Digital Home Thoughts - News & Reviews for the Digital Home

"The idea is to get a new type of device into people’s hands for as cheap as possible (we were aiming for $200, it looks like $299 is more realistic). It fits perfectly on your lap while you are sitting in front of the TV, so you can look up stuff on Wikipedia or IMDB as you channel surf. It plays Flash video flawlessly so you can watch movies and TV shows on Hulu or Joost or wherever. Or listen to music on MySpace Music. Or use TokBox to have a video chat with your parents. Then check email and call it a day. Facebook, MySpace, YouTube, Hulu, Wikipedia, Google Docs and Gmail are the killer apps for this device."

It has been a long time since TechCrunch's last update to their tablet project that some thought it might never see the light of day. Apparently, the CrunchPad is alive and well, and looking better than its predecessor. It still appears to fulfill most of its original intent, which is to provide a day long tablet for browsing. I was not surprised, but disappointed to them change the estimated price from $200 to $299. The update also doesn't mention anything about an estimated battery life. They're currently using Ubuntu as their OS, but short of licensing fees, I'm surprised they are not trying to use something like SplashTop, which would suit the CrunchPad perfectly. I have to say that I am disappointed with what they have come up with so far, but then again, I was quite sure that their goals as a whole were just is not practical with current day technology. Is there someone out there who is enamoured with the CrunchPad? Please tell me why this is more compelling than a netbook, Audrey or even a used tablet pc?

"A typical Netbook has a 7 inch screen, an Intel Atom or Via Nano processor, a solid state (flash) hard drive and a keyboard that’s 80-85% standard size. Most have Wifi. Some have other bells and whistles like bluetooth, a camera, etc. I find Netbooks unusable for three reasons: they’re underpowered as PCs, the screen is too small for web surfing, and the keyboard is so small that effective typing is impossible. The basic problem as I see it: Netbooks are designed to appeal to two very different markets - the price sensitive and the size sensitive. The two are really mutually exclusive."

Michael Arrington has posted a scathing article on Netbooks, describing them as a inadequate for the markets it is targeted for and even takes the opportunity to plug his concept tablet. I have to disgree, as I see Netbooks happily serving many customers. On paper Netbooks definately do not impress, but their purpose is to serve as a lightweight, mobile companion. I think Arrington has fallen into the same trap that many others do in seeing a Netbook that is the same form factor as a notebook, his expectation is that it is a notebook. Netbooks fill a much different need, with customers, not techies, who just want to be able to access the Internet to check their email, IM their buddies, and twitter a bit. Netbooks are capable of a bit more, of course, but even in only serving that much, they probably fit 80-90% of what a customer needs. Does Arrington have a point? Sure. But I think he's only highlighting that Netbooks have a limited use for someone into tech. Tell me there's at least one person other than myself that have welcomed Netbooks with open arms.