A little background for those of you who haven’t heard of the CrunchPad: This is the post that kicked off the project. I wanted something I couldn’t buy, and found people who said it could be built for a lot less than I imagined. The goal – a very thin and light touch screen computer, sans physical keyboard, that has no hard drive and boots directly to a browser to surf the web. The operating system exists solely to handle the hardware drivers and run the browser and associated applications. That’s it.
The key uses: Internet consumption. The virtual keyboard will make data entry a pain other than for entering credentials, quick searches and maybe light emails. This machine isn’t for data entry. But it is for reading emails and the news, watching videos on Hulu, YouTube, etc., listening to streaming music on MySpace Music and imeem, and doing video chat via tokbox. The hardware would consist of netbook appropriate chipsets (Intel Atom or Via Nano), at least a 12 inch screen, a camera for photos and video, speakers and a microphone. Add a single USB port, power in and sound out, and you’re done. If you want more features, this ain’t for you.
Price? it can be built for less than $250, including packaging. Add in fixed costs and other stuff you have to deal with (like returns), and you can sell it for $300 and probably not go out of business. Physical design is important, and the software is the key to winning.
We stumbled through an initial prototype that barely booted, but we finished it in a month. Prototype B was much more impressive and usable. That effort was led by Louis Monier, with software developed by Singapore-based Fusion Garage and industrial design work by by David Yarnell and Greg Lalier from Dynacept.
Anyway, we’ve continued to tinker with the project, which is referred to as Mike’s Science Project internally (or, “that thing”). But we certainly aren’t ready to talk about anything more at this point. But we did meet with Fusion Garage again today to test out the most recent prototype (B.5?). This is a significant step forward from Prototype B because the software stack is now entirely customized. The last version had a full install of Ubuntu Linux with a custom Webkit browser. This version has a bottom-up linux operating system and a new version of the browser. We also switched from Via to the Intel Atom chip. The total software footprint is around 100 MB total, which is a solid achievement. Also, this time the ID and hardware work was driven by Fusion Garage out of Singapore.
In fact, all the credit should go to Fusion Garage. But frankly we weren’t planning on talking about it at all, it just isn’t the right time yet. But, to make a long story short, someone accidentally published some photos we took to the web, they were seen and shortly were everywhere (see lots lots lots lots lots more). Even our own CrunchGear couldn’t resist.
Ok, so now that what’s done is done, where do things stand? Well, I’m not ready to say yet. But one thing I’ve learned about hardware in the last year is that you need partners to actually make things happen, and the credit for what we saw today goes entirely to the Fusion Garage team. Those guys are rock stars.
Here’s are pictures of the various prototypes in chronological order if you’re interested. The first was our initial conceptual drawing.
really nice gadget. great job.
how is this better than a Lenovo netbook ?
This is a genuine Arrington, that’s how.
hardware scroll wheel is a must, or even scroll line like laptops.
the price silly. this would be less then $300 with it all ready to go
Netbooks are less than $300 too
for Spanish I would try http://www.clasilistados.org
It’s only for Spanish speakers in the USA
WHEN IS THIS AVAILALE ? I AM INTERESTED IN LOOKING TO DISTRIBUTING THE PRODUCT AFTER CHECKS IN THE UAE MARKET
I’ll buy a couple if you build them Mike!
expect a positive review of your next project on TC
I want one, how do I order?
Oh, Robert. It’s hilarious that you say this, knowing the history of these pictures.
Great way to stir things in, heh.
Count me in for a couple too!
Me too! For distribution in Czech Republic and surrounding countries if you are interested
Mike, please tell me that’s a pink version I see. I mean, I see the outer packaging that’s pink. Can you confirm that there’s a pink one (or is it redish maroon. lighting. hard to tell)
I’m so excited! Great job. Seriously.
as you requested, it’s pink.
!!
Feel free to pick up your custom-built pink “thing” in Mike’s magic basement.
lawls!!!!
Awesome Mike, its awesome! Lawyer turned Tech Writer turned computing visonary! I love you… please add a low profile GPRS/EDGE/EVDO/CFDISK/RAM/GPS/Sensors expansion slot so that people could buy them to do more than what they bargained for.
