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Today at Techcrunch we announced that we are building our own web tablet hardware device. This all stems back from a conversation a few weeks ago when we were discussing the ultimate web browsing/cloud computing client hardware. The iPhone is nice but too small, and most laptops are over-powered for the task. With applications on the web most of us just need a web browser most of the time, so the ideal device would be a light-weight small tablet running nothing more than Firefox on a decent screen and with a WiFi connection.
The software development aspects of the project will be managed here from TCIT. Our goal is open source from top to bottom (including the full design, eventually). Leave a comment and we will get in touch with you and send you an account on the project management system we will be setting up (I am also nik at techcrunch on email which might be easier than flooding comments). It would be interesting to hear general feedback and ideas - we really want to open this up to everybody.
The planned stack so far is to run BSD or Linux, with the Gnome desktop. We will probably take the Gnome Onscreen Keyboard project and adapt that as the primary input device (the hardware design includes multi-touch under the LCD screen, I will have the full specs shortly and will post them to the wiki). Then there will be Firefox, running in a stripped down interface mode with a simple system tray showing battery life and wifi (and simple settings for the device). Plugins would include Gears, Flash and probably either VLC or Mplayer with open codecs for media.
Once the stack comes together and we can set the hardware spec in stone, we will do a small manufacturing run and ship some devices out to developers so that we can work on specifics. Once that is done there will be a larger manufacturing run with hopefully a retail price of $300 or less. If you are excited about this as we are, please get in touch.
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[...] be coordinating the project over at TechCrunchIT. Leave a comment there if you want to participate and we’ll be in touch [...]
I’ve always wanted to participate in an open-source, open-hardware project like this. I’ve worked as primarily a software guy for the past few years but recently started dabbling in hardware for my startup. We could possibly even lend some of our employee’s time to the project if it looks like it’s taking off (electrical engineer, possibly mechanical as well).
I’d be interested in this device both as a consumer and a software developer.
[...] those guys over at TechCrunch, they always get me with their April Fools jokes. Now here comes this piece that announces they’re getting into the hardware business! Could it be for real? [...]
not to engage in scope creep but if you add pdf support it could double as the ultimate ebook reader as well. i would be very, very happy to buy something like that.
I’d be interested from both the developer and consumer standpoints.
Hopefully you can pull this off, cause if you do, I am going to get one in every room of my house including all the bathroom’s, my office waiting room, etc. Replace all my magazines and newspapers with these. Good Luck!
This is an interesting idea. Would love to help with the firefox integration side. May be even build a special version of feedly for it. What it the best way to learn more about this project?
It’s like your reading my mind.
I’m in — hardware, software, whatever I can do.
I will get a new community site running shortly and will post all the docs and info that we have so far. If you leave a name here or email me I will shoot you an email once it is up
Awesome idea, Ill help with project specs or testing
[...] TechCrunchIT » Blog Archive » The Techcrunch Web Tablet Project Today at Techcrunch we announced that we are building our own web tablet hardware device. This all stems back from a conversation a few weeks ago when we were discussing the ultimate web browsing/cloud computing client hardware. The iPhone is nice but too small, and most laptops are over-powered for the task. With applications on the web most of us just need a web browser most of the time, so the ideal device would be a light-weight small tablet running nothing more than Firefox on a decent screen and with a WiFi connection. [...]
Hey folks,
love the idea. I’ll do what I can if you’d like– I mainly work in Photoshop/ web design. I can whip up logo ideas, design a site for it, etc.
I’ll copy this over to Nik’s email.
I’m an User Experience and Usability Consultant… I’m in for this project… I really think there is the need of a device like that…
I would be interested in checking out the site and contributing if I have anything to offer.
College student will help with writing the marketing aspect.
Let me know if I can help.
I’m in.
Wow, this sounds like an awesome idea. I’d love to contribute in some way, I have lots of education contacts and some limited coding expertise. Maybe my biggest asset is enthusiasm and time? Contact me if I can help.
Would love to help where I can.
Built a few gadgets in my time… email if you could use a hand.
awesome idea…i’d be interested in helping out on the hardware end
Definitely interested. Sounds likes a fascinating idea. Being a kernel hacker, I would love to help with developing a stripped down version of linux for the TC Tablet.
