Arrington's Web Tablet Nearly Ready For Launch?

narramissic writes "The 'dead simple and dirt cheap' touchscreen Web tablet that Michael Arrington of TechCrunch set out to build last July seems to be nearing completion, writes blogger Peter Smith. 'The CrunchPad is a Linux-based touchscreen tablet using a browser-based UI. When you turn the unit on, it boots right into the webkit-based browser. There's a pop-up virtual keyboard for entering URLs and such (you wouldn't want to do any significant typing on it) and scrolling is via swiping the screen. When Arrington first visualized the project he was shooting for a $200 price point, then discovered that a $299 price was more realistic.'"

Looks great but...

[Nursie]

A cursory glance through TFA and the main post it links to do not reveal the specs of the device.

What's the platform? What sort of connectivity does it have?

Tech Support?

[siloko]

a webbased OS sitting on a homebrew touchscreen - sounds rock solid to me!

less functional than netbook at same price

[LodCrappo]

I don't see what is compelling or really even interesting about this product. A netbook for the same money is a far more capable device.

Expensive For what it is

[Bicx]

Don't get me wrong: I love the simplicity of the idea. However, if for $300 I am only able to surf the web, I would go for a netbook instead. Sure, netbooks lack the style and aesthetic appeal of a big touchscreen, but you have a real keyboard, a real OS, and you can use it for many different tasks (as much as you can with a tiny screen and keyboard anyway).

However, I may have been sold if the price had stayed at $200.

Re:Why not get an iPhone?

[OolimPhon]

You have an iPhone with a 12" screen?

Re:better article; not cheap

[bananaquackmoo]

I think it means dirt cheap FOR A 12" TABLET, which it most certainly is.

Kiosk - many uses

[Drinian]

One use I'd deploy right now is a scheduling kiosk for our fleet. We have a fleet of vehicles and we use pen and paper to schedule their use. I'd love to install one of these next to the key box and have a networked scheduling web app running on it. That way if you're at the key box you can schedule or you could do it from your workstation. Or I could put one next to a common space phone and set it to browse our intranet. Or use it as a wall mounted closed circuit tv monitor. All kinds of uses...

Re:I wonder...

[linhares]

In fact, there should be a "web client". The idea is to remain in a browser at all times (except for skype). But what techcrunch screwed up royally here is that they did not use android. That would have given them the latest codebase from a megacorp to have what? A nice screen keyboard (I know it's an oxymoron, jokers), 3g, and other important stuff... such as the browser. Job would have been much easier with Android. It might also have much more perceived safety in the long run.

A dream come true for me.

[n1hilist]

I'm legally blind, so this is something I've been waiting for, for ages.

If I can stick Ubuntu, or anything with a customizable UI on, with a browser / pdf reader that lets me put large, white text on a black background.. surf and read ebooks.. I'm sold.

Re:less functional than netbook at same price

[tbuskey]

Think of it as a Kindle with:
Color
Openness
WiFi instead of Cell

A platform for output-only applications

[Animats]

Think of it as a mobile platform for mostly-output applications. eBook reader. Web browser. PowerPoint. TV and movies. Maps. Things where input is minimal.

That's the proper positioning for this - as a content delivery platform with a screen big enough to be useful. There's a market for that.

Costs can be reduced through services

[raydias]

If the CrunchPad can build services and have the hardware cost subsidized (like cell phones) then the price could be reduced or even possible free. - Mobile phone companies can offer it with built in 3G - Partner with E-Schoolbook, E-Magazine, E-Newspaper companies - Google may be interested now that they have thrown their hat into the E-Book arena - Look at Hospitals, Schools, Government agencies to use this for data entry - imagine going to a doctors appointment and being handed the CrunchPad to update medical records, views records, check on prescriptions all while waiting for the appointment. With the push to modernize records to reduce costs this device could take advantage of web apps to streamline processes. - Newspapers are in a crunch to find new ways to profit. This device can be linked into a subscription with advertising being dynamically assigned by content. Just a few possible ways to reduce the hardware cost while still building a profit model.

Re:Sounds like a large Ipod Touch

[Nursie]

Right, and for the same money you could get one of these with a screen about 10 times the size.

This is not the same niche as an iPod touch, just because it has a touchscreen.

Cost

[rm999]

"When Arrington first visualized the project he was shooting for a $200 price point, then discovered that a $299 price was more realistic"

Why do so many people make this same mistake? I think it is hubris - the idea that "I'm smarter than everyone else in the industry, and I have ideas that none of them do". One of the worst PR moves is to drastically raise your estimated price, in this case by 50%. And in the end, the promised price point of 200 dollars was necessary; for 300 dollars, I can get a fully-featured netbook or iPod touch.

And I'd like to add that there are several examples of companies promising a great price, and then actually delivering on it (e.g. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tata_Nano [wikipedia.org])

Re:less functional than netbook at same price

[StikyPad]

*Anything* is uncomfortable to use when laying on your back. Hell, most people's arms get tired of holding up a paperback in about 30 seconds. The unfortunate issue with the touchpad device is that it appears that the only comfortable position to use it in, is the one featured on the product page [techcrunch.com].

Re:A platform for output-only applications

[Fallingcow]

Bingo. Exactly why I want one. Traditional tablets are too expensive, and trying too hard to be laptops, IMO. This thing's like a giant iPhone to carry around your house/office to provide a decent-sized display and light interface any place you damn well please.

What's not to like?

Re:A platform for output-only applications

[tsstahl]

Mod P and GP up!!!

What am I going to do??

[Jane Q. Public]

What am I going to do with this closetful of $300 single-purpose devices?

Let's see, I have a $300 Kindle for e-books, a $300 CrunchPad for Web pages...

Maybe I'll sell them all and get a $300 Netbook that does all of those things. Maybe not quite as well, but all of those things and a helluva lot more.