WePad Tablet Will Use Linux To Rival the iPad

cypherdtraitor writes with news of an iPad rival being prepped in Germany for a June launch. "A German company, Neofonie GmbH, has set out to provide an alternative to the iPad, according to Neofonie's founder, Helmut Hoffer von Ankershoffen. The WePad will boast a Linux-based OS, USB ports, webcam, and Wi-Fi, as well as other features. The 16GB edition will cost €449 ($610), and the 32GB €569 ($773). A more expensive model will include a 3G modem. This PDF compares WePad specs with the iPad. There are also hints of cheap, available software. For example, OpenOffice.org will be the primary office suite, and you may use 'any application that pleases you' to play music and video, a clear edge over Apple's limitation to iTunes." The WePad will also run Flash.

Comments

Less space than a nomad...

[Duradin]

Specs aren't what will make a device sell well with non-geeks (of which there are more of than geeks).

Re:Give me ARM, please

[jedidiah]

> If you're running Linux, you're sticking with legacy x86 architecture.

How can you even be on Slashdot and post something that ignorant?

Not clones, just timing.

[pavon]

There were a ton of tablet prototypes shown at CES this year, months before the iPad was announced. Everyone and their mother independently came to the conclusion that tablets were going to be the next big thing after the success of netbooks.

Re:Much faster clone time

[slart42]

Obviously competitors have realized that it's worth it to come out with clone or me-too products much faster than they did in the past with the iPhone. This suggests to me that they'll be at least somewhat more successful than before in taking market share from apple.

Just that the makers of the WePad don't actually seem to be as far as they claim to be. I know someone who was at the press conference were they showed the product yesterday. He said that current versions run windows, not Linux, the touch screen didn't work on the "show" device, and it had a fan which was running all the time. In it's current state it would not have a chance to compete well with the iPad (and I personally doubt it ever will).

That's not why.

[Civil_Disobedient]

everyone puts up with it because of it's ubiquity

No, everyone puts up with it because:

1. Unlike everything else on the web, It Works.
2. Define works? Sure, no problem. It handles:
   • Vector animation
   • MP3 support
   • MP4 support
   • TrueType fonts

   ...all out-of-the box.

3. Define works, in developer terms? Sure!
   • You don't have to fix cross-browser issues. It is truly write-once, play-anywhere
   • If you know JavaScript, you know ActionScript

As of 2010, these bullet points have all been true for nearly fifteen years. Meanwhile, HTML5 will still be playing second-fiddle even when the language is completely formalized (no fonts, MP4 is questionable, MP3 is questionable, and you'll still have to test twenty different versions and have plenty of hacks up your sleeve to get everything to look correct across all platforms & browsers).

Re:Much faster clone time

[VValdo]

The WePad thinks it can compete with the iPad with hardware features but will run Linux... which is a server or desktop OS. Apple didn't use their desktop version of Mac OS X on the iPhone, the iPod touch and the iPad for a good reason: portable, touch devices need customized interfaces otherwise it just sucks.

The WePad will use a "Linux-based" OS, namely Android, which has an interface perfect for a tablet.

W