TechCrunch Tablet Update: Prototype B
techcrunch.com
techcrunch.com
Yes, it is that innovative. It's awesome.
edit: Why don't you apply to YC with this idea if you can execute it :P
Here you'd need to figure out how to build it, then find a factory to build it, then figure out how to sell it to retailers, then figure out shipping etc etc
I didn't expect that, it certainly deserves some respect.
1. Build a blog, get large readership, convince them you're *awesome*!
2. Release reasonable product
3. Sell to blog readershipI was thinking about the same thing when reading the comments on TechCrunch: there is a big following that would buy it in big part because it's from TechCrunch. Or let's say that, in all these cases, the blogs are used as a great advertising platform.
You can't blame them, building a following is hard work too.
Through is blog/twitter he's managed to associate himself with all things "geek" and found an audience who will buy his work.
It's an entirely different ballgame to put a prototype into production.
Someone has to print out boards, solder stuff on the boards, burn an OS on a drive, order parts from suppliers, and have a rigerous testing program.
Then you need to package up these puppies in pretty boxes and get them shipped out.
Oh, don't forget a crew of folks to man phones and deal with new orders and support issues. Don't forget the salespeople you'll need to get these into the hands of big suppliers.
Prototypes ain't hard. (More accurately: they tend to be inexpensive and you can fit everything you need into your two-car garage.) It's the business model that wraps around it that gets expensive and time-consuming.
Best of luck though to the crew. I like to see new competitors. It pushes everyone's game up.
Documentation has to be written. Then there are legal fees, and perhaps an entire permanent legal department. Regulatory fees must be paid. Taxes must be paid. Tooling costs. Electricity costs. Insurance costs. Advertising costs.
What they need to do to make this work is:
1. Drop all the border around the touchscreen. Make the screen almost flush with the plastic around it
2. Use metal for the edges - like the macbook pro. Pay extreme attention to the external aesthetics
3. Make it smaller. One should be able to hold it comfortably with one hand and type with the other
4. Increase the size of the on-screen keyboard
3) If you read the article, it will be probably half as thick the final product - this is just a prototype which they left lots of room in it.
With the being flat on a table thing, what about the addition of foldable clips that would put it on an angle (like underneath your keyboard) - that would fix that problem.
For instance, if someone takes out both viewing angle clips, chances are it's sitting on a tabletop, so the screen could adjust accordingly so people aren't having to crane their necks to view the text accordingly.
Might be nice to mount on the wall though, for example in the kitchen so you can look up recipes while you cook.
Touch screens are intuitive for people who don't have a good grasp of technology, and combined with a decent homepage (perhaps a dumbed down google IG with large bookmark icons) she would get everything she needs.
Quite simply, it could be a great entry level product and useful for others who just want to check emails or other stuff while doing other stuff.
What would be great is if this was semi waterproof aswell with a stand for inclination - would be great to use in the kitchen while cooking.
Realistically, though, why would anyone bother to plug a keyboard into this thing? Why wouldn't you just use your laptop or desktop?
On the other hand, I would be a little surprised if the final version did have VGA out.
The MacBook Air can't even play HD video without stuttering. How does your Eee hold up?
</pedantic>
I guess he never looks his Activity Monitor / Task Manager
The article also says, "The software: currently we’re running a full install of Ubuntu Linux on the prototype with a custom Webkit browser." Sounds as though they are needlessly limiting themselves in the marketing spiel.
Hell you can see that it's a great name, because in the comments half the people are already calling it a Crunchpad.
I'm still rooting for the Picwing guys though.
What are some use cases?
Perhaps as an entry level product for people who don't know how to use a mouse but might want to use the internet.
A basis for some kind of learning device for younger kids (if they get it more robust that is).
I don't think it's a very good idea to use electronics while you're cooking. Getting grease on anything that can't be scrubbed under running water is very irritating. There's a more durable solution to this: paper. You don't have to worry about washing your hands before touching it and if you splatter food on it then it's disposable.
That said, I think the netbook works better than this tablet, it has a built-in stand and storage so I keep commonly used recipes on it. I have been baking quite a bit lately so recipes actually come in handy.