http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/michael-arrington-drops-science-on-crunchpad-still-wont-sell-u/ Engadget Comments for Michael Arrington drops science on CrunchPad, still won't sell us one http://www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/michael-arrington-drops-science-on-crunchpad-still-wont-sell-u/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/michael-arrington-drops-science-on-crunchpad-still-wont-sell-u/Apr 10th 2009 7:19PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/michael-arrington-drops-science-on-crunchpad-still-wont-sell-u/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/michael-arrington-drops-science-on-crunchpad-still-wont-sell-u/Apr 10th 2009 10:11PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/michael-arrington-drops-science-on-crunchpad-still-wont-sell-u/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/michael-arrington-drops-science-on-crunchpad-still-wont-sell-u/
bad.]]>Apr 10th 2009 7:20PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/michael-arrington-drops-science-on-crunchpad-still-wont-sell-u/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/michael-arrington-drops-science-on-crunchpad-still-wont-sell-u/Apr 10th 2009 7:31PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/michael-arrington-drops-science-on-crunchpad-still-wont-sell-u/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/michael-arrington-drops-science-on-crunchpad-still-wont-sell-u/Apr 10th 2009 7:39PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/michael-arrington-drops-science-on-crunchpad-still-wont-sell-u/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/michael-arrington-drops-science-on-crunchpad-still-wont-sell-u/
And actually I've heard some **rumors** that color eInk devices could begin rolling out as early as the latter half of this year.]]>Apr 10th 2009 7:41PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/michael-arrington-drops-science-on-crunchpad-still-wont-sell-u/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/michael-arrington-drops-science-on-crunchpad-still-wont-sell-u/Apr 11th 2009 5:28AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/michael-arrington-drops-science-on-crunchpad-still-wont-sell-u/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/michael-arrington-drops-science-on-crunchpad-still-wont-sell-u/Apr 10th 2009 7:33PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/michael-arrington-drops-science-on-crunchpad-still-wont-sell-u/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/michael-arrington-drops-science-on-crunchpad-still-wont-sell-u/Apr 10th 2009 7:38PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/michael-arrington-drops-science-on-crunchpad-still-wont-sell-u/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/michael-arrington-drops-science-on-crunchpad-still-wont-sell-u/ Sorry but this is somewhat a useless device we really don't need

No, it is a device YOU don't need. Please don't speak for the world at large. There are many of us who would welcome such a device for dedicated purposes. When I'm lying on my sofa reading a newspaper site I don't want a laptop form factor. I want a tablet. A lightweight tablet that I can use my fingers with, not the Microsoft controlled pen tablet that is a failure for me.

I've been wanting a device similar to this for about 5 years. I have been tempted to build one for my own use from time to time, but if this ever gets offered for sale I'd buy one. A device doesn't have to do EVERYTHING - I'd still take my notebook when traveling.]]>Apr 10th 2009 8:13PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/michael-arrington-drops-science-on-crunchpad-still-wont-sell-u/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/michael-arrington-drops-science-on-crunchpad-still-wont-sell-u/Apr 10th 2009 7:39PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/michael-arrington-drops-science-on-crunchpad-still-wont-sell-u/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/michael-arrington-drops-science-on-crunchpad-still-wont-sell-u/Apr 10th 2009 7:43PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/michael-arrington-drops-science-on-crunchpad-still-wont-sell-u/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/michael-arrington-drops-science-on-crunchpad-still-wont-sell-u/
$325-$350 is much more likely for the CrunchPad, at least for the first 3-6 months it's out. That puts it head-on with the MSI Wind U120, Eee 1000HA, Acer Aspire One AOD150, Lenovo IdeaPad S10e and HP Mini 1000 series.

With few exceptions, these are all Atom N270 machines with 9-10" widescreen displays, vertical resolutions topping out at about 600 pixels, with 1GB of RAM and 160GB HDDs. 9" N270-powered touchscreen Classmate-based netbooks go for $450-$500. Gigabyte's touchscreen M912 goes for $700-$800 but is specced significantly higher.