Imagine with sensors(accelerometer,xyz axis data etc) one could play motion detecting java games, flip a page by flipping the device, with javascript api, Web pages could reveal hidden views by tilting the device (3d views etc)… with GPS know where I am, where the nearest coffee bar is. With GPRS/Edge/whatever module one could place cellular calls do skype over net.
And to make it all green, and making it a viable option for people during travel or in remote locations, please add an option to purchase a similarly designed solar panel that trickle charges the battery.
In any case have a expansion slot! You can add features later.
PS please do us the favour that we could install any linux distro of choice and that there is a good developer documentation.
Good luck!
check out http://www.linuxdevices.com/
What? No flux capacitor? I think you kinda missed the point of this whole thing….
KISS: Keep it simple, stupid. Mike, don’t listen to them and build a device does everything. MS would fear you.
If you could write on the screen (use it for note-taking – a second app, I suppose) and attach a keyboard+mouse via the USB port, I would buy one NOW. Is there a device like that?
sounds like a notepad computer http://tinyurl.com/obmnotepad <– that’s what I’m hoping someone builds
PINK! Wahoo. I so can’t wait to buy one of these babies.
Yep, I saw that pink box, too. I’m with you Christine. I want a pink one!
LOL..
This is all that I will need. Attach a blue tooth for phone calls via skype, and ill put this in my briefcase and discontinue my iphone.
Got to have one!
Sold.
wow, wow, wow….
i’m sure it will be very popular, every gadget addict will want one, and soon big companies will do their own version… so be quick to create your market
Does it run off AC power or battery? Possibility for 3G compatibility in the futre, assuming it only has wifi for now? I’d absolutely love to have one.
yes. think laptop without a keyboard and a touchscreen that only boots to a browser.
Have been looking for something like this for a while now. Bought an ipod touch just for this purpose… but I find it too small.
Looking forward to its release, 100% guaranteed to buy one! (provided international shipping to Australia is available
)
+1 on buying one in Australia
please please add explansion slot, usb and or sd card slot. please i am begging. let grandma be able to pop in a sd card and look at pictures of her grandkids for example…lol
Since the memory and OS footprint is aiming to be small and light, roll out a version (perhaps a bit more expensive, advanced version) that boots/runs directly/entirely on SSD/flash drive (or perhaps u are doing that already? If so, thumbs up!). Now, that may be much closer to instant-on/power-light, satisfying this browsing-anywhere-anytime experience even more (and that, Apple would be envious of xD).
Love the white one Mike. Sorry to hear someone spilled the beans early … and you are right Fusion Garage have done a great job – well done everyone
Now where can I buy one?
Great work Mike and team, will be waiting in line for mine…
PS don’t forget us on the other side of the pond!
PPS and try get a great cam and mic in there, quality of cam makes a HUGE difference to the video chat experience…
has camera and mic. see small holes on right side.
How about some specs, price and a ship date?
not ready. may never happen.
WTF?
may never happen wtf? work it out look at those padd things they would use on star trek next generation and make it so. i been waiting for that and flying cars all my life
Well done, Michael.
I am to assume a pre-order list might be a bit premature given the product’s ongoing development?
In any event, I’m looking forward to owning one of these.
Great job, guys! See? Dreams are never impossible. If you can dream it, you can achieve it. It’s sad that these leaks happen but, hey, that’s part of the business! I’ve been obsessing about this gadget ever since you first posted you wanted it (the original post you linked to) and I gotta say: Bravo Fusion Garage, Bravo!! It looks amazing!
Keep us updated whenever you feel you can, Michael!
Outstanding! It became a reality, finally. When You anticipate it will hit the stores?
no, its a prototype. not reality. just pretty case with cool computer and some slick software. 4 of them. not ready yet.
Yes, we can say it’s the alpha release
(from the drawing board to the prototype).
…
Now we are waiting for the beta release
Wish you success!
