CrunchPad unboxed, handled on video
By Nilay Patel 
posted Jun 14th 2009 3:32PM
posted Jun 14th 2009 3:32PM
Update: Looks like there is a short video of it in action, so we've stuck it after the break as well. It's certainly an interesting idea, but we noticed some glitches here and there -- we'll see how cleaned up things are at launch.
Update 2: Oh, Mike Arrington. The king of all whispered rumors isn't too happy that this video went out -- he says it's not "sanctioned or official," and that "it's certainly not the launch prototype... which doesn't actually exist yet." Of course it doesn't, Mike.
[Thanks G]
[Via jkOnTheRun]
this is old video. the newest prototype is much slicker - http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/06/03/crunchpad-the-launch-prototype/
But that's a rendering of a device, Engadget is showing something that actually exists in real time.
I agree with showing an actual device. But I disagree with your statement of real time. Real time would mean it's a streaming unboxing.
So much want, so little have :(
I can't wait
Color me intrigued, if not pink. What I want is Vista level handwriting recognition to go with it.
what's with the bing sticker?
i bet you after he turns it on, we will see Win7
It's the new search engine by Microsoft I do believe.
http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/06/08/weve-got-a-whole-lotta-bing-stickers-want-one/
WebKit?
So Apple helped make it?
This thing looks like a Giant iPhone.
Looks pretty slick.
No.
No.
No.
Yes.
webKit is open source
I wouldn't say Apple "helped make it" in a particularly meaningful way.
WebKit started in 2002 as Apple's fork of KHTML and KJS, along with Apple proprietary code; the rest of the code was opened in 2005.
As one of a handful of open-source web engines available, it's been used in lots of open-source projects, such as Chromium/Chrome, Android, WebOS, Epiphany, and others. While any project using it is certainly benefiting from Apple's work, it indicates no direct involvement by Apple, and many of these projects are actually directly competing against corresponding Apple products.
Bill Gates showed this concept off years ago, he was waiting for someone to make it.
@mirakutea
So why didn't he bring it to market?
Or generally push the idea to OEMs since Microsoft is a HUGE company?
That's right, because they don't know how to do it right until somebody else does it first.
Making predictions and showing concepts in trade shows is easy. What's hard is bringing an actual product to market with success.
Because Microsoft was busy making operating systems that 90% of computers run
Microsoft knew that if they brought it out it would break within 1 year.
Unlike Macbook Airs or previous Gen 17 MBP, rigght?
Actually it wasn't practical for anyone to produce it back, my point is we've been waiting for something like this for a long time.
Pink...
The Bing sticker...
Didn't turn on...
Yet after all these shortcomings, I want it so so badly.
AND it was covered in fingerprints. So I get the feeling that this was not a "Virgin" unit.
A real unboxing would be if the device had never been seen after it was sealed in it's box. This thing looked like it could have been "Unboxed" several times.
I wonder how many takes they did of that lame vid.?
Its far to clunky. It looks to be about the same size as my Wind, and if you are going to carry something that big, you might as well have a netbook. At least you can do a little bit more.
your ass is clunky
Same opinion here. I'm not seeing the market for this.
"Its far to clunky."
IT'S far TOO clunky.
When you can't spell "it's" and "too", you know it's time to log off and seek remedial education.
I dont think so, there is a market for this. If the touchscreen keyboard is good and the price is right, this unit will have a following and imitators.
We have netbooks, now this. It's just another choice for the customers.
Is it x86? Is it? Is it? Please? Is it? Please? Is it?
Afaik they're using a Via Nano, so, yes...
YESSSSS!!! This plus windows 7 = awesome.
I wouldn't be too cheery for now - since they're using a stripped-down Linux version that apparently does little but run the webbrowser, I guess it won't have much RAM and even less storage space. Probably needs some tinkering before it could run Win 7 well...
Hobo, I think you'll be happier with Archos's new tablet.
It might be worth the extra $200.
But until we have final specs, who knows.
Please just STFU!
That was supposed to be for Miles.
If the device boots a custom Linux build directly into the browser, how can you use any applications that do not use a browser? It seems to be mostly a net browser, which is fine, but it's then not a couch computer.
it's only suppose to go on the internet nothing more.
Yea but you can do so much more on the internet than browse websites.
i kinda wanna buy it
CrunchPad is retarded, just like Michael Arrington.
To summarize this idiotic vaporware for people who don't know the history - some troll with an awful rumor blog gets hold of a picture frame, puts a browser on it and calls it revolution.
I just put that on the Christmas Gift list. Looks like I will buy my girlfriend one of these...
Just add some white knobs and it's an etch-a-sketch!
Bunny Teeth , Bunny teeth, BUNNY TEETH!!!!
It's a cool device, my question would be how well it can actually handle some of the more intense websites out there, heavy flash, so like hulu. Also, the price is going to be a huge factor, 300 dollars and it's an impulse buy, 500 and people may take pause. Can I write on it with a stylus and produce a usable document? I believe they're using an on screen keyboard, but if that's the case please have a usb port in case I want to do something else. One thing nobody mentions is how useful this would be for web-based services like Gmail/Google docs. Businesses could pair this with a keyboard and mouse and get an instant useful workstation assuming the performance was ok.
I've been looking but haven't seen anyone ask. Can this be used offline? Would be very nice to be able to play movies with it while not connected to the internet, say on a plane.
New video, but "old" prototype. This is Prototype C, unveiled in April, the Launch Prototype only exists in the form of sketches:
http://www.cloudave.com/link/are-the-gizmo-blogs-fooled-by-old-crunchpad-prototype
i'm going to go ahead and say that this is a paid viral advertisement for bing, considering the amount of money they're pumping into promoting the new search engine, and the hit-mania factor of tech crunch, gadgets, and videos.
Bing what you say?
My thought when I first saw the post was that Engadget was showing off an Etch-a-Sketch.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jP-0Nce5oTQ
see it in 'action'
back then*
My shirt pocket is huge.
Think of the possibilities for a device like this with multi-touch and a smart OS. Multiple monitors are pretty awesome, you just look to the left and there's your other screen. Take a device like this, your hands are resting on the on-screen keyboard at the bottom. Sure would be nice if you had a second monitor...oh yeah, swipe 2 fingers and a thumb to the left and you have your second monitor, with your Email open and keyboard gone until you need it. 3 finger slide up and you have your 3rd monitor with your web browser. Draw a clockwise circle and a large calendar and clock appear. Counter-clockwise brings you to your favorite news website. Rinse and repeat. The multiple desktop feature in Ubuntu but a lot more using hand gestures.
- Netradamus
Price it right...sell it in Canada...and I'm all for this. Sounds like the perfect device for couch/bed surfing!
Hope they reach the $200 goal!
".. a guest at our party last week decided to corner Chandra Rathakrishnan, the CEO of our CrunchPad partner Fusion Garage, and talk him into doing this ridiculous “unboxing” of the CrunchPad."
What, they had a gun on him? He couldn't have refused?
Maybe TC should find a more reliable partners than bitching about a guest taking a video.
lol @ 2:30
for a second I thought he got himself stuck with fullscreen youtube: what is the finger swipe for "escape", again ?
This will absolutely perfect for in the kitchen for me, for reading recipes and newspaper websites.
Just keep it under the £200 mark and i'll buy one
I want it !