Cheap Linux Tablets, And (Maybe) An Apple Tablet

penguinrenegade writes "Element Computer has come out with the first sub-$1000 Tablet, and it doesn't come with Windows. It's not running a stripped OS like Windows CE, but a full-fledged copy of Lycoris Desktop/LX. This company seems to really have it in for Microsoft, with a 'No Windows' policy. Good to see someone finally standing up against paying the Microsoft tax. Maybe now we'll start seeing Linux only OEMs and resellers." Also on the tablet computer front, SeanAhern points out Cringely's latest Robert X. Cringely column, in which Cringley makes the case that Apple is readying a tablet computer for market, and "suggests that 'until next year, the parts won't have been there to make tablet PCs successful. What's missing has been the killer app, and what kept a killer app from appearing was a lack of hardware support, which I believe will be over soon,'" writing "He's got some interesting ideas about where Jobs might go with his Digital Hub idea." (This is an Antaur-based machine, not the Toshiba tablet mentioned in October.)

Apple != Tablet

[OmniVector]

According to Steve Jobs himself [justonemorething.com] I don't think we can expect to see a tablet from apple at all. It's a niche product in a niche computer field.

typo alert!

[knowles420]

this:

OS like Windows CE

should read:

OS-like Windows CE

Not quite there yet

[product byproduct]

Tablet computers hold great promise, especially for medical applications. But the current models are still way too large to swallow.

Re:Apple != Tablet

[sysopd]

then how do you explain this pic I have of the new prototype [oldschool.net]?

some whois info

[olddoc]

whois elementcomputer.com:
"Domain name: ELEMENTCOMPUTER.COM
Administrative Contact:
Hjorleifsson, Mike [e-mail]"
OK, lets look here:
http://www.dtev.com
They are a bunch of Linux consultants.

Dtev.com Isn't slashdotted yet!

I heard of a company like that

[gmhowell]

I heard of a company that made decent hardware, but Linux only. I think their name was VA something or other. Ever heard of them?

Re:Robert X. Cringely

[Anonymous Coward]

How does someone who can use a spell checker fit in at /.?

Re:Not quite there yet

[sharkey]

Of course, you know where the medical profession sticks things that are too large to swallow.

Re:a BOLD prediction

[veddermatic]

OMFG!! You are so right! BMW only has a 2% market share in the automotive market, so obviously their cars suck. Try again.

Obligatory Simpsons Ref (Was: Inkwell == Rosetta)

[IncredibleCrisis]

Nelson: Jimbo, take a memo on your Newton, beat up Martin.
Jimbo: [Writes "Beat up Martin"; Newton "recognizes."] "Eat up Martha"? Bah! [Throws at Martin's head.]

Re:Robert X. Cringely

[Teflik]

He can throw together a summary of what he's read elsewhere,

Yeah. kinda like a historian.

add in some predictions

kinda like an analyst...

In other news...

[PCM2]

According to Microsoft's Steve Ballmer:

"There are no plans to stop pushing tablets. When Microsoft first started out, people didn't want tablets. We realized: Death would eventually take care of this."

Spatially Challenged ??

[Macka]

... Understand that 802.15.3 is a high data rate Personal Area Network with a range of about 10 meters ... ... Watch TV in your bathroom, access your audio and video collection from anywhere in the house ...

Mr Cringely must live in a very small house !!

Macka