Great! We are pretty excited about it as well..
Please count me in however I can help. Also, please include me in the email info.
Like the idea … I’d like to help where I can too …
Any thoughts on UI design? Cause I’m in if so..
I didn’t hear anything about funding, but I’d like to give the first $200 towards this, assuming it stays open source.
Design thoughts - maybe get rid of the power button, put that on the back or something. Also, in terms of size, if it can be the size of a text book, then there’s a huge opportunity in the future of using it for ebooks, text books, etc.
Overall, awesome project, give me a chance to put some money towards it. Also, I can provide all the website hosting for it, at least until it becomes outrageous.
Basically: $200 + website hosting is what I’m willing to donate/give/whatever
Wow sounds like a great project. Need an Instructional Designer? Also I’m very good at breaking… erm I mean testing things.
Shameless Plug - Sounds like you need a wiki!
crunchtablet.pbwiki.com for example?
If you make it, I can help you sell it. My company, Chalkface Project Ltd, sells to all 5,000 secondary (”high”) schools in the UK - approx 5,000,000 students, plus est. 1,000,000 in British International Schools. Most of them buy our books and also use our assessment platform http://yacapaca.com
If the price was right we could make a case that every schoolkid should have one of these. I think a lot of people in education would listen if we pitched it as a ’secondary device’, not replacing desktop computers with their M$ software, but extending their reach. It would be totally in line with our mission to get behind this project.
Finally! I can help promote this in and bring it to Canada. Let me know if you’re interested - I am!
Cheers
Software dev here. I’ll help out.
It would be nice if it used a lightweight package manager for updates. Interface-wise, OLPC’s Sugar interface could be good, they already have a minimal Firefox, maybe modifying that would be best?
I would love to get involved!
I’m in! Get in touch with me ASAP :) Don’t forget to include BLUETOOTH for both the Skype function AND the ability to use a Bluetooth KEYBOARD if one so desired.
I’m very experienced with Firefox/Mozilla/XUL development, if you still need help on that front.
Uhhh, question: how are you planning to handle text entry?
I’d like to help with software development if possible — this device sounds great.
Still in college but would love to get involved and help out in any way I can
Good timing; entering market research phase for something similar. Please reach out - would be interested in collaborating.
I’d love to help - I am a marketing and advertising type - with basic architecting - tech-wise talents. Count me in. –Chris
Let me know how I can help.
count me in for dev and my company for marketing/distribution …
(name hidden from web crawlers–email me for real info)
Hello,
I would be happy to contribute my companies resources and expertise to the project.
Dan Ushman
Vice President
SingleHop, Inc.
Software experience.
Happy to help.
Nit picking the comments in TC, might i suggest a firefox plugin for access to & status of other applications like skype, instead of showing the taskbar/quicklaunch/systray. If your differentiation is simplicity, I wouldn’t compromise it.
I am interested. do send me an email once the community site is setup.
I would love to help. If you need any help with spec writing, technical writing or instructional information I have a lot of experience.
Very interested, and would love to help out however I can.
[...] be coordinating the project over at TechCrunchIT. Leave a comment there if you want to participate and we’ll be in touch [...]
(oops, posted to the original article) I have founded and sold a CE company, having built and brought to market half a dozen Linux / WinCE products over the years. Designed in California, engineering in Taiwan, production in South China. I may be able to help out, just contact me.
BTW, the screen and battery are going to be your biggest design challenges, not processor selection etc.!
Sounds like an awesome idea! Would love to help!
count me in to help! Great concept.
Entry will be virtual onscreen keyboard (based on the Gnome project). The difference here is that we are using a new dual-touch layer with the LCD and it only has an early linux driver so far. I will post the specs for it.
This wlil definitely remain open source. As for funding, whatever is required we will be pushing out from Techcrunch. The reason why we announced today is because we have the manufacturing/prototype etc. setup now, along with design (which we will also post for feedback etc.)
fully open process though. the dev community is in the works and being setup now, I will email otu accounts to everybody who either coments here or emails me as soon as it is up and the initial details will be there
I vote for instant on…
http://www.splashtop.com/
Also, can I stake a claim to write (free of charge) the jingle that plays when the machine starts up? That would be awesome.
