest at the starting of loan tenure. Once a handsome amount of the loan is prepaid, one should not worry about prepayment of principal on the latter half of loan tenure as savings on interest will significantly come down.

Hence, partial prepayment of principal is a smart move to save money while paying for home loans.

हे लेखही वाचा

गृहकर्ज परतफेड करताना..

घर खरेदी करताना भरावे लागणारे शुल्क

गृहकर्ज घेताना बँकांमध्ये भरावे लागणारे शुल्क

बचतीचे ओझे

घर खरेदीद्वारे महागाईला शह

Wednesday, September 4, 2013

Which DSLR camera should i purchase?

How to wipe out iphone data remotely?

How to wipe out iPhone data remotely?

How to wipe out iphone data remotely?

Music for your ears as karaoke gets more power

Now, what if we could get professional help to make us bathroom singers feel like real singers? This week we take up at karaoke, that Japanese invention that lets us be a Mohammed Rafi or an Elvis Presley in the privacy of our homes (or in the company of friends). Karaoke has a huge following in Japan and quite a few other countries, with dedicated karaoke bars peppering big cities. They are also sprouting here and there in India.
After all, India is the nation of the Antakshari, the Bollywood song competition game. Karaoke takes the game to another level, as it lets us sing to the original background score of our favourite songs. All you need is a bit of practice, and the right equipment. Let us look at some do-it-yourself options that could help you turn your home into a karaoke bar of sorts..

Option 1: VCD/DVD player with karaoke microphone Input
If you have a DVD/VCD player lying around at home, probably gathering dust, you could put it to good use as a karaoke station. With players starting as low as Rs. 1,890, even buying a new one is feasible. Buy a good microphone (Philips versions starts at Rs. 499) and a karaoke CD, which can cost as little as Rs. 60, and you are all set.
Pop the CD into the player, plug in the mike, switch on the television and you are ready to sing your heart out as the lyrics appear on screen to match the background score.
Some DVD players allow only a single microphone, others have slots for two — which means you can sing duets as well! The only limitation would be the songs you have on the CD, and the mess involved in switching CDs.

Option 2: A dedicated karaoke microphone

Mera Gaana ( Rs. 2,499 to Rs. 6,990)
There are several options available, starting with MeraGana.com’s entry-level mixer microphone that uses a similar set up as the DVD player while giving you a mike with mixer settings and discs to the new Mera Gana Karaoke that comes with some advanced options.
The new system still connects to the TV using wires, but uses SD cards to store the songs. If you can find the songs online, you can download them and sing along with them. MeraGaana gives you a 32GB SD card to start with, which can store upto 8,000 songs, and comes pre-loaded with 700 songs.
As of now, there is no wireless version. You can always download more songs by subscribing to MeraGana.com.

* LG Song Star ( Rs. 14,990 to Rs. 20,990)

This comes in two options — single mike and dual mike.
The single microphone is wired to your TV and comes with approximately 4,000 songs in nine languages. You also get a chip for you to record songs and play them back on the computer. You select the song by pressing the number buttons, and the lyrics appear on the screen as the song is played.

In the dual mike version, one mike is wired to the TV, while the second mike is cordless. LG does not mention how you can get more songs other than the ones that come in the kit.

* Kortek KHM-500 ( Rs. 21,990)
This is one of the richest karaoke systems, feature-wise. It comes with two wireless microphones and a wireless receiver that connects to your television, either on RCA or HDMI (it is the only one with an HDMI option).
The base system comes with 3,000 songs (English, Hindi and regional languages). You can buy additional song chips for Rs. 2,990 to expand your library, and you can also record your own songs.
The Kortek base station also has a USB pen drive slot which you can use to play MP3 files, see photos (JPEGs) and watch movies (MPEG) on your TV, besides recording your songs. There are functions such as voice pitch change, melody adjustment and echo/key adjustments, similar to those on LG.

The ultimate setup
Let us imagine the ultimate set-up! We can tell you what you need, and for each item, the sky is the limit as far as features (and price) are concerned. Your budget is your guideline.
What you need: at least 2 microphones, song books, a mixer, amplifier, a CD player, some good speakers --- and a bunch of friends (priceless). Hook all these up without a television, set the volume settings, echo and reverberation so that you sound good. Put on a CD and start singing. If you have a friend who can play the guitar or other instruments, have a party!

Karaoke’s future
A big challenge for Karaoke has been that the MIDI (Music Instrument Digital Interface) system it uses does not have real instruments of Indian music.
A dholak is replaced by a sound sample or a drum, the harmonium by a synthesiser and so on. MeraGana has a special studio in Mumbai. Hopefully, as karaoke catches on, more Indian songs will become available to sing along with.

