3 ms·

Well, I would have started at CES - there a re a ton of ODM tablet guys from China at CES. Look at this post, and get in touch with this guy: http://news.ycomb

by phlux 16y ago

Well, I would have started at CES - there a re a ton of ODM tablet guys from China at CES. Look at this post, and get in touch with this guy: http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=1840896 http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=1840896 I would take his recommendations regarding any of the other components of your device, like the case, you might be looking to make. Any direction you take is going to take $$ though, as you will need to pay for tooling, etc. Do you already have capital? I too am looking at getting a tablet made - but for medical purposes.

andrewtbham 16y ago
I don't have funding right now... we are building a software prototype on a normal android tablet and then pitch vcs to get money for the hardware... but we want to have an idea what we're getting into and if it's going to be feasible/economically viable.
- phlux 16y ago
  Are you building a military app? If so, why not look at getting money from either Darpa grants, others in the defense industry or just selling/licensing the app to a defense contractor, such as Lockheed. Otherwise - why be so concerned with the tablet. When I was at lockheed, we used to buy Tough Books and mount them in pelican cases with other RFID reading hardware and sell them to the DOD for like 30K.
  - andrewtbham 16y ago
    well... it might be used by the military... i just figured that would be an easy way to describe the water/shock proof aspect. the target market is actually recreational boats. one of the partners is concerned about keeping the idea a secret... which i think is silly.
    - phlux 16y ago
      android+GPS autopilot for boats, plus remote security. Got it. Well, What I would focus on if I were you would be the app - and talk to shock/case/mount people first. There are so many people right now building tablets that you should surely be able to find an ODM soon building based on the spec you need. This is an interesting company, www.launchpad-sprocket.com They are making tamper-proof mounting boxes for iPad and other tablets. What I am suggesting that building a waterproof/shock proof mounting setup would be far cheaper at this stage then attempting to spec a whole device. Do some prototypes this way - to proof it out. http://www.protopulsion.com/ http://www.protopulsion.com/ is a 3d printing service shop in redwood city that could help proofing the case. Again - the most important thing to build is the app. The tablets will come. You also might want to stay out of the HW biz for a whole number of reasons, not the least of which is that every high volume Apple/Motorola tablet order is going to make all your components too expensive - so ODM it...

by phlux 16y ago

andrewtbham 16y ago

I don't have funding right now... we are building a software prototype on a normal android tablet and then pitch vcs to get money for the hardware... but we want to have an idea what we're getting into and if it's going to be feasible/economically viable.

phlux 16y ago
Are you building a military app? If so, why not look at getting money from either Darpa grants, others in the defense industry or just selling/licensing the app to a defense contractor, such as Lockheed. Otherwise - why be so concerned with the tablet. When I was at lockheed, we used to buy Tough Books and mount them in pelican cases with other RFID reading hardware and sell them to the DOD for like 30K.
- andrewtbham 16y ago
  well... it might be used by the military... i just figured that would be an easy way to describe the water/shock proof aspect. the target market is actually recreational boats. one of the partners is concerned about keeping the idea a secret... which i think is silly.
  - phlux 16y ago
    android+GPS autopilot for boats, plus remote security. Got it. Well, What I would focus on if I were you would be the app - and talk to shock/case/mount people first. There are so many people right now building tablets that you should surely be able to find an ODM soon building based on the spec you need. This is an interesting company, www.launchpad-sprocket.com They are making tamper-proof mounting boxes for iPad and other tablets. What I am suggesting that building a waterproof/shock proof mounting setup would be far cheaper at this stage then attempting to spec a whole device. Do some prototypes this way - to proof it out. http://www.protopulsion.com/ http://www.protopulsion.com/ is a 3d printing service shop in redwood city that could help proofing the case. Again - the most important thing to build is the app. The tablets will come. You also might want to stay out of the HW biz for a whole number of reasons, not the least of which is that every high volume Apple/Motorola tablet order is going to make all your components too expensive - so ODM it...