The CrunchPad has a 12" widescreen touch display; eyeballing that screenshot, I'm guessing the resolution is 1280x768. No word on RAM or internal storage, but considering the goal and Arrington's boast of a 100MB core system, internal flash may be as little as 256MB. Trimming Linux down that much to a fixed hardware platform with few drivers or services means they might get away with as little as 256MB of RAM as well; 512MB is a little more likely. No word on battery life, but considering the features it lacks, it had better hit 5 hours continuous Wi-Fi use - which is getting to be the new target for netbooks - or this'll be a quick fail.

It's an interesting project, but at $300, and especially $350, people will have trouble biting considering the competition of smaller, but more capable, netbooks. (Remember the running joke about UMPCs: All they needed was a keyboard to be successful.) Then again, "people" said the Kindle would bomb too, though the CrunchPad offers nothing as interesting as integrated GPRS or 3G or Amazon backing it up.]]>Apr 11th 2009 12:27AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/michael-arrington-drops-science-on-crunchpad-still-wont-sell-u/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/michael-arrington-drops-science-on-crunchpad-still-wont-sell-u/Apr 10th 2009 7:45PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/michael-arrington-drops-science-on-crunchpad-still-wont-sell-u/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/michael-arrington-drops-science-on-crunchpad-still-wont-sell-u/
(a design-wink to Etch-a-Sketch)



]]>Apr 10th 2009 7:49PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/michael-arrington-drops-science-on-crunchpad-still-wont-sell-u/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/michael-arrington-drops-science-on-crunchpad-still-wont-sell-u/Apr 10th 2009 8:24PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/michael-arrington-drops-science-on-crunchpad-still-wont-sell-u/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/michael-arrington-drops-science-on-crunchpad-still-wont-sell-u/Apr 10th 2009 8:30PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/michael-arrington-drops-science-on-crunchpad-still-wont-sell-u/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/michael-arrington-drops-science-on-crunchpad-still-wont-sell-u/
It's way too big to comfortably hold it and thumb-type, so you need to put it on a solid surface to type anything. And if you put it on a flat surface, you either see little on the screen (ever tried watching an LCD image from a flat angle from below the screen? Worst possible way.) or you have to sit like a hunchback to center your eyes above the screen...ouch!

Also, if this has a BOM of $250, I doubt it will become available below $400 - and going by Arrington's comments, it's gonna take quite a while longer before it comes out. By that time, I'd go for an Eee T101 convertible or a similar device. Likely in a similar price range, but a WHOLE lot more flexible and capable (non-neutered OS etc, more than one USB etc).]]>Apr 10th 2009 8:58PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/michael-arrington-drops-science-on-crunchpad-still-wont-sell-u/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/michael-arrington-drops-science-on-crunchpad-still-wont-sell-u/
consider it: fujitsu 5010 is fat, x200t is expensive (as are the Dell and HP business tablets) and an x61 tablet is underpowered. however, a t400 and one of these guys (but pen enabled) would be fucking incredible. ]]>Apr 10th 2009 9:29PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/michael-arrington-drops-science-on-crunchpad-still-wont-sell-u/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/michael-arrington-drops-science-on-crunchpad-still-wont-sell-u/
I doubt he will even see any sort of return on his investment. In fact, I would expect him to lose money on it. ]]>Apr 10th 2009 10:05PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/michael-arrington-drops-science-on-crunchpad-still-wont-sell-u/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/michael-arrington-drops-science-on-crunchpad-still-wont-sell-u/
Pricing out all the hardware,
customizing the software,
designing the damn interface,
getting the industrial design finalized,
testing it, retesting it,
finding a manufacturer,
getting all the right permissions,
passing through the FCC,
designing the packaging,
finding retail distributors,
advertising it,
SELLING IT.