Tuesday, September 3, 2013

New Launches - Sennheiser Momentum On Ear

Sennheiser Momentum On Ear

Everything about these new Momentum supra-aural headphones spells premium: it’s Alcantara ear pads are filled with two layers of special foam that dampen ambient noise and incessant chatter, while its ear cups are attached to mobile ball joints that run into adjustable stainless steel sliders to create a perfect fit. Available in four colours – blue, green, pink and ivory – these cans come with a ‘shimmering metal’ remote control and microphone that supports Apple devices such as the iPod, iPad and iPhone, giving you complete control over telephone calls and your music. Besides, you also get an extra cable for computers, phones, music players and any other device with a headphone jack.

Specs: 16Hz–22kHz frequency response | 112dB SPL | 18ohms impedence | Dynamic, closed speaker drivers | (2x)1.4m cables, 3.5mm audio jack | 160g

Website: www.sennheiserindia.com

Price: 14,990

New Launches - Sony CP-F10L Battery Charger

Sony CP-F10L Battery Charger

Jet-setting executives looking for a portable power bank might want to consider the CP-F10L. Charge its 10,000mAh battery once, and you have enough juice in storage to recharge any smartphone almost four times. Besides, it is also equipped with dual USB ports that let you power your handset and tablet simultaneously. Housed in a slim, lightweight, aluminium casing, the CP-F10L’s cells are capable of retaining 90% of battery capacity even after 1,000 charge cycles. Furthermore, it is ready to use straight out of its packaging.

Specs: 10,000mAh lithium-ion rechargeable battery | DC 5v, 0.5a - 1.5A input, 3.6A max output | 0°C - 35°C operating temperature | 2 USB ports | 70.4x130.6x16.5mm | 260g

Website: www .sony .co .in

Price: 4,990

New Launches - iBall Andi4a

iBall Andi4a

It packs a dual-core processor, sports a 4-inch capacitive touchscreen, comes with dual cameras, supports expandable memory, and even runs the latest version of Android. What makes this handset different from the hundred others we have already seen, is that it is equipped with its own projector that lets you playback your videos and photos on any flat surface. Additionally, you get a free tripod in the box pack. How cool is that?

Specs: 4.0-inch, 480x800px (WVGA) IPS display | 35 Lumen projector, 640x480px (VGA) resolution, 1200:1 contrast, manual focus | 1GHz dual-core Cortex A9 processor | 512MB RAM | 2GB memory, expandable up to 32GB via microSD | 8MP camera with LED flash and auto focus, VGA front-facing camera | Dual SIM | Bluetooth, Wi-Fi | 1500 mAh battery | Android Jelly Bean (v4.1)

Website: www .iball .co .in

Price: 18,999 (pre-orders online at 17,990)

I’m looking for a tough 500GB external hard drive that will not only guarantee data security, but also survive rough use.

Manufacturers are constantly working on technology that will protect external drives from bumps, shocks, and from small drops. Still, regardless of how rugged a drive is, you will have to exercise a fair amount of caution when handling it. That said, you can consider the following models that are certified to handle strain better than others. As per your needs, all the prices listed below are for 500GB capacities, and all these models conform to US Military Standards for rugged use, namely MIL-STD-810G and 810F.

The LaCie 301983 ( 7,000): If you’re looking for top-notch durability and features, then this is the model to buy. The drive—with support for USB 3.0 and Firewire 800—is protected by internal rubber bumpers and is housed in an anti-scratch aluminium casing that is then covered in a shock-absorbing rubber sleeve. For data security, it comes preloaded with LaCie’s 256-bit AES encryption software.

The Adata DashDrive HD710 ( 4,000): Much more economically priced, this external HDD also supports USB 3.0 – and it even comes with an external slot around the drive to conveniently store its cable. As far as data security is concerned, you get 128-bit AES encryption with the free HDDtoGo software, downloadable from ADATA’s web site.

Transcend SJ25M3 ( 3,500): Here you get a Quick Reconnect button that enables the reconnection of this USB 3.0 drive without having to unplug it from your PC. And for data security, you get Transcend’s Elite Data Management software that promises you 256-bit AES encryption.

I want a netbook – with a 10- to 12-inch screen – mostly for working with MS Word, surfing the internet, and accessing emails. Kindly suggest a few models worth considering.

Since you haven’t provided us with a budget, we will list a few devices under different price points for you to consider. Each of the machines listed below come with the Windows OS preinstalled. It should be noted that there are netbooks that retail for less than 20,000, but almost all of these come with either DOS or Linux. We would also recommend that you avoid netbooks with a 10-inch screen. True: these retail at around 15,000, but their screen-size seriously hampers the web browsing experience.

