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We Want A Dead Simple Web Tablet. Help Us Build It.

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Re: We Want A Dead Simple Web Tablet. Help Us Build It.

#51
post #10

He really is just describing a Nokia N810 tablet. When a reader suggested that, Arrington replied: "yes, although we want to build it a lot cheaper and have a much bigger screen." So, he expects to replicate the N810, but with a bigger screen and better price? How is he going to beat Nokia and still make a profit?

nothing to do with profit - they will retail at cost. it will be cheaper than the Nokia because of what the device doesn't have in it (eg. bluetooth, GPS, being browser only etc.)

and the firefox default homepage is techcrunch.com and yes, you cannot change it according to the EULA..

now you see it.. ah...

Re: We Want A Dead Simple Web Tablet. Help Us Build It.

#52

Earlier quoted context omitted.

nothing to do with profit - they will retail at cost. it will be cheaper than the Nokia because of what the device doesn't have in it (eg. bluetooth, GPS, being browser only etc.)

and the firefox default homepage is techcrunch.com and yes, you cannot change it according to the EULA.. now you see it.. ah...

you can finish my sentences with whatever you want for however long you want. the conclusion is that no matter what anybody does there will always be people like you who find it easier to troll

Re: We Want A Dead Simple Web Tablet. Help Us Build It.

#53
post #49

Earlier quoted context omitted.

the price point we are at in our spec already is at $150 so we have left $50 or more to add cooler shit

Where are you getting the screen?

our supply chain guys sourced it - we haven't set yet if we are going LCD or exact specific specs (we need to run power tests). the dual touch pad sitting behind it is coming out of a company that hasn't seen their tech integrated into a major product yet.

im sorry we cant mention company names just yet - we are doing this through proxy (ie. using a supply chain company, design firm and manufacturer). I am hoping I can publish the full tech details at some point in the next 24h and we can go from there

Re: We Want A Dead Simple Web Tablet. Help Us Build It.

#55
This is asking for speculative work on an awe-inspiring scale, and I find it brazenness to be a bit hard to swallow. Arrington wants other people to build something he wants, and will not pay them for it. Instead, he is offering a promise to eventually open source the design specs.

Regardless of whether or not this project ever amounts to anything, and I don't believe it will without an individual at the epicenter with the talent and taste to make final decisions on all details, this is a scam for those who are contributing to it. I hate spec work posing itself as generosity, and the humanitarian effort this most closely resembles is King Leopold in the Congo.

Re: We Want A Dead Simple Web Tablet. Help Us Build It.

#56
post #49

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Where are you getting the screen?

our supply chain guys sourced it - we haven't set yet if we are going LCD or exact specific specs (we need to run power tests). the dual touch pad sitting behind it is coming out of a company that hasn't seen their tech integrated into a major product yet. im sorry we cant mention company names just yet - we are doing this through proxy (ie. using a supply chain company, design firm and manufacturer). I am hoping I c…

It always seems like it works out this way. Secret sources to be named "soon". Untested near-products that aren't quite ready for release...

Lets do it with stuff we can get and see what happens:

Main Board: (truly open, schematics and all) : http://beagleboard.org/ ($149)

Screen : Lilliput 8" 1024x768 touch screen (http://www.case-mod.com/lilliput-809gl80npct-lcd-touch-scree...) ($259)

Network : 802.11g wifi (http://www.usbgear.com/USB-Wi-Fi.html) ($30)

Battery: 7.4v LiIon 5200mAh (4 hours run) http://www.all-battery.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&#38... ($50)

Case: Injection Mold plastic (http://www.emachineshop.com/molding_machines/injection_moldi...) ($10)

Cost to build a single one, ignoring volume discounts and cost to assemble: $498. Being able to make one without a proxy (ie. using a supply chain company, design firm and manufacturer). : Priceless.

Re: We Want A Dead Simple Web Tablet. Help Us Build It.

#57

Earlier quoted context omitted.

our supply chain guys sourced it - we haven't set yet if we are going LCD or exact specific specs (we need to run power tests). the dual touch pad sitting behind it is coming out of a company that hasn't seen their tech integrated into a major product yet. im sorry we cant mention company names just yet - we are doing this through proxy (ie. using a supply chain company, design firm and manufacturer). I am hoping I c…

It always seems like it works out this way. Secret sources to be named "soon". Untested near-products that aren't quite ready for release... Lets do it with stuff we can get and see what happens: Main Board: (truly open, schematics and all) : http://beagleboard.org/ ($149) Screen : Lilliput 8" 1024x768 touch screen ( http://www.case-mod.com/lilliput-809gl80npct-lcd-touch-scree... ) ($259) Network : 802.11g wifi ( htt…

this is too slow, but it costs $6. http://www.embeddedarm.com/products/arm-sbc.php#ts-7800-seri...

What can you get for $50 worth of embedded mainboard?

Re: We Want A Dead Simple Web Tablet. Help Us Build It.

#58

Tell me if I'm wrong, but wouldn't the parts alone cost around $200. I am not saying that this is impossible, but reliable batteries alone have got to be pretty expensive.

the price point we are at in our spec already is at $150 so we have left $50 or more to add cooler shit

who are you?

Re: We Want A Dead Simple Web Tablet. Help Us Build It.

#59

Can someone point out a successful open source hardware effort? I'm tracking bug labs, open moko, and some router efforts. None are mainstream. None come close to the appeal of Apple products. Hardware is really hard. Most people reading TechCrunch probably don't understand this.

There are quite a few open source guitar effects pedals floating around...commercially successful? probably no.
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