I love the whole idea that an empire built completely on the internet (techcrunch) is actually looking at ways to profit in the offline world. Even more so that even though there’s already a platform for distribution of your internet properties (pcs, laptops, phones), there still might be one more you could create for yourself…. (Does the browser auto load to techcrunch?)
It’s as if Apple really WAS a record label and created the iPod as another means of distribution – despite all the current ways to get music. Pretty cool… the bad news is, as others have said, those with deeper pockets and in house engineering teams could crank one out to retail before you could blink.
“those with deeper pockets and in house engineering teams could crank one out to retail before you could blink.”
yes, yes, yes. and then i’d buy one and post about how great it is! but the big guys won’t go big screen and they won’t give up the OS. our spies have seen what they’re doing, and it is a neutered version of this.
you should really market it as a StarTreck Datapad – licensing deal in order.
My wife would probably buy five on them (instead one) if it has the Starfleet symbol on the back.
http://www.yout...AD19EDB71010D47
\\//
You need better spies.
The pad is cute, but definately don’t blink. And hurry.
My guess is it never happens. Sorry.
I may have missed this, but is there at least a place to enter my contact info to be emailed when/if available?
If you read that, i can help you as i am based in China and singapore
Any chance I could buy one of the earlier prototypes off of you?
I second this, I’ve sure there would be a couple of us that would be willing be pay a couple of grand for stable prototypes. As its something totally cool to take to a client meeting and pass around designs on etc.
Common, be straight. You will put it on ebay should this project ever pull off.
Outstanding! It became a reality, finally.
It’s actually a hologram only. Shhh, don’t tell anybody.
Now that would be some supercool hologram …
again, amazing. I am super eager to get my hands on one.
Are you still going to open source the tech?
Seconded the question …
Michael, are you?
Really impressive – thumbs up !
Was this first announced around the time of the iPhone 3G launch? I can’t remember when it was launched, but it’s amazing what you’ve accomplished since July! I have wanted a tablet like this for such a long time, and it looks like it’s finally going to happen. I’ve already set the cash aside. Congrat’s!!!
Congrats Mike and keep the entrepreneurial spirit alive!
Jon
http://WoodMarvels.com – Create Unique Memories
It’s a massive iPod!
Looks great! Just keep it around $300 and I am buying for me and some for my family!
And since it is *browser* tablet, why don’t you put 3 real buttons on top of it: Home, Back and Forward, I think it really makes sense for CrunchPad.
Those buttons are already built into all modern browsers. Remember, it’s touchscreen.
I wonder if Google had any role to play in placing those buttons on the G1 …
If touchscreen is sufficient, why did they put five buttons on the face?
Now all it needs is a "buy it now" button
I second that
if you build we will buy it…
this will make you a millionaire
keep it simple..dont let the “BIG GUYS” bully and pressure you..get it through the FCC and you have yourself a winner!
He is a millionaire? How much do you think TC makes?
We are also interested here in Italy !!
So if it runs Ubuntu, it will be hackable? Will we be able to run whatever we like on it?
Yes. You may install EvilOS on top of it.
looks great, I’m excited to see it out.
Michael, Please tell me that you have patented this and or made sure you aren’t breaking any, wouldn’t want you to get sued.
I’d love to see iGoogle gadget support, and maybe HTML5 offline app and video/audio tag support.
Then it’d sit as a definite buy for me.
Right now though, it’s awesome.
Which browser have you’ll integrated? Can we run or install more than a single browser?
If it’s Ubuntu, you can. But Mike will make sure that most will use the shipped custom-browser in order to make sure people can’t easily install an adblocker.
See Google Chrome, for an example. It takes them ridiculously long to provide an adblocker plugin for it. They want you to surf unprotected.
great work mike.
i’m guessing that mr jobs is cursing your name right now – his ability to charge $700 for a smaller version will be a little more difficult – might keep him a little more honest.
I’ll buy one as soon as it’s available
why not consider Android he need less ressources so will be more cheap …
I don’t think Android the best for this type of device because Mike just wants a Linux stack that boots to the browser. Sure, you could fork Android to do that, but what’s the point? On another issue, I don’t see what all the fuss is about wanting Android on a netbook. It’s a Linux kernal, but Java everything else (not entirely, but you get my point). Why not just Ubuntu, or a custom-Linux build?