Acer Aspire V5-121 ( 23,000): 11.6-inch (1366x768px) LED TFT display | AMD C-70, 1GHz dual-core processor with Turbo Core technology up to 1.33GHz | AMD Radeon HD 7290 graphics | 4GB RAM | 500GB HDD | Acer Crystal Eye cam | (2x)USB 2.0, (1x)USB 3.0 | Win 8.

Sony Vaio YB ( 25,000): 11.6-inch (1366x768px) LED TFT display | AMD E-450 1.65GHz dual core processor | AMD Radeon HD 6320 graphics | 2GB RAM | 320GB HDD | 0.3MP cam | (3x)USB 2.0 | Win 7

Lenovo Ideapad S210T ( 30,000): 11.6-inch (1366x768px) LED touchscreen display | 1.9GHz Pentium Dual Core (2nd Generation) | Intel HD Graphics | 2GB RAM | 500GB HDD | 720p HD cam | (1x)USB 2.0, (1x)USB 3.0 | Win 8

Asus F202E VivoBook ( 35,000): 11.6-inch (1366x768px) LED touchscreen display | 1.8GHz Intel Core i3 (3rd Generation) | Intel HD Graphics | 4GB RAM | 500GB hard drive | 720p HD cam | (3x)USB 2.0 | Win 8

Before you buy, however, we suggest you check the build quality of each model, its display for clarity and glare, and also its keyboard for typing comfort.

Income Tax Offices To Speed Up Payments Of Up To 50,000 For FY13

Govt nod to I-T dept for tax refunds

Income Tax Offices To Speed Up Payments Of Up To 50,000 For FY13

New Delhi: The income tax department has resumed “normal refund payments” for 2011-12 after an informal goslow advisory was reversed.
    At the same time, the offices have been asked to expedite refunds of up to Rs 50,000 for the last financial year although the bulk of tax returns were received by August 5. The move is aimed at ensuring that individual taxpayers are not adversely affected by any delays in refunds. Sources said the green light for all refunds has come from the highest level with field offices instructed to clear pending dues. The move comes after TOI highlighted how the revenue department had suspended refunds of over Rs 1 lakh for 2011-12 in the wake of a pressure on tax collections.
    Every year, the I-T department is saddled with a huge refund burden, which is in excess of Rs 70,000 crore during some financial years. While a part of the refund is on account of excess tax paid by individuals and companies, a large part of the burden is due to pressure from the tax department on the corporate sector to pay additional sums to help officers meet the targets set for them. Such instances were especially high during the last financial year when the government was keen to ensure that the fiscal deficit was within the target of 5.2% of GDP set by the finance minister.
    In the Budget, finance minister P Chidambaram has provisioned for over 18% growth in gross collections of corporation tax, personal income tax and wealth tax. But officials in the department admit that it is a tough ask. “There is a complete disconnect between the economic situation and the tax target. When the economy is growing at 4.4%, how do you expect me to meet the target?” said a senior officer, who did not wish to be identified.
    Latest data released by the finance ministry showed that gross direct tax collections rose over 13.3% to Rs 1.57 lakh crore during April-July 2013, compared to Rs 1.39 lakh crore a year ago. From a 21% increase in gross collections during April-May, the growth rate moderated to 11.5% during the June quarter.
GREEN SIGNAL
    Every year, the I-T Department is saddled with a huge refund burden, which is in excess of 70,000 crore during some financial years
    While a part of the refund is on account of excess tax paid by individuals and companies, a large part of the burden is due to pressure from the tax department on the corporate sector to pay additional sums to help officers meet the targets set for them
    Latest data released by the finance ministry showed that gross direct tax collections rose over 13.3% to 1.57 lakh crore during April-July 2013, compared to 1.39 lakh crore a year ago

Kumar Mangalam Birla, the 46-year-old chairman of the $40-billion Aditya Birla Group

‘All your joys can’t depend on growth’

Kumar Birla Says Downturn An Aberration, Group Will Stay Ahead Of Bend In The Road