Why not run something like GOS (http://www.thinkgos.com) which runs everything off Firefox pretty much, I love it.
Either way I’m in, let me know what I can do.
This sounds like a success in the making — count me in (software, graphics design experience).
Not that I am against the idea; but what makes this any different than Nokia’s Internet Tablets? Or even Sony’s Mylo COM-2. Or Pandor’s product? Or, Intel’s, which happens to be using Ubuntu Mobile as a base for things? It would seem that this energy would be better utilized pushing into those projects the needed momentum to finish what was already started, rather than starting something new.
Love the concept will help where possible
I’m not making this up - yesterday I was searching in vain for *exactly* this device factor. If I can help, ping me :-)
I’d be happy to help in any way I can. My expertise is in software, most particularly towards UI and Accessibility.
Is TC proposing to do the hardware design and manufacture as well? That seems very…ambitious.
I have wanted the exact device you described for some time. Have you considered using one of the many Web Operating Systems in the concept?
(As an example of what can be done. Maybe in conjunction with Coreboot?)
This sounds very cool. I’m a software guy with a small amount of experience working on UI for MID/UMPC devices. I’d love to be kept in the loop on this.
Love to help as well (can offer services in the strategy/market/launch planning) … look forward to an itemization of skills required.
Possibility for funding if you’re going that route.
The simple design alone got me excited… I’d love to contribute. My background is in marketing and research, along with some biz dev experience.
I don’t know if the specs for this project will meet the minimum required for Ubuntu’s netbook os version but it looks fantastic! If nothing more, it will give you a good base of functions for a custom distro.
http://www.canonical.com/netbooks
I hope you put CDisplay or another .cbr Comics Reader on it, because it will be great to read my comics on a clean, thin and easily portable device.
I posted this on TechCrunch, but I wanted to make sure you guys saw it here too.
I have been asking for this exact device for years. My area of expertise is web programming, so I’d like to take on the “custom default home page with large buttons for bookmarked services - news, Meebo/Ebuddy for IM, Google Docs/Zoho for Office, Email, social networks, photo sites, YouTube, etc. Everything that you use every day.”
I can provide the software development as well as the servers needed for this custom home page.
Let me know how to proceed - I am all in for getting this device up and running. If you are planning meetups in person, I am only one to two hours from the bay area, depending on traffic.
Another coder willing to help here.
I work for a small Design and Manufacturing company and would definitely volunteer some time to do market research and the like. If you need a contact with Chinese manufacturers, I might be able to help.
I would think any web application developer wold be interested in seeing this work! I know for my company, a device like this would enable the kind of real mobile access that Tablet PCs were supposed to bring about. Count me in! I hope that I can help, my strength is more in web applications with complex server side processing (I wrote a search engine for life insurance products and underwriting classes), but if there is something I can do to help I would be glad to (which includes standing in line on day one to buy one of these). One question, would the intention be to restrict local executables? I know from an ease of use standpoint a guaranteed list of applications and a closed off root folder makes for a rather stable device, but I would love to plug in a USB gamepad, and play old NES games on an emulator. Of course maybe that’s what a laptop is for anyways.
I too have been waiting for such a device for a very long time. I’m a tablet enthusiast and have an old Acer tablet as well a couple of the old 3com Audreys (hacked of course). I’m also a longtime PHP/AJAX developer and product manager. I’d love to help with this project. Let me know when/how I can jump in.
I am interested in helping with this project.
This is a phenomenal idea! I can offer help in online marketing and design. I know at least 10 people off hand that would be interested in purchasing something like this.
As someone with an interest in the Linux kernel as well as (ultra-)portables, I’d be interested in helping out on the software front.
