Slate Tablets Just Keep Getting Cheaper

[Hooch Tan]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.linuxfordevices.com/c/a/News/Marvell-Moby/' target='_blank'>http://www.linuxfordevices.com/c/a/...s/Marvell-Moby/</a><br /><br /></div><p><em>"If priced at just $100, the Moby will presumably feature conventional LCD technology, not an E Ink display. However, Marvell says downloadable textbooks for the Moby could sell for a fraction of bound versions, adding that the device should also help children from being injured by toting overweight backpacks. "</em></p><p><img src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/600/dht/auto/1268951317.usr20447.jpg" style="border: 0px solid #d2d2bb;" /></p><p>A teardown of the venerable iPad estimates the hardware costs at around $275.&nbsp; By comparison, Marvell seems intent on being able to sell a tablet for $100.&nbsp; The question will be just how well the Moby will perform in comparison to other tablets.&nbsp; It will offer Android and Windows CE support and claims support for a wealth of other components we expect in this increasingly mobile world.&nbsp; While I think the iPad will offer a lot, this kind of slate tablet interests me much more as the price definitely makes it an impulse buy, and makes computing even more accessible.</p>

[Jason Dunn]

It's amazing how all the technologies have converged at the right time to make 2010 the year of the slate/tablet. I can see that when the hardware matures a bit more, and the prices get generally lower (though this one sure is cheap!) we'll see an explosion of devices like this in the home - one for every room or so. The biggest hurdle once the price is low will be battery life and the recharging hassles (inductive charging would sure be great here!) and smart software that lets people pick up the tablet and see their stuff. We're years away from both I think...

[Hooch Tan]

The biggest hurdle once the price is low will be battery life and the recharging hassles (inductive charging would sure be great here!) and smart software that lets people pick up the tablet and see their stuff. We're years away from both I think...

Being ARM based, I imagine that the battery would last a reasonable amount of time. Maybe in the 5-6 hour range? I think one thing that is missing is biometrics. It can tie into what you mentioned about letting people pick upt he tablet and seeing their stuff. It wouldn't be a stretch that one could swipe their finger, and the tablet could then pull all the necessary data (Think remote profiles in Active Directory) to configure your desktop or browser appropriately. Sort of like an auto-login and Firefox Weave mix.

[Jason Dunn]

Being ARM based, I imagine that the battery would last a reasonable amount of time. Maybe in the 5-6 hour range?

Maybe, but I kind of doubt it - the biggest battery suck is, I think, still the screen. Guess it depends on the thickness, but I think 2-3 hours is more realistic.

I think one thing that is missing is biometrics. It can tie into what you mentioned about letting people pick upt he tablet and seeing their stuff. It wouldn't be a stretch that one could swipe their finger, and the tablet could then pull all the necessary data (Think remote profiles in Active Directory) to configure your desktop or browser appropriately. Sort of like an auto-login and Firefox Weave mix.

Yup, that's exactly the vision I have - biometic fingerprint swipe, user is authenticated, and boom, they're looking at their profile, their photos, their browser shortcuts, etc. Everything that is the digital version of themselves. That's the future.

[Hooch Tan]

Maybe, but I kind of doubt it - the biggest battery suck is, I think, still the screen. Guess it depends on the thickness, but I think 2-3 hours is more realistic.

Granted, the CPU is becoming less of a power draw, but even so, if they're proposing a 10" screen, it shouldn't be too bad. The original article mentions that the display is likely an LCD screen, which is probably true considering the cost. If they're able to put in an e-ink or similar display though, we might be able to see incredible runtimes!

Yup, that's exactly the vision I have - biometic fingerprint swipe, user is authenticated, and boom, they're looking at their profile, their photos, their browser shortcuts, etc. Everything that is the digital version of themselves. That's the future.

The only thing that concerns me with this is that it will likely be intimately tied to cloud computing. While cloud computing is great, I really would love to see personal cloud computing instead. I just feel safer if there's a copy of the data at home.

[Jason Dunn]

The only thing that concerns me with this is that it will likely be intimately tied to cloud computing. While cloud computing is great, I really would love to see personal cloud computing instead. I just feel safer if there's a copy of the data at home.

Well, you might be able to base it of some sort of Windows Home Server type thing, or HomeGroups in Windows 7. Ultimately though of course the powerful scenarios are picking up someone else's slate device and swiping your finger and seeing your data. You need the cloud for the really killer scenarios. But as long as your data is mirrored on your devices at home, and not fully dependent on the cloud (local storage still matters), I don't think this should stop the scenario.

[Hooch Tan]

That would work, but sadly, I'm finding home and "self-install" type solutions fewer and further apart. I can understand why as companies (the most active in developing software) need to find ways to monetize their research.

Likely the best solution that will come out is the alleged Chrome OS which will be tied to a username and password, instead of a fingerprint. It would be neat if they bought a biometrics company and make a stanard that would work with something like Android though.