RIP CrunchPad Long Live Joo Joo

[Chris Gohlke]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34316774/ns/technology_and_science-tech_and_gadgets/' target='_blank'>http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3431677...ch_and_gadgets/</a><br /><br /></div><p><em>"The CrunchPad, a highly anticipated 12-inch tablet computer that was named as one of the 10 "most brilliant products" of this year by Popular Mechanics magazine, re-emerged yesterday as the Joo Joo. A legal battle over the Web-surfing device, no matter what its name, is likely to come. The Joo Joo &mdash; an African term for "magical," its developer says "because this device delivers magic" &mdash; will cost $499, putting it well above the $300 to $400 price range initially envisioned for the tablet by TechCrunch founder Michael Arrington."</em></p><p><em><img src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/600/dht/auto/1260406545.usr10.jpg" style="border: 1px solid #d2d2bb;" /></em></p><p>The current drama aside, I think a low priced tablet in this size is a killer product. &nbsp;But, I consider this a proof of concept. &nbsp;Regardless, I don't see this being the product that hits it big. &nbsp;My bet is on Apple, whenever they get around to releasing their tablet, if the price is right. &nbsp;If it isn't, netbook makers should be able to pretty quickly come up with some tablet offerings using their current components and probably undercut both on price. &nbsp;If you'd like to see the Joo Joo in action, check out <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/08/joojoo-tablet-hands-on-video/" target="_blank">Engadget's Hands On</a>.</p>

[Jason Dunn]

I think the key thing with the Apple tablet will be this: will they price it to take the mass-market, along the lines of their MP3 players, or will they price it to be a "luxury" item, along the lines of their iMacs and Macbooks, making it a niche market. I'm thinking it will be more the former than the latter, because they'll want it to be another avenue for their app store, but we'll see...

[Sven Johannsen]

Not sure it is fair to compare this to netbooks. They are taking pre-orders for $499, and there is this impression that this is overpriced. Not sure. The average 10" netbook is around $300. Taking the keyboard and touchpad off doesn't impact the cost much I wouldn't expect. These are pretty simple mass-market components. Adding a decent touch screen and uping the screen size to 12" I would expect to add a few bucks. Maybe $100? The Tablets I've purchased have always been a good $100-$200 more than a similarly outfited notebook. If you sort of think of this thing as a magazine sized e-reader, as opposed to a paperback book sized one, the price seems proportional. I'm not sure Apple is going to do better on the pricing. They haven't been a bargain hunter's first choice in the past. Ever looked at the non-subsidized price of an iPhone?, and the 32G and 64G Touch's are $299 and $399 respectively. I don't think people are going to go for a big iPod Touch, so the app store won't be that much of a draw. A 12" fart app isn't 4 time better than a 3" fart app. iPhone developers haven't had to worry about how their stuff scales (in size), and normal Mac programs aren't touch aware. Of course if Apple produces what HP did years ago with the TC1100, and Motion Computing has been doing for years, all of a sudden it will be the greatest innovation since Apple invented the smartphone.

[Jason Dunn]

Of course if Apple produces what HP did years ago with the TC1100, and Motion Computing has been doing for years, all of a sudden it will be the greatest innovation since Apple invented the smartphone.

Isn't that the truth. :rolleyes: