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filling the void

Monday, January 19, 2009

Dirt-cheap web browser tablet

This is cool stuff: http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/01/19/techcrunch-tablet-update-prototype-b/

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.


I want one. I want one of these much more than I want a netbook. Battery life remains to be seen, but on the whole I like it. I would like to see them hit the $200-250 mark. Any higher than that and people just won't buy it.