This is an excellent idea. I’m a software guy. I spent a lot of time designing GUI’s before Windows came along. I know about UI’s and how they are built. I’m familiar with how to build a custom GUI from the ground up. I’m not as proficient with Linux as I used to be, but I can come up to speed pretty quickly. Count me in.
oh, I can also bring to the table an existing team of engineers bored with their day jobs, but could pretty much build this whole thing…
we’ve been throwing around like this around our office for months (and probably have different incarnations already). we would love to help out as well - please include us on the project!
raffi krikorian
partner
synthesis studios, inc.
http://www.synthesisstudios.com/
I think the device needs a scroll wheel or something that you can reach with your thumb while holding it. It would enable the user to quickly move the page down, without having to release the grip and point/drag on the screen
Oh, and while an RSS reader would be handy (I know, we can use Google Reader), and Email app would be almost necessary. Thunderbird?
Great Idea! Definitely, there is a need for that. I agree that the price got to be low, plug and play, no hassle. Please sign me up and I will be glad to help. Please email me.
I love the idea, something so simple yet so powerful with the help of the web.
If there’s a spare seat for someone to do the HTML, CSS and general ideas / advice, I’d like to join.
I just brought a n800…
crap… time for a new upgrade…
best 2008 idea ;)
Waiting for email
[...] (which I left now ages ago, but miss dearly) are tackling this very problem (see the post at TechcrunchIT, too) - talk about bending the rules of what you expect from a [...]
I would be interested in contributing to this project.
I would like to chip in any way I can.
I play roles of Systems Engineer and DBA, but can do anything.
I have a UI design and usability background, and would be excited to help.
Industrial design interests me but I have no hands-on experience; I’d also be interested in collaborating with and learning from one or more industrial designers on the physical interface.
Count me in
This device is exactly what is needed. The market potential is enormous as it will also bring millions of users NOT using or NOT liking PC/Mac or Computers in general to be connected and use the Internet -> Think about the older generation.
Bluetooth would be important to also connect to a cell phone if WIFI is not available to use the cell phone’s connection. Also, don’t forget the International Market. Start from the beginning to have this device as open as possible when it comes to language selection as a later change will be very hard, costly and time consuming.
Since I move to CA next week, I am able to contribute on hand;-)
double up the battery. it would be a very cool trade off for more weight. heck- triple it!
WANT!
I work for a company that develops custom supply chain management software, so the best I can offer is insight on the sourcing and vendor approval process once the specs have been created. The e address above is personal, but if you think the project might benefit from supplychain insight, I might be able to get the company onboard.
Let me know how I can help. Count me in!
I would make a great tester if you need it.
I’m usually spot on with suggestions and recommendations after products version 1 is released.
Great collaborative project idea … Let me know if I can help!
No skills that would help out, I don’t think, but definitely interested!
I’d love to do some interface testing, if needed.
A simple tablet based on Firefox (a ‘Foxlet?’) — what a dream come true! I’m really excited about this project, and would be thrilled if you’d accept my offer for copywriting and web design/development help.
I have been thinking about this too! Though, I think having a more general OS (than just firefox) with an open SDK would be a big boon to a product like this.
I want in!
Nic,
We have a linux stack for UMPCs and MIDs (your device is a MID in consultant’s words) with several communication oriented applications. I’d be happy to contribute as much as we can.
Best,
Marc
Would love to beta test. Been using iPhone from Day 1 so can provide great feedback on what I like and don’t like with that device.
Just read the article and was wondering we need a Supply Chain Company and Rapid Prototype company for golf products…Who do you use for this? Maybe they could do the same for us.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Alongside the flash plugin, it would be really sweet if we could get silverlight plugin support (once its available on linux). This sweet thing could be a perfect terminal for a lot of enterprise apps og home control applications. On work we are using ~700$ tablets for something this device could do, and do in a way better form factor.
I’m a director of product management, I can help with specs, UI, vision/strategy/scope, etc…
I’m up for helping in any way.
Excellent idea! This is something I would have liked to have long time ago… :-) Sign me up - I can help with engineering management or product development. Regarding the specs, I’d suggest to establish some sort of touch-based UI platform (if this doesn’t already exist) that developers can build FF-based widgets on top of (similar to the iPhone OS), to keep all software open source, and indeed to keep the exterior buttons/interfaces to an absolute minimum.