The more interesting part of android is the framework that you get. Sure its mostly a linux kernel, but the userspace has been tailored specifically for phones and therefore low resource environments. It deals gracefully within confined resources by “freezing” and “thawing” running apps to a freezer so as to keep memory free. Sure, you could customize an Ubuntu distro for the same and have the app developers use gnome/gtk+ for apps but Android has already done the hard work for you. That being said, I would still rather see “the thing” run a stripped down version of Ubuntu. For me personally, it would make it easier to customize the os and its applications. Hell, it I really wanted to I might be able to get BeOS on this bad boy.
I think there is something to be said for running Android, because there are many apps that one could then download to augment the use of the device. It also has Webkit browser, if I am not mistaken.
Are you planning to allow it to toggle landscape/portrait? Would make a fab long-form reading device if you can flip to portrait mode (PDFs/eBooks)… Very Star Trek PADD.
Yes I would like it to be able to view PDF as well…
Also flash, (Could play some cool games with this)
PDF PDF PDF PDF
No dice for me unless it handles PDF.
1.Conceptualized in America.
2.Engineered in Singapore.
3.Made in China??
…or can you turn the industry on its head and manufacture and sell it for under $300 with a Made in the U.S.A sticker on it?
All you have to do is have it made in American Samoa or Guam it gets the Made In USA sticker minus the minimum wage.
How much memory does it have or does it have any ?
How many colors are there; I suggest black, white, pink, and 2 shades of blue one light the other dark.
If you could put either a usb port or bluetooth with full comms stack you would have the knockout web terminal. Pick a flash memory and put it in a slot for local storage/apps/books/whatever and I would gladly pay you $350.
So – it costs $250 to make, and you think you can break even by selling it for $300, or even make a profit? Wow. Good luck with that business model. Even factoring in tooling costs, transportation, sales tax, corporation tax, web commerce costs, etc. etc. etc. that figure is plainly absurd.
I hope by ‘make it’ for $250, you have really thought about all these other costs? My experience with ‘tech entrepreneurs’ is that they rarely do. My family business includes design and manufacture of goods in China, and sales worlwide, so I have some experience here. With markups, something made for $5 in China sells for $40 – and that’s on a very slim margin. Some of this markup is retail, but even selling direct has considerable costs.
Just sayin’.
First, Mike said it’s less than $250 *including packaging*. Now, Arrington’s a smart guy, so let’s assume that he wouldn’t bother calculating in packaging without that including the bulk shipment to the US.
Second, with a complete build cost that low, and a price of $300, that gives TechCrunch better than 20% of margin, thin yes, but follow along here.
Mistake or not, this leak just re-validated the surge of interest Mike had when the concept was first discussed on TC. What’s the audience size of TC? Sure, selling direct doesn’t cost $0, but how much have they ALREADY saved in Marketing expense??? Built-in demand — big enough to turn a profit? Probably. Doesn’t have to pull stunts like free S & H, those costs can be drawn straight from the transaction at time of sale.
Now, TC doesn’t exist in a vacuum — while Amazon with their Kindle will probably not jump at the chance, you can fairly easily imagine another (online) retailer, seeing this momentum, and ordering a large quantity wholesale. Now before everyone pooh-poohs that idea, remember that we’re talking about a world here in which big box retailers like Wal-Mart and Best Buy still routinely sell limited quantities of hot products at a loss for a short time window, just to drive traffic.
Lastly, if the TC crew’s really gotten it right (as I believe they have – I want one bad), and their intel is also right (that most other traditional CE vendors are getting it wrong), what’s to say a smart competitor doesn’t just swoop in and license/buy the whole she-bang from TC? If TC was clever enough to make this thing SIM ready, a smart mobile operator would jump at this. Much more interested in buying this, even with some telco branding on it, than a Dell Mini or other netbook from them. Whatever the path in this last scenario, TC could still be successful on this venture by licensing/selling out the entire platform/design to a better equipped retailer. Biggest risk there would the idiots marking up the price beyond Mike’s magic $300 point.
