TechCrunch founder Michael Arrington has been working on a tablet PC called the CrunchPad for the last few months. The idea was originally to create a touchscreen device that’s basically a portable web browser that offers a better web experience than you get from smartphones like the iPhone. With so many applications like email, news readers, and even image editors now available online, the idea was that there wasn’t much need for large hard drives or other old-school PC components.
Whether you think it makes any sense to release a product that will sell for the same price as a netbook but which will have a larger display and no keyboard, it looks like it’ll be available pretty soon. The San Francisco Business Times reports that Arrington has incorporated a new 14-person company called CrunchPad Inc to work on the product, which will be produced in China.
According to the article, Arrington is spending about three quarters of his time these days working on the CrunchPad. He also happens to have a 21 person team of full time employees working on his network of technology blogs.
A Crunchpad prototype is already online for purchase now from a Shanzhai company with pricing for various volumes. Interesting to see the China affect on a product supposedly still a prototype!
You can see the details here:
https://www.shanzai.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=19:crunchpad-to-go-shanzhai-first&catid=3:notebooks&Itemid=5
Buying will depend on price and a few others things but if it costs:
$300?
Not so sure.
$200ish?
Probably would instead of a second netbook.
If ARM based ones come out in 200$ range?
No.
I like the idea but id really have to try one and figure out if it suited my netbook using needs. I carry mine in a neoprene sleeve and am pretty rough with it. Not sure Id do the same thing with an unprotected screen.
All I know is that I dont want to experience the mobile web on the small screens of smartphones for more than a few minutes at a time and a 12 inch screen for surfing while on the can very interesting.
If they add a Pixel Qi e-reader-ish screen then they will sell millions of units!
If they add a Pixel Qi e-reader-ish screen then they will sell millions of units!
If they add a Pixel Qi e-reader-ish screen then they will sell millions of units!
Good News, i like the Idea and have a lot of Ideas what i can do with such devices. Hope to see it soon.