Finally, the market (or at least me) have been wanting this project for some time now. I’m a technologist (cto of a grown up SaaS start up), let me know how I can help…
This is the best thing I’ve seen this year, please add me to the email list
Finally, the market (or at least me) have been wanting this product for some time now. I’m a technologist (cto of a grown up SaaS start up), let me know how I can help…
hey, sign me in I’ll do my best to make it happen! (I’m a Ph.D. student doing research on robots running linux)
I’d love to help concerning this project… so another “count me in” here. Please e-mail me! :)
Software developer here. Lemme know what I can do and chip in
I’d love to see this thing come to life. I’d be interested in contributing to the software portion of this project. I know a couple of good hardware guys too who I know would be interested.
This is exactly what I’m looking for. Most of what I run is from online apps and USB portable apps, so this tool would be a great fit for me. I am very interested. Keep me in the loop.
We are all over this! We cover a ton of ton tablet technology at GottaBeMobile.com and would love to play a role in this - however we can help.
Connect me to this effort, pls.
I’d buy it
I’d love to help out both as a consumer, software developer and industrial hardware designer.
I would like to help, I will also volunteer to coordinate the development and deployment of user surveys, both for rating functionality and requirements as well as feedback from initial testing. I run the North American operations for SensorPro, which is an on-line survey application and I will contribute our services as part of this project.
I also have been a product manager for AS/400 financial applications so I have a little experience with designing and developing software. I think that the concept is outstanding and look forward to participating.
Please email me! Cheers.
I’d certainly be interested in a device like this. I’d really avoid having to load up all of Gnome for a project like this, why not XFCE or even plain X and just load up Firefox on start. The rest could be handled by some really clever Firefox plugins. Instead of solid state why not CF? While USB would be nice just for keyboard mouse support alone, the driver issues for “just any device” would be a significant challenge. Add an external SD or mini-SD slot, and you’ve got one sleek little media device. Count me in for more-info/help!
Great idea!
I’m In if wanted. 19 years in IT. Run Ops for major company. Can handle the testing coordination or simple communication channels.
- I don’t think it has to be as thin as a MacBook Air, esp if that will affect the price point. Tons of consumers would be all over a low-cost touchscreen that’s roughly the same thickness as the average laptop
- Make the screen 10″ or larger and you’re on your way to building a device that’ll eventually replace the laptop
I have experience in user experience/usability/marketing, and would love to help
I’m in for software. Little to no help on hardware (I’ve fried more than my fair share of IC’s in undergrad because I forgot to ground them properly :) ).
I am in! I am a software engineer with 11 years of project management and software architecture experience for internet and mobile platforms. Let me know how can I assist on it!!!
Regards,
Tom
As a name Firefox Tablet is just a bit too direct. Would work if Mozilla put some money into the project.
Mu suggestion is “Fablet”. Its FF based, and its a tablet. “Fablet”. Rolls easy off your tongue and easy to remember.
;)Lars
Oh no!…. not Firefox!!! Opera-mini is a much better choice (there’s already 45 millions cellphone users across the globe). It’s WAY faster than Firefox and consumes much less RAM. Especially is you have only 500MB of RAM, Firefox is a terrible choice.
Do me a favor: opens 15 tabs in Firefox, with at least 5 of them with youtube pages. You will soon see RAM usage of FF climbing close to or above 600MB!!! While Opera will stick around 200MB.
I’m in. I can help with both hardware and software development.
I’ll be tracking this!
Man, I would love one of these things.
Count me in, I’d be more than happy to help with documentation/specification.
I’m based in NYC and would love to be involved. I’ve got a lot of experience in Web development from a product development and project management perspective. I used to write a bit of server-side code. I’ve been dying for a product like this.
I am director of rapid prototyping at Dynacept. Dynacept would love to get involved in both prototyping and production of any plastic components. We could also lend a hand with CAD or engineering services.
A product like this could certainly displace the Eee PC 1000 I just ordered!
Definitely want! Please don’t be vapourware!
Unfortunately unless you want someone with experience in eMarketing/Analytics for global financial services then all I can offer is to test, and of course proof-read any documentation/marketing/etc. But happy to offer whatever I can to the cause.
Whatever.
count me in for “consumer user experience” - ive been asking for this thing forever.
you looking to put the Techcrunch40 company Crowdspirit out of business? Hmm, well things did seem a bit quiet at Crowdspirit lately….
