Arrington's Web Tablet Nearly Ready For Launch? 140
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.'"
I was going to get a first post (Score:1, Funny)
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I wonder... (Score:2)
whether there'll be a last.fm client for it.
Re:I wonder... (Score:5, Funny)
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If they keep their goal (promise?) to open up the hardware and Android makes more sense, it will happen pretty quickly.
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Not going with Android was a genuine idiot move. The Android user base is growing so aggressively it's turning Windows Mobile phones into Android phones. That's right, it's not just growing market share, it's stealing it. (I just hope this comes to my HTC Fuze one day; it is already on a related phone.)
Until someone actually comes up with something better than Android, supporting it is probably the best way to go by far.
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I don't know, the design goals seem to be very different from Android. For this, they need an extremely thin OS that will provide an interface to display, input, and network. On top of that, there is a single application, a web browser. Reducing the number of APIs, size of the kernel, and background processes are all things that make a lot of sense for this type of project.
Using Android would have been easier, and it would have provided a lot other applications, but that would have been orthogonal to the
Wait till Slashdot tablet (Score:5, Funny)
Gartner has projected that in the next 5 years about half of all internet bloggers will paper launch their own internet tablets, because it's the next logical step.
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Is Gartner a division of Microsoft?
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but will the /. tablet run linux :D
Looks great but... (Score:5, Insightful)
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?
Re:Looks great but... (Score:4, Interesting)
Earlier prototypes used an Atom CPU, I doubt that's changed. And the connectivity is some sort of wifi, presumably g, maybe n.
It looks like a neat device, and I'm definitely interested in the cheap lightweight tablet form factor and market niche. But when I think about purchasing it I can't help comparing it in my head to the super-sized iPod tablet Apple is rumored to be working on.
The crunchpad's 12" screen is nice compared to the 8-10" expected from apple, but the atom and big screen are going to make for really crappy battery life compared to an ARM based 8-10" solution, and the Apple version will be able to do more than just web surf (a version of the iPhone SDK and app store seems inevitable). However, while the crunchpad may have missed it's $200 price target in favor of $300, the rumors of Apple's $600+ price point were never in that league to begin with.
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Specs were more of a point of interest - wondered if it was an ARM processor as they are good for power consumption and battery life. I mean, does it even have a battery or does it need to be plugged in all the time?
I looked at another of the prototype pages and it was using an Atom chip. I guess that's not bad for power consumption and processing power.
Also yes, my immediate thoughts were "I wonder if I could get that to run debian?". You can't blame me for that surely?
Connectivity, yes, would be useful to
Re:Looks great but... (Score:5, Informative)
It's supposedly running an ubuntu variant, so debian should be fine. In the recent video of it the narrator apologised for the loading times claiming that they were "on a 3G connection".
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Forget Debian. The only other thing this is better for than anything else besides being a webtablet is PS and Gimp. As soon as one or both are possible, I'm there.
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Forget Debian. The only other thing this is better for than anything else besides being a webtablet is PS and Gimp. As soon as one or both are possible, I'm there.
Wrong. You can get a 13" MacBook/Wacom tablet combo which is the best thing for PS and Gimp (given the small display anyway.) Runs about any OS you'd want to throw at it. Of course, that has a price tag about six times this thing...
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I should have specified. I like to work on my graphics projects as the last, relaxing thing of the day. I don't as much of it anymore because it keeps me stuck in the office (home). Much better if I could relax in bed doing this while wifey watches tv/reads.
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So a barely-larger tablet format mac that has a dramatically superior input device is somehow inappropriate for the period of relaxation near the end of your day? I must be missing something here...
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dramatically superior input device
Possibly. But that's not the main concern, which is comfort. even if the touchscreen is less than stellar, it'll still be good enough to do at least the bulk of the work.
Doesn't matter anyway. This is just the beginning. I'm aware that we're still at least 2 years away from what I'm looking for.
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What, you mean I gotta drag a laptop (already kinda too big) plus wacom tablet into bed? For six times the price? Screw that.
No, the LCD is a wacom tablet. You draw on the screen.
Sorry, I guess I didn't make that explicit enough. Though if you didn't assume I was a total asshat, you might have read it in... :)
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Because for $299 you can get a decent name brand netbook now days, so if I'm gonna spend $299 on a "web appliance" it better provide something a netbook can not
here's a short list of examples:
ASUS Eee PC 901 XP with 8 hr battery life for $298 [newegg.com]
ASUS Eee PC with Linux for $298 [newegg.com]
Acer Pink 8.9" Aspire One for $248 = Pink for geek gurl [walmart.com] Dell Inspiron Mini 10" Netbook with Intel Atom Z520 Processor for $298 [walmart.com]
Tech Support? (Score:4, Insightful)
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You write that as if they had any say in what software I run.
