Last we heard, TechCrunch's Michael Arrington wasn't ready to talk about a timeframe for the release of his self-proclaimed "science project," the
CrunchPad tablet. That's not the case for
The Straits Times, however, who've published an article claiming that developer Fusion Garage is aiming to get the device out to the masses by November of this year, just in time for Christmas shopping. The Singapore newspaper got a sneak preview of the device, as well as some new specs. The tablet reportedly about 2.64 pounds, has a 1.6GH Intel Atom and 1GB RAM (
which we knew), a USB port for keyboard and / or mouse, built-in WiFi and 3G connectivity, and a port for mobile broadband. Price is estimated around $400, a little bit more than the $300 he pegged in April, but it's still being filed in the "unconfirmed" category for now -- hopefully it comes out a little leaner when this thing goes official.
[Thanks,
David]
posted Jul 30th 2009 11:22PM
Hmm. Was hoping for the $300 pricetag. $400 is a bit steep. I wish they kept the same design that they put on top of the lego stand.
whats funny is the original article arrington made was how he wanted a dirt cheap tablet under 200. then it went to 250. then 300. now itll be something like 450 even though the price of screens and processors have gone down significantly since he announced it.
Looks good. It better have a DVD drive and a kick ass gpu though. And I hope it doesn't have only one USB port. Does the keyboard slide out the bottom or is it on the back? I hope it's not on the back 'cause then you'd have to keep flipping it over to see what your typing.
Steve. No DVD drive. No keyboard (except on-screen).
GH?
Steve +1
I thought 300 was the perfect price for the crunchpad. 400 just seams a little too steep for a pad that only supports web browsing. So I was wondering if Arrington was still planning open source on this. I can build one myself if I only had the software. Im a fabricator, not a software designer.
looks very interesting. the design looks very good.
But why do they persist on using an Intel Atom??? I might consider it a tiny little bit at that price point if it used that new pineview Atom with some graphical power....
Personally for something such as this i think Tegra would have been far more appropriate. People are running Android/chrome/Moblin on netbooks to get away from having to use that stupid overpriced/outdated Atom..
Roughly AU$550 for something which is not close to being a necessity.... THIS IS NOT a phone you cannot price it at that nobody will buy it, am i supposed to carry a normal phone + this 8+ inch device around with me for multimedia?? It does not even have TV-Out. Good-bye CrunchPad... Truly only the crap companies crash and burn in a recession.
Any word on the screen resolution? Other than that, $400 is pretty good.
How large is it?
large enough to be a huge iPhone.
I don't know if there are any real specs on this thing yet, just concept images and mockup test models. More importantly, I think the only way they'll be able to make this thing a huge sucess is if they sell it for that price, but with no subscription model. Charge the customers 400 dollars up front, but limit them to a certain amount of data, and have the same business plan as the Kindle with Whispernet.
Does anybody click the links any more?
From the article.....
Dimensions: 12.77 by 7.83 inches, and 0.74 inch thick
Awesome! Cant wait to get one.
What OS is it running?
Custom lightweight build of Linux.
Linux? That's unfortunate.
@Steve
How is it unfortunate? Linux itself is more than capable of handling things like web browsing, word processing, and image editing. Sure there aren't many games, but just how many people are going to buy what is essentially a netbook sans keyboard to game on?
@steve: Tell that to all the douches who buy games on their iphone and call it a portable gaming device
It's just a browser on top of some form of Linux. A video on youtube showing someone using it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jP-0Nce5oTQ
Good job Michael! Looking forward to ordering when ready (regardless of whether Apple's iPad is out by then).
Not gonna happen not with those specs or that concept pic anyways...
Here is the link for the article from The Straits Times http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking%2BNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_410527.html
Why would u post that link when it's right there in the article. The read link? But maybe I'm missing something. Not trying to be an ass or anything.
I could see myself using that to review drawings a lot more than the 11x17 sets we typically use.
this thing probably infringes on a bunch of patents from microsoft, alcatel-lucent, apple, IBM, texas-instruments, etc.
will be funny to watch them get sued.
oh and
-non-ergonomic design that doesnt run any applications and only runs pos firefox.
-keyboard is horrible and cant type anything easily.
When did you try out the keyboard, hm?
Yeah, cause lawsuits are so hilarious. Oh, and nobody cares. You obviously have some weird bias against it.
Somehow this offends you...
i just hope it's got a wacom digitizer and then we got a third party cintiq which is waaaay cheaper.
At this price point: very unlikely.
the day it recognizes handwriting is the day i will report this to Alcatel-Lucent for patent infringement. You can thank me for it never having the ability of being a wacom digitizer.
http://www.usatoday.com/tech/products/2008-04-04-2507619152_x.htm
get a life....