How about calling it the webtab?
I’m a writer and audio engineer and I’d love to use something like this.
If you need any copy writing or cool boot sounds I’m in, and I love the pdf reader idea.
Can’t wait to see what happens.
How about a version with 3G connectivity, or the option to add that on somehow? I’m aware that goes against the simplicity aspect somewhat in terms of the hardware, but it adds to it in terms of having an “always on” web connection rather than “run round trying to find somewhere with a hotspot”.
A great lesson could be thought here.
I agree with those who argue that having a decent battery/power supply solution is going to be a real challenge. One of the things that I hate most about my laptop is looking for power outlet because my battery is running out of gas.
It would be great if some of those companies building folding solar panels could help us to extend the life of the battery. Just a thought.
I will be more than happy to share my experience on sw and hw development and product management.
Can help spec network interfaces, I think its more than Wi-Fi to make it really useful.
Also, I have some relationships with the wireless & hotspot operators.
for $200 - this would be an awesome x-mas gift (to give and get)
so just a browser?! i’m guessing there are some sort of keyboard. sounds pretty cool as a concept but somehow it’s lacking the next step.
Most people don’t just read blogs online, even the basic needs involves some sort of action to allow users to notify their social community with ease.
Then with pro bloggers, they would need some sort of simple image editing software.(i guess photoshop express can do that)
my concern is just that if this tablet is ONLY for reading then that means inorder to make the newly acquired information useful we need to hop on a laptop/desktop?!
Very experienced product manager/marketing guy - I’ll be more than happy to help as time permits. Unfortunately, I’m heading out camping this week.
This is what I was looking for when I bought my ASUS EEE 900. I wanted a super-portable machine that would do 90% of what a full-featured laptop could do, but be so small, light, and readily accessible that I would have it with me all the time.
EEE is beautiful, and I love it, but there is still room for improvement:
- it takes too long to come out of hibernation - it should come on instantly when you open the case - a simple linux machine like this should go for months between reboots, so it should be optimized around hibernation
- it uses up too much battery in hibernation - should be able to hibernate for days.
- WiFi should come on and try to instantly connect to the last used access point, assuming the same IP address if the lease is still valid. In other words, if you put the machine to sleep, set it down, then pick it up ten minutes later, it should be operating in a few seconds.
- Security should be configurable so, if the tablet is lost, a casual pickpocket couldn’t use it. I’d like to see the screen unlocked by a configurable gesture (”drawn” on the screen with your finger or a stylus) or a codeword spoken in the microphone.
- USB is necessary for plugging in storage (humans are collectors…), also useful for keyboards, pointers, and other things.
- Bluetooth is a nice option for sound, keyboard, and pointer, but not a necessity (for 1.0) as Asus discovered.
- Screen has to be at least 1024×768 - the 800×480 screen of the original EEE was inadequate, and the 1024×600 of the 900 is barely adequate and occasionally causes trouble. 10″ is the right size, I think.
- Integration of web apps using Firefox tabs is the way to go, I think. When you “click” on a mailto: link, a new tab should open in [gmail, yahoo mail, whatever web mail] with a new message to the person referenced. Similarly, when you click on a .doc or .xls file a new tab should open in [google docs, zoho, etc.] with that file open.
- Obviously, I think there should be some method of configuring the beast to use different web services, but the default should be to use gmail and google docs. When you turn it on the first time, it should only ask your gmail login id, with buttons for “get me a gmail account” and “configure for other than gmail (this may get complicated)”
I’m pretty sure there are good 10.1″ commodity LCD touchscreens out there. I believe batteries will be the issue for design, because I think you’ll want 4+ Ah of battery, which is going to make it tough to keep “macbook thin.”
I may be able to check email on my other ultra-portable (treo 650). I’m excited to see how we can bring this to fruition for the lowest possible cost.
-Bill
Count me in. I’ve been meaning to do some kernel hacking.
We at Genesi would love to help out. We’re confident such a design can be done with Freescale components, and have done design work on very similar products all at different stages of development and production.
