Freescale smartbook prototype is a dockable tablet, we go hands-on

Oh look, another tablet! Except this time it's in the guise of a "smartbook," thanks to the keyboard it docks into. This is Freescale's reference design for its new i.MX515 processor, and it's decently responsive for running "full" Linux. Unfortunately, the Milos version of Linux onboard isn't quite a finger friendly distro (despite the resistive screen's relative sensitivity), so we'll either have to get a stylus or just wallow in our frustration. The build quality of the unit isn't exactly stellar, and neither is the keyboard, but we're sure there will be plenty of tweaks before a manufacturer bites and brings this to market, and the $200 proposed pricetag is always hard to complain about. Check out a video after the break.

Freescale smartbook prototype is a dockable tablet, we go hands-on

[Creativity Posted Jan 7th 2010 9:04PM]

I like it, kinda.

[saturnblackhole Posted Jan 7th 2010 9:25PM]

@Creativity

yeah im really liking this whole smartbook thing. as long as this thing isn't a cent more than $200 and i can install ubuntuARM on it its a buy in my book.

[Average White Boy Posted Jan 7th 2010 10:10PM]

@saturnblackhole

The tablet is $200 and the keyboard is $150. How's that. The 3G will be subsidized by ad clicks. For every 50 ads you click on you get 10 minutes of free 3G.

I like the concept and I hope the company does well. Though, I doubt they can make any profit at that $200 price.

[ThisIsNotSparta Posted Jan 7th 2010 9:05PM]

DO WANT

[Alexicov Posted Jan 7th 2010 9:06PM]

iSlate killer?
But seriously. You get a laptop and a tablet. 2 in one. These thingers are mighty tempting

[artlazza Posted Jan 7th 2010 9:08PM]

It's a good concept, kind of a docking station used by notebooks, I like it...

[Dking7 Posted Jan 7th 2010 9:08PM]

they should be called dumb-book and proper laptops smart-books, just like in phone industry...

[brrip Posted Jan 7th 2010 9:09PM]

wow love the concept. brilliant.

[Needsahaircut Posted Jan 7th 2010 9:16PM]

Haha, I love Paul.

[GTYellowJacket9 Posted Jan 7th 2010 9:19PM]

The Lenovo Hybrid is a better idea I think. Have the Windows laptop and then when you remove the screen it switches to the Linux based tablet OS.

[max1001 Posted Jan 7th 2010 9:59PM]

@GTYellowJacket9
But you can buy 5 of these for the price of the Lenovo.

[Dinochicken Posted Jan 7th 2010 9:29PM]

No complaints at that price. I'd just rather have Moblin if they wanted to put a tablet ready distro on these things. No unskinned, unoptimized Android wackness, no janky relatively unknown Linux distros, just use Moblin.

[alcapone17 Posted Jan 7th 2010 9:38PM]

The keyboard is identical with the one of the original EEE PC (701, 900, 901), so watch out :D (typed from a 901)

[puretomatoes Posted Jan 7th 2010 10:00PM]

hope you dont have to pay for the 3g :P

[MoonWalkerCTE Posted Jan 7th 2010 10:00PM]

Paul = Total Awesomeness

[pontelon Posted Jan 7th 2010 10:02PM]

Interesting. It's one of the cheapest tablets we've seen. I wonder if we could get Skylight or another touch-friendly OS on there instead of some random linux distro...

[OCEAN CLAK Posted Jan 7th 2010 10:05PM]

fisher price styling

[ezelkow1 Posted Jan 8th 2010 11:42AM]

@OCEAN CLAK its a reference design, not an actual product, most reference designs are just in generic black boxes so be glad they even decided to paint it

[theinternetstom Posted Jan 7th 2010 10:22PM]

$ 200.00 bucks!?! If it really comes out at that price I would buy one.

[reallynotnick Posted Jan 7th 2010 10:46PM]

Why is he still wearing 3D glasses in the video? /s

[GGG Posted Jan 8th 2010 4:40AM]

that's actually quite nice :)


i hope the keyboard part also contains a big battery that can serve as a charging dock for the tablet. Because it doesn't look like tablet has a lot of space for a decent battery.

[alberth Posted Jan 8th 2010 7:54AM]

Reminds me of the touch book from Always Innovating
http://www.alwaysinnovating.com/touchbook/

Looks like the smartbook market is finally hotting up.
I want.