Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Cheap Linux Tablets, And (Maybe) An Apple Tablet

Posted by timothy on from the truth-and-speculation-obscure-each-other dept.

penguinrenegade writes "Element Computer has come out with the first sub-$1000 Tablet, and it doesn't come with Windows. It's not running a stripped OS like Windows CE, but a full-fledged copy of Lycoris Desktop/LX. This company seems to really have it in for Microsoft, with a 'No Windows' policy. Good to see someone finally standing up against paying the Microsoft tax. Maybe now we'll start seeing Linux only OEMs and resellers." Also on the tablet computer front, SeanAhern points out Cringely's latest Robert X. Cringely column, in which Cringley makes the case that Apple is readying a tablet computer for market, and "suggests that 'until next year, the parts won't have been there to make tablet PCs successful. What's missing has been the killer app, and what kept a killer app from appearing was a lack of hardware support, which I believe will be over soon,'" writing "He's got some interesting ideas about where Jobs might go with his Digital Hub idea." (This is an Antaur-based machine, not the Toshiba tablet mentioned in October.)

13 of 351 comments (clear)

  1. Apple != Tablet by OmniVector · · Score: 3, Funny

    According to Steve Jobs himself I don't think we can expect to see a tablet from apple at all. It's a niche product in a niche computer field.

    --
    - tristan
    1. Re:Apple != Tablet by sysopd · · Score: 5, Funny

      then how do you explain this pic I have of the new prototype?

  2. typo alert! by knowles420 · · Score: 5, Funny

    this:

    OS like Windows CE

    should read:

    OS-like Windows CE

    --
    -knowles
  3. Not quite there yet by product+byproduct · · Score: 4, Funny

    Tablet computers hold great promise, especially for medical applications. But the current models are still way too large to swallow.

    1. Re:Not quite there yet by sharkey · · Score: 2, Funny

      Of course, you know where the medical profession sticks things that are too large to swallow.

      --

      --
      "Outlook not so good." That magic 8-ball knows everything! I'll ask about Exchange Server next.
  4. some whois info by olddoc · · Score: 4, Funny

    whois elementcomputer.com:
    "Domain name: ELEMENTCOMPUTER.COM
    Administrative Contact:
    Hjorleifsson, Mike mikeh@dtev.com"
    OK, lets look here:
    http://www.dtev.com
    They are a bunch of Linux consultants.

    Dtev.com Isn't slashdotted yet!

    --
    Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.
  5. I heard of a company like that by gmhowell · · Score: 2, Funny

    I heard of a company that made decent hardware, but Linux only. I think their name was VA something or other. Ever heard of them?

    --
    Jesus was all right but his disciples were thick and ordinary. -John Lennon
  6. Re:Robert X. Cringely by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    How does someone who can use a spell checker fit in at /.?

  7. Re:a BOLD prediction by veddermatic · · Score: 2, Funny

    OMFG!! You are so right! BMW only has a 2% market share in the automotive market, so obviously their cars suck. Try again.

    --
    Department of Homeland Security: Removing the rights real patriots fought and died for since 2001
  8. Obligatory Simpsons Ref (Was: Inkwell == Rosetta) by IncredibleCrisis · · Score: 3, Funny

    Nelson: Jimbo, take a memo on your Newton, beat up Martin.
    Jimbo: [Writes "Beat up Martin"; Newton "recognizes."] "Eat up Martha"? Bah! [Throws at Martin's head.]

  9. Re:Robert X. Cringely by Teflik · · Score: 3, Funny
    He can throw together a summary of what he's read elsewhere,
    Yeah. kinda like a historian.
    add in some predictions
    kinda like an analyst...
  10. In other news... by PCM2 · · Score: 4, Funny

    According to Microsoft's Steve Ballmer:

    "There are no plans to stop pushing tablets. When Microsoft first started out, people didn't want tablets. We realized: Death would eventually take care of this."

    --
    Breakfast served all day!
  11. Spatially Challenged ?? by Macka · · Score: 2, Funny

    ... Understand that 802.15.3 is a high data rate Personal Area Network with a range of about 10 meters ... ... Watch TV in your bathroom, access your audio and video collection from anywhere in the house ...
    Mr Cringely must live in a very small house !!

    Macka