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But it's a Tablet! Its lack of a keyboard, and the resultant aura of Geek Chic, handily justifies the higher price tag, poor battery life, and lack of applications.

Edited 2009-12-07 19:27 UTC

You're missing the point.

We need to wait for Apple to release the exact same device, but with a smaller screen, less storage, slower processor, less RAM, and more restrictive software, at double the price.

Then this market segment will be ready.

You are probably right.

At the moment I don't see any benefit from the tablet form factor.

If PDF(or whatever) reading is the major usage scenario then a OLPC (Pixel Qi) screen has to be added to such a device. Something that works without back light and in bright sunlight.

So unless this thing does something no other device does or it is build by Apple it will be dead in the water and only a few rich gadget lovers will buy.

And, don't forget Apple's new policy of "take it or leave it" when the product has issues:

http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9141894/Apple_customer_colla...

Apple replaced my MacBook Pro twice and the hard drive seven (!) times under warranty, no problems.

Still not sure if it was a batch of bad Hitachi 320GB drives (last time it failed I replaced it myself with a 320GB Seagate, end of problems) or a firmware problem making the disks eat themselves.

Granted, this was a totally ridiculous situation (seven dead drives in 9 months? WTF?!), but I really can't complain about the service I received from Apple.

- chrish

AppleCare is really good about fixing or replacing just about anything. Battery, hard drive, network controller, just about anything...

... except the display.

Every time I buy a Mac (has happened 3 times), I ask to open the box, power it on, and check the display BEFORE I buy it. I come in ready to buy and flash the credit card. But this is my condition. They always ask the manager, and they always let me do it.

Ordering a Mac online may be more convenient than driving all the way to the Apple store, but I think it's worth the inconvenience to make sure I get something that at least _starts_out_ good.

I understand why you'd think that, but there is no way they would launch something more restrictive than this thing.

This thing has all of the functionality of the first Iphone

... minus the ability to play music
... or make phone calls

Minus the ability to make phone calls.

Good point.

Also, I don't think it will have the ability to make phone calls. So that's even less functionality.

Does Skype or Google Voice have a browser applet similar to the MSN/ICQ/blah/blah browser applet versions?

Speaking of Apple, this'd be a good niche for them to make use of that Advertising inside OSes patent they've app'd for. Release a sub $200 ad subsidized tablet as an integral part of some new service... much like the iPod to iTunes

Please enlighten us as to why you think any Apple device in this sector would have less storage than this 'toy'.
Granted it will be more expensive but less storage? Nah. Look how the storage used in the iPod touch has increased recently.

That's the price-value range I would place on this device also.

Probably because I mentioned the iPhone in my original comment merely to illustrate a point.
@Thom: Dude, you might want to see a doctor. You're getting a bit obsessive over the anti-apple rhetoric, to the point where it actually obstructs discussion. Let's not derail this into an Apple vs everyone else thread like so many others. My point about the iPhone was an example as it's a product that I'm familiar with (seeing as how I use one) that leaves this joo joo thing dead in the water. It was an example, ok? Substitute Android phone for iPhone if it makes you happy, the point will still be just as relevant. Hell, you could probably even substitute the Palm Pre into that sentence although I'm not certain of this.
This thing has less functionality than any other tablet out there, even ChromeOS is going to have at least some capabilities for ocal storage although probably not very much. There's no way, no way at all, that even a controlling company like Apple could release something with less functionality than this.

@darknexus

You might want to grow a sense of humour .

Don't worry, no one understands my sense of humor even at the best of times, especially me. Apparently today isn't even close to the best of times, either that or I need a replacement sarcasm detector.

Edited 2009-12-07 21:55 UTC

Don't forget that Thom recently bought an iPhone that I'm sure he'll reluctantly admit is teh awesome.

If it were me, I think I'd crawl into a hole and pull the hole in after me. But I don't mean to seem judgemental.

Yeah, the article says it "Runs UNIX web-based OS". What the dreck is that? Nobody apart from SCO uses the word "Unix" anymore (esp. when peddling products for consumers).

It seems as if they either didn't know what OS it was running, or that they want to reserve the right to change the OS.

Incidentally, "joo joo", depending on the tone of the speaker, means something like "yeah, whatever" in Finnish ;-).

Edited 2009-12-07 22:11 UTC

Perhaps they think that JooJoo will become JuJU and their dinky toy device will sweep everything in the world aside and become the next 'Big Thing' by somehow casting a spell over everyone.

Crunchpad sounds like something to eat for breakfast.

But it's a world better than JooJoo.

Or exercise equipment of some kind ("I just did 50 reps on the CrunchPad").



Hell yes. I can just imagine if this thing is ever discussed on television - every mention of it will probably be followed by the words "...spelled "jay-oh-oh, jay-oh-oh" to make it clear that it's a product name and not a epithet.

My Etch-a-Sketch, back in the 70s, had real knobs. This gadget would have to fake them up on screen somehow. The JooJoo is a failure even judged against the capabilities of an Etch-a-Sketch.

NOW THAT IS FUNNY!

Just wait until the investors say, "I lost my money because of the JooJoo."