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Nokia (Score:1, Interesting)
Lets stop reinventing the wheel and use what hardware and software is already out there!
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I also have a Pepper Pad 3 - that came close (and it's still in the kitchen, albeit on the countertop), but there is no decent distribution for it.
The Crunchpad looks like it would fit the bill, and looks good too. Hung on the wall it could be a digital picture frame too.
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the nokia n8xx are pretty cheap now. they make a very nice ultra portable, good for web browsing, email, IM, watching movies, music, etc. with the 810 model or a bluetooth keyboard they are usable for terminal sessions and a litle bit of work.
I don't use mine much when at home, but its great for travelling.
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This device looks like it has a 12" screen with a 1280x800 resolution (might be a bit less, I'm just estimating), so it has the potential to be more appropriate for some kinds of usage. Depen
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you are correct about the resolution. due to the n800s small size, this makes it a very high dpi screen. things look great, and text is very easy to read, but you are also right that the size is just too small for extended reading or viewing. the n800 is a compromise, if you need something very small (fit in pocket.. well some pockets) then its one of your best options at the moment, but if you can handle a larger device then probably you would want something else.
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The N8x0 is tiny.
I want this tablet thing as a portable (around the house) media player. It's big enough for two people (myself and my wife) to watch comfortably, has pretty high resolution, and wireless connectivity.
Select your movie from the file server via VLC's web interface, fire up VLC, connect to the stream, set it up on its stand, and enjoy a movie in any room that doesn't already have a screen. We use our laptops for this kind of thing now, but a tablet would be much, much better.
Want music in an
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You're comparing apples with oranges? The Nokia N8x0 has a 4.1" screen [amazon.com]. It's in a different class than a web tablet with a 12" LCD. The Nokia's competition is the similarly priced Apple Touch.
The Fujitsu T4010 is a better competitor. [mobiletechreview.com] 12" LCD, 1.6ghz, ram upgradeable to 2gb, 60+ gb hard drive, touchscreen, 4 lbs, boots XP in 30 seconds [youtube.com]. It's a few years old so you should be able to find one for $300.
less functional than netbook at same price (Score:5, Insightful)
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.
Re:less functional than netbook at same price (Score:5, Funny)
When I think of industrial design, impeccable user-interface, rock-solid software, and industry leading portable products I immediately think of Michael Arringon. A blogger on TechCrunch.
Where few dozen companies with multi-million dollar R&D budgets have failed, one man who posts internet rumors in his underwear will succeed.
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Where few dozen companies with multi-million dollar R&D budgets have failed, one man who posts internet rumors in his underwear will succeed.
Ha... I will undercut his market by blogging in my bathrobe! Underwear? We don't need no stinkin' underwear!
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In a world where few dozen companies with multi-million dollar R&D budgets have failed, one man who posts internet rumors in his underwear will succeed.
Fixed that for you. (at least I like it better that way)
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Oh, ghod... I miss him still...
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Agreed, a general purpose netbook tablet can't be too far away anyway.
The lack of a keyboard does marginalise it as a $US300 single purpose gadget, as in Nokia's Maemo offerings. For that price an iPhone?
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*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].
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*Anything* is uncomfortable to use when laying on your back.
You're obviously not doing it right.
Kiosk - many uses (Score:2, Insightful)
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those things can be done with a variety of existing devices, devices that have been available for years and with broad support from established companies. in fact, many companies already do what you're talking about with the vehicle scheduling. they also do timeclocks, security camera monitoring etc. all with existing devices.
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Yes, but those are all $2000 devices. Not $200 devices.
I'm right behind him in line to use it in semi-embedded implementations.
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Think of it as a Kindle with:
Color
Openness
WiFi instead of Cell
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Think of it as a Kindle with:
Color
Openness
WiFi instead of Cell
... and no battery life to speak of.
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And no Kindle books.
Or e-Ink display.
Or Whispernet connectivity.
Or in fact any features of the Kindle except for being thin and having a screen that can show text.
Why not think of it as an ultra-thin web appliance instead? The two are not even close to each other in function or design.
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That's a good way to put it... that list fixes everything wrong with the Kindle, and makes it cheaper.
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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.
WiFi? Larger screen than an iPhone? Lame.
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not sure i understand what you're saying. both a netbook and this tablet have wifi and larger screens than an iphone. is that lame?
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I reckon you new 'round these parts...
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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.
Exactly my thoughts too. It would be different if this device was filling a specific niche (i.e. Kindle e-reader), and had very little market share to compete with, but at THAT price, it's damn near competing with every other portable hardware device that has a browser and a keyboard.
And the "we'll build the hardware and offer specialized customized apps and a developer kit" idea is pretty much a dead end with the popularity of the Apple store. And once they release an iPod touch in a netbook form factor.