Did the creator of this thing beat you up in middle school or something?
I've heard all the hype of this thing and the purported ~$300 pricepoint. Something I'd be willing to spend for a device like this.
As soon as I heard "3G", "mobile broadband", and "$399", well, not anymore.
I don't see why anyone'd plunk down $400 for this and then spend $60/mo on a data plan to go with the device. This, especially when other 3G-equipped netbooks such as the Acer Aspire One can be had for approximately $350 at your local RadioShack.
It started as a "simple WiFi tablet to browse the net" and it's now been blown out of proportions with adding on frivolous features like 3G.
Sorry, Crunchpad, but I'll put my money elsewhere.
@Dakota
You know, you really don't have to buy 3G service, just use WiFi. 3G is nice option for those who are willing to pay for it. Acer netbooks do not have touch screen.
Tablets are not for everyone. But I will be seriously considering this one! I can always tether my Palm Pre for internet connectivity. Great for watching movies on the airplane - the keyboard does not get on the way.
I hope this is capacitive touchscreen (the render shows that the screen is flush with the border), but as always, renders do not represent final product.
Dakota does have a point though on the added cost to the addition of 3G on this device. I would make a couple of models that gives you the choice to have 3G or not.
But I'm still paying for an unneeded option.
Stuff that really, well, shouldn't be there in the first place. This was touted as a device for simple WiFi surfing, not full blown internet anywhere.
person doesn't need to spend $60 for 3G, they could get MetroPcs or cricket. Or they could already be a current 3G subscriber, and want another device to use it on.
I just realized how dumb my statement was. First off those other service providers are only $40 a month. But this is an internatonal product, right? So that wouldn't help everyone. Sorry goodbye.
I agree, who are these people who are willing to pay $60 for a 3G account for a tablet, that arent at least paying $60/mo for a 3G account for their cellphone? Not only that, but wouldnt a 3G account for a *real laptop* come first?
I dont get the tablet form factor anyway. I would much rather have a keyboard and hinge to keep the screen up then hold it with one hand and do input with the other.
When I'm riding the train watching videos in my iPhone, all I can think is 'there has to be some way to mount this thing so i dont have to hold it for an hour..."
wow, from hail to fail in one easy step. what happened to simple and cheap?? this is no longer an impulse item, this is more expensive than some laptops.
tablet screen + wifi + onscreen kbd + ability to sync bookmarks = make it so
What the $400!!!! First it was going to be $200 then they threw in a better lcd which was going to bump up the price to $300. I'm skeptical about the estimated price in this article, but mostly because I can justify $300 for this but $400 is pushing it.
And the built in 3G is a curiosity, I thought the crunchpad was aimed at home use where one would already have Wifi.
Ill wait to see what Apple offers
Apple will come out with something similar but with less features, a closed OS, and a $1200 price tag.
@teller
Totally... I mean, I hate how closed OS X is... we need something open-source like Windows/WinMo... not closed like the Darwin core of OS X and iPhone OS.
Oh, wait, you know how the jailbreaking team does its magic? In part by utilizing some of the thousands of open APIs in Darwin. Oh, and most basic utilities are just recompiles of tried-and-true Unix/Linux/BSD utils.
Me, too. I'll wait. I really like the looks and price of this CP. But if the Apple version runs 65,000 apps, paying double or more for the Apple tablet is OK by me. I want more than just hardware. This CP has nice borders and looks comfortable to hold. I wonder if it's got some sort of a built-in stand for desk viewing. The stand needs to work in portrait or landscape mode. I hope the battery life on these tablets are in the six hour range for video watching. Though I'll settle for at least two-full length movies plus several more hours of music or games.
I don't think tablets are going to fail this time around. The technology part is ready except for battery life.
@bondsbw,
You realize this runs on Linux, right? You know, where the WHOLE OS is open source, and not just some pieces lifted from other open source projects?
Comparing it to Windows has nothing to do with this. Get back to me on the supposed openness of OS X when I can legally download a copy for free (including source), modify it to my heart's content, and load it on third party hardware.
OS X is a pretty good product, but talking about how open it is just makes you delusional.
400 is pushing it.
Who needs the 3g? Not me. I have my own Wifi in the house, thanks. Baby steps, Arrington!
Your houses Wi-Fi extend to the park? on the bus? If your at home you may as well use a laptop or desktop.
@deanb: This thing was never intended to be used like that. It's a 12-inch screen - if you're that interested in spending $400 for 3G mobile browsing on a bus, you probably already have a phone that does it just as well.
