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Update On The TechCrunch Tablet: Prototype A

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Re: Update On The TechCrunch Tablet: Prototype A

#41

Post by [deleted] »

cubrilovic wrote: post #32
gstar wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The screen? It's Arrington's old macbook air screen. http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/08/19/apple-is-flailing-badly... Quote: "That $1,800 piece of hardware has now been dismantled for parts for a project we’re working on here."

I built the prototype. I was going to afford you a response to your first comment, but you have just been ranting. You can't even recognize the difference between a 13" Macbook Air screen and the 12" WXGA screen we used. the guy above who talked about not disclosing components as a negotiating strategy with ODM's knows what he is talking about. He is also right in that there are a few people here in the valley who re…

[deleted]

Re: Update On The TechCrunch Tablet: Prototype A

#42

Post by netcan »

orib wrote: post #39
netcan wrote: post #38

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I love that recipes is always used as a way of explaining how useful consumer technology is. I think Apple Lisa had an ad with a women using it in the kitchen. You'd think that recipes present our biggest problem needing a technological fix. BTW: I agree that if it's cheap, easy & nice, there'll be all sort of uses for it.

I think this H316 tops that quite nicely: http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=927 Not only does it store recipes, it has an integrated cutting board!

Well well. So now I know.

We've come a long way. From $10.6k, 70kg recipe computer with an integrated cutting board, to a $200, 0.5 kg recipe computer with touch screen.

The start-up that finally cracks this recipe problem will really make it.

Re: Update On The TechCrunch Tablet: Prototype A

#43

Post by dcurtis »

gstar wrote: post #36
sutro wrote: post #33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Ever hear of a project called the Apple II that a "barefoot nerd" named Steve Wozniak cooked up in his apartment on down time from his HP day job? The customers and shareholders of Apple Computer are all grateful that he didn't share your belief that "no matter how good the EE, you can't do that stuff at a messy kitchen table - you need serious resources."

Yeah, I have actually. That was 32 years ago, when you could etch boards at home and mount thru-hole DIP components in your shed. No idea if Woz etched the boards himself, but ferric chloride was always cheaper than LSD. Sorry, but computers in 2008 are significantly more challenging to produce from scratch. My assumptions when I made my assertion that this isn't something that can be done at a kitchen table: - A des…

I have a feeling Intel would give TechCrunch the Atom processor for a ridiculous discount, just for the publicity and the proof that embedded processors can have a market.

Re: Update On The TechCrunch Tablet: Prototype A

#44

Post by gstar »

dcurtis wrote: post #43
gstar wrote: post #36

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yeah, I have actually. That was 32 years ago, when you could etch boards at home and mount thru-hole DIP components in your shed. No idea if Woz etched the boards himself, but ferric chloride was always cheaper than LSD. Sorry, but computers in 2008 are significantly more challenging to produce from scratch. My assumptions when I made my assertion that this isn't something that can be done at a kitchen table: - A des…

I have a feeling Intel would give TechCrunch the Atom processor for a ridiculous discount, just for the publicity and the proof that embedded processors can have a market.

Possibly - but I think you're overestimating the reach that techcrunch has (even within the technical sphere), and the need for publicity that Intel has.

Moreover, even if TC sold one of these to every reader and two of their friends, that's still a tiny volume in the PC market. They just couldn't possibly have the supply chain sorted out to be able to move the sort of volume that Intel would need for a good discount. Sure, they might get it stocked at Newegg, but even organic demand for a product like this doesn't generate sales. Ask Nicholas Negroponte - another greek guy!

Anyway, I think the Atom's brand recognition is probably quite good, with a sticker on every eeepc or MSI wind that's out there.

Re: Update On The TechCrunch Tablet: Prototype A

#45

Post by david927 »

tsuraan wrote: post #28
axod wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You can already pick up eee's and copies for $200 or so... I'm not sure where the market is for a tablet like this personally. It's less useful than an iphone (not portable), and less useful than a laptop (No keyboard).

And yet, this is exactly what I've been looking for for the past year or so. Not every computer needs to be a content creation device; I want a computer for my kitchen that's used for retrieving recipes. I can make the software to store and present the recipies, but I can't find a keyboard-free tablet (basically a 10" nokia 770) that would be useful for displaying the recipies in my kitchen, mounted on the wall. One…

I feel the same way. I've been looking for exactly this for a while now. I want one for my 3-year-old's room and I'll program some kids games and set it up to go to various kids sites.

I think this could be the computer equivalent of the Flip Video. Simply & obvious.

Re: Update On The TechCrunch Tablet: Prototype A

#46

Post by MaysonL »

netcan wrote: post #40
ryanwaggoner wrote: post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A keyboard for this kind of device would be stupid. If that's what you're after, just get an Eee. And browsing the web without a touchscreen or some kind of pointing device would be a horrible experience. They've got the concept nailed for the most part...now the challenging is building it for that price.

Agreed. This is not a laptop. It needs to be a distinct creature. If this takes off it can have some sort of keyboard down the track. But only after the users figure out what it's for. And the keyboard is probably not central to that.

a virtual keyboard should work for most surfing...
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