Then again, Jobs did basically dictate what price telcos could sell the iPhone for….
I take most of your points Thom – let’s leave aside the issue of whether or not Arrington meant ‘packaging, tooling, taxes, import duty, scale volumes’ when he just said ‘packaging’ – I mean, he’s in the manufacturing sector, right? Seriously, maybe he has factored this in.
On that basis, assuming ALL of that, he could still not make a profit at $300. Sales tax alone would be $30, then you have warehousing, distribution etc. etc. etc.
There simply is no model for any retailer currently in existance to support this. And, I’m afraid, you overestimate how many people would care enough about the brand to purchase this. Not even half of the posters on this would even stump up the cash, when it came down to it.
Love the idea, sort of like the product (I think it’s pretty bland), but please, let’s not pretend the figures he bandied around would stand up anywhere…
All the best
Ben
Its a niche product. If people really wanted something like this, they can go out and buy an iPhone for less than $300.
How do you get on the Internet, only Wi-Fi?
Could someone explain how you build something for $250, and sell it for $300???
This is not, by far, the kind of ratio you have for any consumer electronics product….
Good catch. At a $250 BOM you’d have to sell very large volumes to bring fully-loaded COGS in much below $300.
I would recon if you could build one with a sealed water proof ruber case nd contactless charging instead of a plastic one you would open up a whole new military/industral market where the margins are sustantial.
personally i would kill for one that i could connect a couple of usb -> serial ports dongles to, the average laptop has a life expectancy of days in nasty environments and the apps dont usually need much power.
This is so cool, I could locate it in the kitchen and watch some tech-news while cooking
the touch screen would still be the same, and im guessing that’s what makes up most of the cost.
Newspapers……..are dead now.
So exciting, and tremendous congratulations to you and your team.
i think around $350 is a good price for something like this, if it would be able to play full screen video smoothly, i’d pay $450 for one
Nah, won’t work. Why would anyone (apart from a few TC groupies) want to buy “the thing” if it’s inferior to most other offerings on the market? A tablet without a keyboard won’t work. Not even Microsoft could pull it off. So, add a physical keyboard or at least a multi-touch virtual keyboard.
I bet the browser doesn’t come with an adblocker plugin. Correct?
The thing I like is that you are trying to keep things rolling, Mike. The world needs more small business entrepreneurs instead of creepy bankers.
So carry on, Mike. I wish your project good luck.
Can you tell me why a tablet without a keyboard wouldn’t work ? Keyboard isn’t the point, usage is.
This is exactly the kind of tablet I’m looking for.
I have a laptop, but I usually use it a “end table”-top cause it’s pretty heavy.
I need the smallest PC to manage them all at home, and this crunchpad could easily take this job :
- managing a NAS,
- backuping files from PCs to NAS,
- launching movies on TV screen, streaming music on HIFI system….
And I guess there are more usage beside browsing : using the tablet as a photo gallery player…
I believe what you are looking for is called a netbook.
Yeah, a Netbook WITHOUT a keyboard. So a Web Tablet then…
Yes, but to be able to see any revenues from every device, they’d have to be the sole distributors. Otherwise, retailers will eat their share and won’t spare a dime for the founders.
Great “thing”!
Some ideas:
- give it ports for mic and headphones and install skype to make phone calls when on wifi
- with usb ports you could easily plug-in mouse, keyboard, etc., put the “display” up right and work like with a normal computer and if you need to run, you just unplug and take the “screen” and all data on it with you…
- make it also usable as e-book reader (if the battery should last long enough)
- if it should be able to play movies, etc. give it a nice feature to connect with an in-car hifi system
BTW, if you should need some design work, feel free to contact me.
I might be wrong, but i don’t think Michael cares that much about earning a lot of money on this thing in the beginning, there is a lot of indirect "earnings" they could get if this becomes popular, Techcrunch would get a lot more readers from the publicity for example. And there are things like the firefox + google deal, where you get payed for the searches done from the browser.
not earning a lot of money is one thing, not loosing money is another.
English is one thing, this is another.
Cool, but it needs a built in, ball track mouse.