Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

TechCrunch Wants To Create an Open Source Tablet

Posted by Soulskill on from the i-prefer-gelcaps dept.

RKo618 writes "TechCrunch announced that they are planning to design their own $200 web tablet device. Quoting: 'The idea is to turn it on, bypass any desktop interface, and go directly to Firefox running in a modified Kiosk mode that effectively turns the browser into the operating system for the device. Add Gears for offline syncing of Google docs, email, etc., and Skype for communication and you have a machine that will be almost as useful as a desktop but cheaper and more portable than any laptop or tablet PC.' The aim is for the tablet to run on modified open source software, which will be released back to the community along with the specifications for the hardware."

5 of 160 comments (clear)

  1. Kinda like the N800? by DingerX · · Score: 4, Informative

    I mean, those specs pretty much match a Nokia N800 with a pair of 2 GB SD cards and running OS 2008. Heck, they even got the Linux part.

    Okay, you can upgun to an Arm11, put in a bigger battery, and make the touch screen multitouch, but the device proposed is not something entirely new.

    It is, however, something eminently useful on a daily basis.

  2. Skype isn't Open Source by MichaelCrawford · · Score: 4, Informative

    They could use Jabber for instant messaging, and Asterix for voice communications.

    --
    Request your free CD of my piano music.
  3. Already have one by yelvington · · Score: 4, Informative

    Linux kernel ... check.
    Touchscreen interface ... check.
    Firefox ... Gecko-based browser, so check.
    Skype ... check. Also all the other IM protocols.
    Wifi ... check. Also Bluetooth to my EDGE phone.
    Headphones, mike, camera ... check.
    Google Gears ... still waiting. But I have abiword.
    About $100 over the target price, but not bad.
    http://www.nseries.com/products/n800/#l=products,n800

    I'd like a bigger touchscreen, but then it wouldn't fit in my pocket.

  4. Pepper tried this by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Informative

    Pepper Computer already tried this, and they failed. It turns out that producing a device that can sell for $200 is quite difficult.

    It also turns out that people aren't willing to spend $N for a limited-functionality device when they're able to get a full-featured laptop for $N, or even $N+100

    I wish TechCrunch luck!

  5. Re:Hopefully they will get it right. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

    > I love my N770 except for battery life. I wish these things could go at least 3 days between charges

    My N800 can go 6 days without a problem. Maybe they improved the power management on subsequent models? Also, be sure you aren't running background tasks that use the CPU - that will suck down battery life quickly. Even browser javascript stuff can do that.

    If nothing else, you could upgrade - N800's are cheap now that the N810's are out.