Here Come the Linux iPad Clones

CWmike writes "You can now pre-order an Apple iPad; but do you really want to, asks Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols. 'I mean, I get why you'd want an iPad. I'd like one too,' he writes. 'But,' he says, 'when I consider that there are soon going to be literally dozens of cheaper, Linux-powered iPad devices on the market, I find it a lot easier to resist putting $499 on my credit card. On top of that, Apple will be including DRM on some eBooks and other iPad content. I really, really hate DRM. All that said, I agree the iPad is really cool. I predict with absolute faith that the iPad and its clones are going to kill off single purpose devices like dedicated eReaders such as Amazon's Kindle and GPS devices within the next three years. How can it not work out this way? For the same price as a high-end dedicated device you can get a tablet that will do everything they can do and far more. But, and this is the important bit, you don't have to buy an Apple iPad to get all of the iPad's goodies. ARM, a mobile microprocessor power, is predicting that we'll see no less than 50 ARM-processor-powered iPad clones by year's end. And, what will they be running? These ARM-powered entertainment tablets will all be running Linux.'"

Comments

Linux may rule this space quickly...

[xeno]

...because it already has a lot of presence. It's not like we're going to be seeing a lot of clunky nerd-only devices in this space, not after years of trial-error-improvement cycles from major device mfrs (HP, IBM, Sharp, etc etc). And it's a natural evolution from the Kindle, Zaurus, your cable box and routers, etc etc and all those doodads that already run Linux behind the scenes. Admittedly, I'm overly impressed with the Nokia N900 -- particularly because of the Debian connection. The N900 is already a small multifunction tablet with gobs of power, memory, and near-laptop-function in a cellphone. If I could have it larger form with a BT headset, I'd buy it in a heartbeat. It's *exactly* the use case scenarios that Apple has in mind for the iPad, but linux takes away the artificial functional limitations.

Add onto that the idea that I could load any of the thousands of linux apps in deb format. Add to that the momentum from Ubuntu and its ilk, and recent news about consolidation of efforts between players such as Nokia & Intel (Moblin & Maemo). And add to that the subtle threshold that Linux has crossed in terms of ease of use. To wit: Adding software? Permissions are managed far less obtrusively than Win7. Connecting a camera & syncing photos? The experience is eerily OSX-like. Using a audio/video player? Eerily Apple-like, but without the DRM bullsh!t. Adding a scanner to Linux is now a no-click experience (Xsane figures out what drivers/interfaces you need and configures anything available automagically). OOo 3.2 is feature-competitive with Office 2007 (with the exception of the playskool ribbon). Linux has been more flexible & stable for the better part of a decade, and is now easier to use than Win7 or even Apple in many, possibly most, instances. With the cost savings, why in the heck would designers NOT move to Linux?