The next inexpensive, Linux-friendly device from Pine64 is coming soon.
The company already sells a $100 PineBook laptop and a $200 PineBook Pro. Early batches of the $150 PinePhone are available for customers willing to invest in beta hardware. And now Pine64 says it’ll begin taking pre-orders for its $100 PineTab Linux tablet later this month.
Update 6/10/2020: The PineTab is now available for pre-order from the Pine64 Store, and the tablet should begin shipping in late July 2020.Â
Pine64 announced plans to build an inexpensive Linux tablet in early 2019. But the PineTab project was delayed so the company could prioritize its laptops and smartphone… and then delayed again due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on factories in China.
Now that manufacturing is ramping up again, Pine64 says it’ll begin taking pre-orders soon.
It’s worth noting that customers who want to get in on the early batch will essentially be buying beta hardware. So if you want to make sure you get the most bang for your buck, you might want to wait for a later batch. But did I mention that it’s a Linux tablet that will cost just $100?
Here’s an overview of the hardware:
| Display | 10 inch, 1280 x 720 pixel IPS LCD |
| CPU | Allwinnner A64 quad-core |
| GPU | Mali-400 MP2 |
| RAM | 2GB |
| Storage | 64GB eMMC + microSD (bootable) + optional M.2 SSD adapter |
| Ports | USB 2.0 Type-A, Micro USB 2.0 OTG, digital video out |
| Battery | 6,000 mAh |
The tablet is also designed to work with an optional $20 keyboard case that attaches magnetically and features backlit keys.
And that optional M.2 SSD adapter board is just one of several optional add-on modules that Pine64 plans to offer. The company is working on:
- M.2 SATA SSD board
- M.2 LTE and GPS board
- LoRA module board
- RTL-SDR module board
You’ll only be able to use one of these adapters at a time, and you’ll have to open the case to install one. But it should be pretty easy do that, since Pine64 says you can open the case by removing a single screw holding the back cover in place.
In fact, you can install a board with multiple components (storage and LTE, for example), but the company says you’ll only be able to use one at a time.
When it comes to software, the PineTab should be able to run just about any operating system that works with the PinePhone, since the two devices have similar hardware. At launch, Pine64 says it’ll ship the tablet with the Ubuntu Touch operating system developed by UBPorts, since it can automatically switch between a touch-friendly tablet user interface and a laptop/desktop-style US when a keyboard is attached or disconnected. But the tablet should also be able to support other operating systems.
Speaking of PinePhone software, you can read more about the latest developments on that front in Pine64’s May update. Among other things, developers have been working on a multi-boot solution that would allow you to load several operating systems and choose between them at startup, and you can now make phone calls when running Sailfish OS or Nemo Mobile.
Pine64 has also announced that it will be adding support for Qi wireless charging soon, through an optional add-on kit that should ship this summer.
Other highlights from the Pine64 May update include:
- Pine64 is considering releasing a 5,000 mAh battery case for the PinePhone to help extend its run time.
- The PineBook Pro now supports Debian Linux.
- A PineBook Pro USB-C docking station with 3 x USB 3.0 Type-A ports, Gigabit Ethernet, digital video and VGA output, and SD and microSD card slots is on the way.
- The original $100 PineBook 11.6 inch laptop will be available for purchase again soon, although it will have a refreshed design and ship with Manjaro Linux and the XFCE desktop environment.
- The UBPorts Community Edition PinePhone should begin shipping after May 26, and the PineBook Pro with Manjaro Linux should start shipping May 22.
hey, potentially stupid question regarding the LTE board (on the Pinetab): does LTE board mean I can put a SIM card in and use the tab for phone calls? Thanks for clarification!
there is a large battery for your phone and maybe a tablet.
Imagine. Tablet for a whole weekend to watch movies and encode on one charge.
A tablet with RTL SDR or LoRa sounds potentially interesting as a tablet that doesn’t need the internet to communicate (although personally I’d prefer to see those capabilities on something more portable, like the phone).
ESPECIALLY NOW THAT SENATE JUST LET THE FBI ACCESS EVERYONE’S BROWSING HISTORY WITHOUT A WARRANT.
That’s terrible news, and feels a tad like conspiracy as this was the worst/opportune time to implement something considering the lockdown laws/social distancing and the financial recession/trade war.
I think Trust is an important element, much more than Respect.
The Government is in charge of mandating the rules and laws, it should Trust that its citizens are good people. If and when that trust is broken by enough people or group of people, that is when the laws and enforcement of those policies should be heightened for the thing of matter.
If the government treats its citizens as rouge terrorists, they might make it a self-fulfilling prophecy. In many Northern/Scandinavian systems, they adopt the aforementioned principle and it has led to them being more prosperous and happy (not to mention also quite efficient and green).
Marx (or Lenin?) said “Trust is Good, but Control is Better”. I think a more accurate picture is that “Control is Good, but Trust is Cheaper”.
I cant verify Marx or Lenin said anything cuz i didnt hear it. In fact I cant even verify such people ever existed. Only experience is my verifier. Not that non-verification equates to falsehood, but it still is personally unverified. I’m sure that goes for many folks as well.
I think people just want to play with stuff. Gain experience. If toys always remain out of reach, then nobody knows wth they are, other than rumor.