We have expertise both the software (firmware and OS) and hardware (full design and testing, bringup and drivers) side, along with several developers of both pedigrees we can put to the task, and are willing to help with the supply of development boards, other design components and technical help to further the project.
I’d like to talk to someone off the comments list about this if possible, email is with the comment, we can coordinate further :)
– Matt Sealey, Developer Relations Manager, Genesi USA Inc.
Also willing to put in some time on this. Software Engineer.
I’d down to help on the linux side. Willing to learn whatever’s needed and contribute code.
I’d buy it, therefore I’d like to work on it!
Put me on the list for
Operating Systems engineering, Information Security stuff, Documentation, and maybe some hardware assistance (less experience there, but I’d love to be involved)
A couple of requests/comments:
1. Open source hardware is good. Everyone will want to hack this, much like the Eee PC and friends are getting hacker additions now. We should encourage this.
2. Interface is everything. If it feels clunky, no one will use it. It has to be smooth, slick, and easy to use.
3. It really does need to be $200. If we push much beyond that, folks will start to wonder if it’s worth it when a netbook can be had for $400 or a laptop for $600.
I see several other designs mentioned in the comments. These all look good. Who will get there first?
[...] said, the Redux Model 1 was one guy’s heroic effort, while this project will largely be crowdsourced. Still, the hardware business is tough … I have one advice to Mike: talk to [...]
Love the idea: somewhere between One Laptop Per Child and the iPhone. I’d buy it. I’m not a programmer, but have done documentation. If you need editing or copy writing help, let me know.
College student interested to be part of Software Development and Consumer standpoint.
This sounds like a great idea, and I would love to be able to help.
Intern level, but always willing to learn
you guys are for sure on the right track here. Open source hardware and community involved, you can do it! I can opt in for some photoshop stuff. Just posted this from my iPhone, yep kinda small…
Marketing/evangelism - count me in. Start with the concept of an iPhone and work to something larger, not from an Air and smaller. 2-3 day battery life, WiFi, Bluetooth, OpenID for login. Software keyboard that uses touch interface.
Isn’t Apple building something like this? Sure seems like a great fit: Can be used for browsing, pictures and videos, as a remote control for your Apple TV and a remote display (for Apple TV, Macs and - most importantly - the Iphone).
why trying to reinvent the wheel? seriously. http://eyeos.org/en/
count me in!
Having a general OS will make the tablet much more functional. It will be easier to build apps for it, so its uses can be extended beyond just browsing.
A stripped down version of Ubuntu will run easily on 512MB and a low-end processor.
All apps like Opera, Firefox, Skype, etc. can be easily installed because they won’t require any special modifications. iPhone style keyboard should be good enough.
The biggest challenge will be keeping the cost ~ $200.
Sign me up.
this may seem somewhat obvious, but a tablet PC without allegiance to any corporation and is open source from the specs on up would be a good candidate to honourably wear the sterlingly cheesy name:
Tabula Rasa.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tabula_rasa
Great idea. Sans Microsoft and sans Apple.
If I can help in any way, I will
Sys admin
It seems very close to what CherryPal is doing http://www.cherrypal.com/ , only tablet version. might want to talk to them?, or just buy an iPhone?
Is there any chance that GPRS module comes along with that?
I would love do something on software.
See! I told you. “Fablet” is the perfect name.
I just finished reading 151 comments now. This is very interesting stuff and the fast reactions indicate that there is a need for this product.
But why?
We have Nokia N800, Iphone, countless Microsoft based machines etc. etc.
What are we calling out for? And why do we need it so bad?
Is it because we hate typing on the Iphone?, and we thin the N800 is too slow and generally annoying? What about the size? Do we want soething we can put in our pocket? Or something to go in our laptop bag?
And why is Google mentioned constantly? Why not show Google (and Yahoo + MS) that we can do office apps without them sniffing around? There are others out there that can provide us with online office documents. There are alternatives to Gmail, or there should be.
If i would do a project as this, and it should be as opened sourced as possible, i would certanly try to keep Google out of it. If the software and hardware is open sourced then why not look for open source apps? Would it really take that much extra hardware to have an app like Openoffice on it?
