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.
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
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&... ($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.
What can you get for $50 worth of embedded mainboard?
"INTEGRATED TOUCHSCREENS
Touch should just be an incremental cost increase to the screen and embedded directly into it. Pixel Qi is working on low-cost approachs to integrated touch with a target of a $5 -$10 pricetag." (http://pixelqi.com/products)
Nik has been a contributor and advisor to Techcrunch since 2005. In 1998 Nik was a founding member of the 2600 chapter in Australia, and in 2005 was a founding member of 2web, a loose-knit group of Australian technology entrepreneurs. Nik has advised, or is a current advisor to a range of companies and startups based in both Australia and the USA."
-As per his bio