Arrington set out to make a couch computer for people like him who hate netbooks. How 3G ever entered the equation is a mystery that'll probably be solved when his funding sources are revealed. Who wants to bet one of the carriers who isn't expecting to get an Apple tablet is throwing money at this project?
"The device will not have storage space - which some analysts have pegged as a big drawback - and will instead run programs hosted on servers: so-called cloud computing."
"This means that editing a document, for instance, requires users to access the relevant software via the Internet. Once a document is completed, it will be saved via the Internet too"
Uhm, yes, let me invest in that company, haha, I'm sure people are willing to pay $400 smackers for that.
"Arrington set out to make a couch computer for people like him who hate netbooks."
And that's exactly what the CrunchPad is... a vanity product that's going to go nowhere. What he's made is a netbook with no keyboard and no internal storage. If he was smart, he'd quickly turn this thing into a convertible a la the Asus EEE T91.
Only people with more money than brains would think that something like the CrunchPad is a great idea, and that's why it's gonna be a niche product.
If its 400, then its a total waste. This thing had some real potential but whats the point if it costs double that of an entry netbook, or more than devices like the iPod Touch who do decent web surfing as well as additional features?
What's this BS in the article about "World's first tablet PC" ?
Geez.
Ha ha I was wondering the same thing.
I believe the article was written by The World's First Journalist.
With no doubt I think this device surely rocks but what good will it do if the battery will only last for like an hour and a half or 2. Everything in technology has been improving other than battery technology. Would love to see a good leap in that field.
Fuel cell?
multitouch?
The last I heard was resistive multitouch (Yes resistive)
$400 is maybe pushing it for a netbook, but you have to realize that this is a tablet pc. You can't find a new commercial tablet pc for under $600 right now. Hopefully it supports pen input, and since it has an x86 processor in it you can install windows (7) on it, and possibly osx86. I'm mildly hyped for this, but lets hope they don't try to pull a bait and switch on us and sell this thing for $600.
Hmmm.. have ANY of you figured out that this is all a steaming pile of BULLSH*T ??
There IS NO REAL PRODUCT -- JUST DESIGNS.
And no-one on this planet could sell something like this for $400 US without losing $500 on every unit sold.
WAKE UP, PEOPLE !!!
They do have prototypes though. If you looked at TechCrunch's website you'd see videos. They seem pretty real.
Please give me a break! Apple will put out a tablet pc for twice as much and morons will buy it! $400 isn't bad but $300 would have been better.
When it was aimed at $200, it sounded ok, although not for me, but I just don't see the appeal; $400 for a 12" screen (= unportable without a laptop bag), Atom-based (= laptop-style battery life, not much more than smartphone performance) "internet pad" for $400 when you can get either a pocketable, all-day battery life internet tablet for $200-$250, or a 12" full-performance convertible tablet (a pound or two more, but fits in the same bag) for $600 or so.
I guess, for those who _really_ want a big frakking tablet, more than they care about battery life or price, there's no close substitute yet. But to me, it looks like the MacBook Air of MIDs. With the continual price jackage, I can't help but think potential customers are hemorrhaging to existing, cheaper products like the SmartQ7.
"World's first tablet PC"?!?
WTF
Yeah there has been quite a few tablet pc's without keyboards.
Am I the only one who noticed the flagrant disregard and abuse of the English language in this article?
The tablet reportedly about two pounds? It eats two pounds of cabbage? Costs two pounds? Weighs two pounds? This is why the American educational system is failing. Students now have very few places where we are shown how basic grammatical skills are important.
Please dont flame me.
don't*
It accidentally 2 pounds.
Exactly Weber.
It's a tablet-form netbook. Plain and simple. Nothing more revolutionary than that.
I wouldn't trust the straits times....
I was all excited over it, until I read the article that said it was an in-house custom OS.
That's a big fail for me.
yay! singapore gets mentioned again! looks interesting
I don't see this working unless they:
Change to an ARM processor.
Make it 10 inches.
Reduce price to 250.
3G? Mobile Broadband? Who need any of that?
Wasn't this supposed to be a WiFi web browsing tablet? Keep it simple so you can keep it cheap, that's what I say!
I was really looking forward to the CrunchPad, but with a price tag of $400 or more it just lost all interest. For about half that price I guess I'll get myself a Skytone Alpha-700!
Thanks for nothing Michael Arrington and TechCrunch
I'm not buying it at $200.
Considering the prices of components it should be under $200
Anything over that is criminal.
If they can sell action figures for 8 dollars and make a tremendous profit they can sell computers for lower prices and make out like bandits.