my god.. the pace this thing is on is mind boggling. and you're complaining???]]>Apr 10th 2009 10:58PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/michael-arrington-drops-science-on-crunchpad-still-wont-sell-u/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/michael-arrington-drops-science-on-crunchpad-still-wont-sell-u/Apr 10th 2009 11:21PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/michael-arrington-drops-science-on-crunchpad-still-wont-sell-u/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/michael-arrington-drops-science-on-crunchpad-still-wont-sell-u/Apr 10th 2009 11:23PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/michael-arrington-drops-science-on-crunchpad-still-wont-sell-u/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/michael-arrington-drops-science-on-crunchpad-still-wont-sell-u/
The Atom sucks down more than 4x as much power as a Cortex A8. If you're running Linux and only want a web browser, you'd save a lot of money and quadruple your runtime with ARM. You'd cut down your size and heat dissipation requirements too.]]>Apr 11th 2009 5:36AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/michael-arrington-drops-science-on-crunchpad-still-wont-sell-u/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/michael-arrington-drops-science-on-crunchpad-still-wont-sell-u/Apr 11th 2009 12:16PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/michael-arrington-drops-science-on-crunchpad-still-wont-sell-u/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/michael-arrington-drops-science-on-crunchpad-still-wont-sell-u/Apr 10th 2009 11:32PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/michael-arrington-drops-science-on-crunchpad-still-wont-sell-u/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/michael-arrington-drops-science-on-crunchpad-still-wont-sell-u/Apr 11th 2009 2:39AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/michael-arrington-drops-science-on-crunchpad-still-wont-sell-u/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/michael-arrington-drops-science-on-crunchpad-still-wont-sell-u/
Ya but at the cost of one Apple tablet you could have 10 of these (or more).

*Drops crunch in hot tub, calls wife for another*
"Honey your stock of crunches is getting low, we're down to 5"
]]>Apr 11th 2009 12:12AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/michael-arrington-drops-science-on-crunchpad-still-wont-sell-u/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/michael-arrington-drops-science-on-crunchpad-still-wont-sell-u/
Ya exactly why there is a market for small wireless blutooth keyboards. Hell even ones that dock the tablet. I use one on my cellphone to take notes on my Nokia n810.]]>Apr 11th 2009 12:21AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/michael-arrington-drops-science-on-crunchpad-still-wont-sell-u/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/michael-arrington-drops-science-on-crunchpad-still-wont-sell-u/Apr 11th 2009 3:43AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/michael-arrington-drops-science-on-crunchpad-still-wont-sell-u/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/michael-arrington-drops-science-on-crunchpad-still-wont-sell-u/This would dominate over netbook sales here in USA guaranteed!]]>Apr 11th 2009 4:11AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/michael-arrington-drops-science-on-crunchpad-still-wont-sell-u/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/michael-arrington-drops-science-on-crunchpad-still-wont-sell-u/Apr 11th 2009 5:42AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/michael-arrington-drops-science-on-crunchpad-still-wont-sell-u/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/michael-arrington-drops-science-on-crunchpad-still-wont-sell-u/Apr 11th 2009 4:07PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/michael-arrington-drops-science-on-crunchpad-still-wont-sell-u/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/michael-arrington-drops-science-on-crunchpad-still-wont-sell-u/Apr 11th 2009 3:36PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/michael-arrington-drops-science-on-crunchpad-still-wont-sell-u/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/michael-arrington-drops-science-on-crunchpad-still-wont-sell-u/
BTW: since the crunchpad was announced a year before the itablet, wouldnt that make the itablet a crunch-pad competitor? Theres a new twist.]]>Apr 24th 2009 10:11PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/michael-arrington-drops-science-on-crunchpad-still-wont-sell-u/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/michael-arrington-drops-science-on-crunchpad-still-wont-sell-u/Apr 11th 2009 4:59PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/michael-arrington-drops-science-on-crunchpad-still-wont-sell-u/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/michael-arrington-drops-science-on-crunchpad-still-wont-sell-u/Apr 11th 2009 11:58PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/michael-arrington-drops-science-on-crunchpad-still-wont-sell-u/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/michael-arrington-drops-science-on-crunchpad-still-wont-sell-u/Apr 24th 2009 10:10PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/michael-arrington-drops-science-on-crunchpad-still-wont-sell-u/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/michael-arrington-drops-science-on-crunchpad-still-wont-sell-u/Jun 1st 2009 2:32AM