    Kumar Mangalam Birla, the 46-year-old chairman of the $40-billion Aditya Birla Group, is unwavering when it comes to achieving a turnover target the aluminium-to-telecom group has set for itself. But ever since the Indian multinational announced in 2008 that it wants to double the turnover to $65 billion by 2016 fiscal, the world has gone through quite an upheaval, economically.
    First, the developed markets slowed down, then the developing markets began showing signs of a downturn, and to add to the woes of Indian businesses with regard to clearances and policy paralysis, the rupee plunged to a record low of 68.83 against the dollar.
    In such a scenario, one would only expect Indian businesses to revisit their targets, make necessary shifts in gear and remodel their strategies in sync with the times. But Birla is in no hurry to change the target. At best, he would shift the goalpost. “We are keeping our target unchanged as of now, recognizing that the stress is much higher than what we initially envisaged. What’s happened in the external environment over the last 5 years, it makes the target even more difficult and in some ways unrealistic… the target is perhaps one that requires a stretch that is beyond the possible,” Birla told TOI in an exclusive interaction.
    “We are moving very strongly in that direction and the point is that if we don’t achieve it by 2016 fiscal, as we had envisaged, we would probably achieve it a year or year and a half later. I’m not putting a date to it,” he said. Birla did not hint at a probable change in trajectory either. “This is a very robust plan. It is based on a very granular assessment of each business, each of which has internally broken it down into various components and sub-components,” he said.
    He accepted these were difficult times and the group was reviewing investments worth about Rs 15,000 crore in Hindalco Industries. He agreed it was easier to run businesses abroad, but the fact that the government was finally taking cognizance of delayed projects gave him reasons to feel optimistic.
    As for the controls imposed on investments abroad, he agreed it will slow down investments but was hopeful that this was a temporary measure. Besides, he also doesn’t feel the current economic situation is as grave as the balance of payment crisis of 1991.

The group When it comes to his business, Birla’s optimism in an otherwise bleak scenario also stems from his belief in the philosophy of the last man standing. “We are building businesses for the long term,” he said.
“Our philosophy is always to be the last man standing. Which is that in a prolonged downturn, we are the least likely to get affected or the last to get affected in each of our businesses vis-a-vis competition and we have clearly outgrown not just competitors in most of our businesses, but also markets. So, we are actually seeing the fruits of our efforts playing out. In that sense, we will see fruition of the philosophy of the last man standing,” he said.
It’s the group’s strategy of “dynamic nurturance” which appears to have worked, whether it is cement, where the group is a leader, or telecom, which has grown to create its own place in the crowd. While the group is providing a sharp focus on each of its businesses, which range from aluminium and copper to cement, textiles, financial services, fertilizers, telecom, retail and carbon black, it does not plan to enter a new business other than banking. “For us, it (banking foray) means that some important gaps in our portfolio in financial services would get filled. There is no reason why we should not be given an approval for a banking licence. It’s a business we feel excited about,” he said, refusing to divulge his game plan.

New-age businesses Having revisited the strategy on retail, Birla believes the group has only grown wiser on this newbie. Using a calibrated approach, it is growing the business from the point of view of scaling the top line, which is focused on maximizing value. “Running a retail business is an art in itself,” said Birla, adding, “It is something very different from what the group has done so far.”
    While he hopes that FDI limits are increased, he is clear that the group’s growth would be one aimed at a breakeven in cash flows at the earliest. Birla said he is eyeing an ebitda breakeven by fiscal 2015 or 2016. Birla’s idea of a foreign partner is quite clear — one that is looking for growth-based on value creation — but it is not his intention to give away a majority stake at any point or enter into apartnership so as to sell out.
    As for telecom, despite rumours, it’s a sector Birla is not exiting. “We were never in a sellout mode at any point in time,” he said. Birla said his aim is to build the business on strong fundamentals and a strong customer-connect.
    As to whether Axiata was selling its stake in Idea, Birla said the investor was committed to Idea. “As investors, they have been very happy with the kind of returns Idea has given. In fact, the sense I am getting is they are very interested and would be hypothetically keen to take up their holding a little bit, if they could,” he said.

‘Building for future’ Birla may be steadfast on his commitment on the turnover target, but the fact remains that demand is generally growing at a slower pace and is a cause for worry. Birla’s vision, however, goes beyond a business cycle. “You are building for a future. That process continues all the same irrespective of how the environment looks today. A downturn
is in that sense an aberration,” he said.
    Does he sense stress or dissatisfaction among managers owing to the slowdown? Birla, said: “All your joys can’t depend only on how fast you are growing. Then you will be in a complete state of mania. One has to derive pleasure from all of these things in a holistic sense. I am not saying it would not be remarkable if you were growing much faster, but all your happiness can’t be on that one factor.”
    His recipe for dealing with a downturn is to arm managers with skills required to sail through tough times. “You need far more mental toughness to handle and emerge looking a winner. These are tough times but business is about facing the rough-andtumble with different times.”
    The idea, according to Birla, is to have people with the right attitude who would not just put their finger on the pulse of the business and understand how it’s changing, but also take appropriate steps to stay in tune to make sure whenever there is a bend in the road, the group stays ahead. It’s no wonder that the one important factor Birla picked when asked on what keeps him going is the people he works with. The other thing, of course, is growth.