These electronics companies just want to bleed their customers dry and Engadget doesn't help by not badmouthing them and putting them on the spotlight like any journalist with a shred of integrity would. The crunchpad can suck it.
Exactly.
At $400 this tablet should at the very least use an IPS screen for good viewing angles (like any large format tablet worth it's salt). But it won't, it will have a crappy TN panel for no reason other than profit margins.
How about spending $400 on this http://www.ziilabs.com/products/platforms/ziiegg.aspx with HD supports 720p and 1080p HDTVs via HD cable,Bluetooth -- Bluetooth 2.1 EDR,WiFi, GPS -- Hardware GPS receiver and lot of other features. Introductory offer of 32GB Zii Egg.
I think its decent and its in developing stage.
No one is going to buy this. No one wants ANOTHER monthly bill from a device that has 3G connectivity, AS WELL AS a port for mobile broadband? (WTF does that even mean).... its not quite a laptop, not a phone.. so, whats the use of it?
I would mount this in my car, but what is the point. such a device should not have any 3g options internally built in, unless it can be used without a mandatory connectivity account from a mobile carrier.
Junk and useless. Kill the Thing now!
ill probably buy it too.
"The device will not have storage space - which some analysts have pegged as a big drawback - and will instead run programs hosted on servers: so-called cloud computing."
"This means that editing a document, for instance, requires users to access the relevant software via the Internet. Once a document is completed, it will be saved via the Internet too"
I repeat that quote but it's so hilarious and explains why you'd need an alternative to connect to the net once they cut off your 3g for not being able to pay the bill.
No storage, haha, 29yo genius, famous youtube commenter too I bet, 400 for no storage and 3G cloud computing on an atom, he should get some sort of comedy award for that.
Why bother using Atom for what is meant to be an internet tablet? A good arm processor would be the better choice by far! That would have kept prices down and allowed for longer battery life....
i think 3G is an overkill for the price point and demographic they were shooting for. at $400 unsubsidized, it'll probably be close to the iTablet price subsidized. if you sign up for 3G you'll need to slave away 2 years ANYWAY, why would i buy this instead of the iTablet.
the product manager and marketing manager on this product is smoking crack. $300, no 3G, ability to play media from an outside source (via USB), and it's a great consumer product.
too bad its huge, and not worthy of the mobility 3g gives yo
1.2kg for something you have to hold all the time to actually do something with it? No local storage? $400 for neutered netbook hardware, and likely even more in the end?
Is that supposed to be a joke?
$400? That's prob half of what Apple will charge for their tablet.
Its like a kindle, except usefull
I would so buy this. i would buy this over an iPod touch cuz that's what i wanted it for anyway.
Plus doesn't this look like a kid version?
http://www.mintpass.com/product/p_mp100_conc.asp
ugh. I have been looking forward to this thing since they announced it way back. looking over it now, I dunno. I'm becoming pretty disapointed. like a lot of users here, 3G is completely wasted to me. The thing having no internal storage means you have a $400 brick unless you're around somewhere with Wifi. at least with a $400 netbook, there is still tons you can do even if not connected to the net.
The "no internal storage" -- does that also mean no browser themes, no browser addons, no greasemonkey, no cache? (bookmarks they could run off the net) Guess we'll have to see.
Too much bezel for me.
call it a couchpad already.
The idea is "instant on". Having to boot up a PC every time I want to google or email is a drag (plus, of course, the drudgery of having to BE where the PC is). The idea of "always on" is more palatable if there's no machinery or fans involved, which seems to describe this kind of device. Surfing the web while I'm lying on my back, which I can do with my iTouch, is a breakthrough in ergonomics, but with a bigger screen you have the possibility of actually working while being in a position ordinarily associated with sleeping. Remarkable.
The Engadget giveaways might be US-centric, but comments don't have to be. Just because 3G connectivity costs so much in the USA is no reason to say 3G is a waste of time. Check out some Singapore 3G mobile broadband providers. You can get 1Mbps speed and unlimited data from for just over US$10 per month. They don't even have a plan that costs more than US$40 per month.
I'm not saying the device doesn't have flaws, but 3G connectivity makes a huge difference to how useful it is - no more hunting around for Wi-Fi hotspots.
Count me in with the "Sounded amazing at $300, but I won't touch it at $400" crowd. $300 (+tax, shipping) was the most I was willing to pay for this ... and I REALLY loved the look and concept of this gadget. I can see myself reading newspapers and books on this regularly... but I'm not really willing to pay more than $300 for any gadget so limited in capability.
it is getting more expensive now because they use aluminum as a base