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A touch screen tablet is interesting , a clam shell design able to be used either in touch screen mode or regular clamshell would be even better. I don't like the idea of touch screen only due to the damage it would get just being carried round.
I'm just looking for a better netbook really, a bigger screen isnt an improvement but increased versatility is.
Expensive For what it is (Score:5, Insightful)
However, I may have been sold if the price had stayed at $200.
The +$100 from design to market (Score:2)
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I'm glad to see I'm not alone in this. I have a very clear perception of the prices these small devices would be worth to me and I think they're all still about a $100 overpriced at the moment.
Sounds like a large Ipod Touch (Score:1)
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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.
hrmmm (Score:2)
It needs a stylus for writing notes, if possible, directly onto a webpage. :-)
I hope a PDF viewer is included. Being able to write on the PDF file would be A++++ awesome.
Just like some simple program that stores what I'm writing into a JPG file, and it gets associated to the file or page I'm viewing. So it gets overlaid on the document.
If it replaces a notepad, while allowing me to surf the net, I'm sold.
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Check out the iLead ebook reader [irextechnologies.com]. Expensive, but exactly fits what you're asking for. I'm saving up for one myself.
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Umm - that thing is like $700!! That's ridiculous.
At that price I'd expect a colour display as well. I'll keep an eye out for it though, hopefully the price comes down quickly.... thanks for the link.
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Yeah, I'll just need to make the overlay software that will associate itself to the file that's open.
That actually doesn't sound too hard, most of the currently open file information I'd need is available through the command line.
So it's like the XO then (Score:2)
Reality bumped the price by $100. :)
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Finally a replacement for my SmartDisplay (Score:3, Interesting)
Wow, I am hoping to see this sometime soon as my 10" ViewSonic AirPanel [viewsonic.com] SmartDisplay [wikipedia.org] is getting a little long in the tooth. Still running 902.11B standard! It's slow with today's web but it is the most convenient item in my stable to browse the web away from my office-chair. I can watch TV, read/mod posts on slashdot -or- news on the web -or- read books & tweak my network from the comfort of my couch.
Yeah, it runs Windows CE but everything isn't perfect. Still it's very light, doesn't need a stylus to click on a link or button (though has one). The only way it could be the browser tool even better would be an external Home, Forward and Back buttons in a convenient place on the frame somewhere.
I recently got a Dell Mini10 as a present and a netbook will never replace a small tablet for the way I use the airpanel.
better article; not cheap (Score:3, Informative)
The second link from the slashdot summary, describing the current product, is extremely short, and is essentially the same text as the slashdot summary. A longer and better article is here [techcrunch.com]. This [techcrunch.com] page has technical specs: 12-inch touchscreen (1024x768 4:3), via nano, 1 GB ram, 4 GB flash, wifi, accelerometer, camera, 3 lb, currently running ubuntu.
Sorry, but $300 is not "dirt cheap," IMO. Zareason.com or system76.com will routinely sell you a full-featured desktop system for $300. WalMart and Sears have sold desktop machines like the Everex gPC as cheap as $200. Target has had the eeePC for $280. This is not even something you'd want to use as a full-function computer, so I'd say $300 is actually pretty expensive. Of course some people may be willing to pay for style or convenience. But as far as convenience, I'm not convinced I'd want something portable like this that didn't have a lid to protect the screen.
"Dirt cheap" is going to be ARM-based computers retailing for $50-100, which we'll probably have within a few years.
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$300 is dirt cheap for an x86 PC with a touchscreen that huge.
See: http://www.logicsupply.com/categories/panel_pc [logicsupply.com]
I'm sorry that you're not the target market. (Actually, I'm not either; I own 3 desktops :P ) Just be aware that although you don't find it useful or affordable, that doesn't discount the market entirely.
I mean, people pay $200 for a Chumby, and $240 for a PSP with $60 worth of hardware in it. This thing probably has $250 worth of hardware. It really is very affordable, if you require a touchscre
Instead of a tablet... (Score:2)
what I could really use is a clamshell computer (think Samsung Alias 2 [slashphone.com]) strapped to my forearm. (Like Turanga Leela, but real.)
With a little tweeking it could be a nice niche pr (Score:2)
Of course the application as a browser only thing is a bit too little.
For the folks who asked what the underlying OS is: Linux + webkit
Specs: no idea, not much.
Now what would be really great: a sane interface API for this thing and the possibility to write apps for it + wlan + bluetooth. Then it would be quite a viable niche product (for cool people only) who fo
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The first thing I thought when I read about this is that it would make an excellent home remote. There are some far less interesting remotes that cost more out there than this. Of course, it'd need an IR port, or you would need a server with an IR blaster. But if there were a way to use it, it would be pretty cool.