I am sure that the world needs this product. I am all turned on about it. Mostly because i can see the possibilities for “the people” to have such a monster at a low price. Much like the OLPC. And i need it because i hate my HP Ipaq in general, my Iphone typing ability, and my laptop i too heavy.
You got me as a customer for the Fablet for sure. Let’s just make sure it does not become “just another tablet”.
;)Lars
Sounds like a cool project - I’m in…..
I say just call it “The Crunch Tablet” or maybe just “The Crunch”
This is a really interesting idea. I would be happy to do whatever I can to help on the business and marketing side of the process.
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Count me in. I can help design friendly UI’s and point users in the right direction about using this sort of device to it’s full potential (i.e. WebOS’s). I can help with documentation and I have some contact with Mozilla (the chief evangelist). I have tons of time available. We should start up a site where users can log in to forums and have sort of a social network for these. I am a fairly good PHP programmer (with MySQL) and can help in that area.
I’ll buy one. All I ask is for some decent offline functionality since I rarely have wireless acess. Just something like wordpad, maybe a spreadsheet, maybe a painting program with a pen.
I literally had a dream about this kind of product about 2 months ago, and ever since I’ve been trying my hardest to bring it to life somehow. Then I stumbled upon your post re: the web tablet project, and I’ve decided that my dream must have been some kind of omen. So I am offering you any help WHATSOEVER you may need. I noticed you mentioned a marketing document, and I would be more than happy to at least provide help in marketing the device when it comes time. I am also currently a law student in Calgary, if that helps, with some background in programming.
A pipe dream…. mark my words.. you need people who are in the business…. I have always been fascinated by people who have no clue about anything, from a totally different field who wake up and feel they just had gods greated idea the planet has ever seen…
Do yourself a favor and talk to some product designers at some of the it companies… then you’d burry your little project immediately…
i don’t get it, why do you need MULTI-touch exactly? Multi-touch is used in iPhone and elsewhere to scroll pictures, resize widows etc… but here, since you’ll have the browser always in full-screen, what’s the point? Multi-touch LCD is much more expensive, so what not keeping cost as low as possible? I mean, if it cost 159 dollars instead of $199, that’s always better, right?
I love the idea, I’m in. Both as a software dev, and a consumer. But let’s also think about how get the iphone’s SDK is, dont we want some of that ability in this device? webcam, multi touch tablet, I see a lot of great 3rd party apps / games. beyond firefox and skype.
@173 (NoBS)
We’re in the business and we just pitched in. Pay attention :D
I’m in for whatever is needed. Marketing/business guy with code cleanup skills.
what you guys are dreaming about needs horsepower… and horsepower costs money… also other fancy things like long battery life, touchsceen, thin design etc. etc. all costs money…..
This device already exists, has passed EMC and is ready for production. Its builder is John Nicholls, of ThinLinx.com, in Brisbane, Australia. If John were provided with the money to take it into production we would see it in 90 days.
I’m offering up Deep Focus’ agency expertise in marketing this puppy (creative, media, PR) in exchange for points off the gross. Seriously.
As a software developer, I am very interested in this project.
Please include bluetooth. Then you can pair it with a keyboard+mouse for “real” input, without having to futz with cables when you want to walk off with it. This makes it easy to use with other devices too (headphones, hands-free devices) without futzing with cables.
hi
thatz an awesome idea :) how can i be a part of it?
I’d love to contribute if it could help make this a reality any sooner. Great goal! I hope you are successful.
The product is cool, but the process behind creating it is revolutionary! The offering up of readers’ resources to complete this project is simply amazing.
Please keep me updated.
Count me in for interface/usability testing and whatever else I can contribute. I’m not a programmer but I do have a technical background.
Me in. Details ?
Looks like I showed up to the party a bit late… I’m definitely interested though.
Like 161 said, the CherryPal model is a good one to use as an example.
Dabble in usability and also a bit of design as well. Would be interested in possibly setting up online apps for the tablet as well. Could we have an open sourced set of online apps for use with the tablet, instead of the proprietary google/Yahoo/Microsoft docs/mail.
Mj
[...] they’re not satisfied just talking about tech - now they want to create it. They have visions to create a very lightweight tablet PC running pretty much as a web [...]
count me in!!!