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Hmm, then again, I was in my dreaming session it seems again, as I was mesmerising about cool + practical as opposed to practical only. Think I did not emphase that enough.
Discl
A dream come true for me. (Score:2, Insightful)
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.
Accessibility (Score:2, Interesting)
As long as you brought up being legally blind, I wonder if you have tried the various flavors of text to speech and speech to text, etc? Asking because I think a vocal user interface that worked *well* would be very nice for some people. Example, being a boomer myself, I am aware that in our aging population arthritis in the fingers is a reality, and most devices today (because rapid innovation is geared way more towards the youth market, despite the aging population being larger and having a lot more dispo
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I don't need text to speech, infact I hate it, I jsut have trouble with small text and blaring white screens with dark text.
If the device is about 1kg (2.2lbs?) then it'd be perfect.
I agree with the input you mentioned, esp with netbooks and tiny keys. One solution would be speech recognition, and maybe an oldschool trackerball for the mouse.
But for me personally, a 12" screen is sweet. Just hope it's not heavy.
A platform for output-only applications (Score:5, Insightful)
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.
Re:A platform for output-only applications (Score:4, Insightful)
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?
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Costs can be reduced through services (Score:3, Insightful)
Cost (Score:5, Insightful)
"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])
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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".
Wow. Hubris? Really?
There is a long [linux.org] history [hp.com] of people [wikipedia.org] doing stuff they personally find cool and interesting and succeeding wildly at it. Sure there are also a lot of failures, but you cannot succeed without taking risks, and it is pretty pathetic to see that your lame attitude is so prevalent these days.
This web tablet may fail terribly, or it might succeed wildly, but thank Dog th
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Netbooks and the iPod touch are very different products from each other, and both are very different from a large touch screen tablet pc running debian.
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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.
Can you get a 12" / 30cm touch screen for that price? I've tried and been unsuccessful, £300 is the price in the UK, that's not a portable device that's just the screen.
Granted this probably means $300 for a touchscreen in the US, but getting a wifi / 3g enabled portable net device with a touchscreen for that price seems pretty awesome to me. If they were available in the UK for $300 I'd have one now and use it as a POS terminal and / or demoing websites to clients.
What am I going to do?? (Score:3, Insightful)
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.
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Let's see, I have a $300 Kindle for e-books, a $300 CrunchPad for Web pages...
This may come as a suprise to you but you can read books via the www.
You can also do photoshop, do banking, listen to music, make phone calls, read your email, watch videos, watch TV ... in fact just about anything you'd need a screen for. Crunchpad has a USB input too so you can use it to power your mobile rocket launcher. Not enough on board power? Just use it as a slim client using VNC over 'net.
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Wow that came across a bit like marketing spiel, I swear I have not connections with the crunchpad, it's got my inner gadgeteer really excited though:
I've never seen a netbook with a 12" touchscreen.
12" is laptop territory. I've never seen a laptop with a touchscreen.
So we're talking tablets from about $700 USD (a lot more for thin form factor). If all I need it for is to access a webpage and I can do that and save $400 USD I don't see that as being a flat argument (especially as dollar costs are usually th
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12" is pretty borderline. But in any case, they were making laptops with touchscreens 8 years ago. And many since. Quite a number, in fact, were made so that you could turn the screen around and fold it down over the keyboard to make it into a tablet PC. How could you possibly have missed them all?
The ones that flip-rotate I grouped under tablet PC. I genuinely have never seen a laptop with a touchscreen advertised or in real life. Perhaps they were high ticket, which I have to dismiss as I don't have much money.
Still where are the tablet PCs for $300, I'll get one ... a link (eg amazon, affiliate if you like) would be lovely, thanks.
Too pricey (Score:2)
For a full screen browser, with that performance, with those limitations on what can be done with it, I wouldn't pay $299. I might pay $199.
The first thing that someone will do is tear it down and install ubuntu on it.
Re:nice mockups... (Score:5, Informative)
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Whether the final product will have that resolution I don't know, but given that it's a 12" screen, I'd say it needs it.
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Prototype C is the actual model they're using for demos, but you're right, that 'near-final industrial design' does appear to have a higher res. 1680x1050 at a guess which would fit with your estimates as well.
Getting a screen of that resolution on something like this isn't outside the realms of probability. But if they can do that within a $300 price range, that'd be impressive. I'd certainly
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Or they used the zoom function in almost every browser to fit the page to the screen
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You seem to have never used any recent small-screen device's (Android, Opera Mobile, iPhone) browser. Web sites will generally be rendered like they would using an average desktop resolution, then scaled down to fit the smaller screen. Zooming in/out will zoom in on any part of the page, treating it like a picture. See this [youtube.com] for a demo.
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You have an iPhone with a 12" screen?
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How about one with a bluetooth keyboard?