4 ms·

Just a couple of days ago I was DDGoing a phrase like "Debian cheap tablet" or such and found this page[1]. I still can't understand why there is no market for

by toni 12y ago

Just a couple of days ago I was DDGoing a phrase like "Debian cheap tablet" or such and found this page[1]. I still can't understand why there is no market for a Linux tablet. [1] http://www.gregwar.com/posts/debian-on-a-low-cost-tablet-50 http://www.gregwar.com/posts/debian-on-a-low-cost-tablet-50

01Michael10 12y ago
Why does Linux always have to be associated with "cheap"? There is no market for Linux devices because everyone wants them to be "cheap". I would like a high end tablet that runs Linux myself...
- toni 12y ago
  My bad searching abilities :) Didn't really mean it must be cheap per se. I actually backed Ubuntu Edge. One thing I realized is that adding "cheap" to your search phrase will show up more hacker-type attempts to install Linux on Android devices.
- keithpeter 12y ago
  Linux does not always have to be associated with cheap, I recollect that Dell's 'Sputnik' tie up with Canonical wasn't at the $350 end of their laptop range. I read the grandparent comment along the lines of 'I want to see how to put Linux on a tablet. People will be hacking this with the possibility of bricking the device. I'll search for cheaper devices'
  - toni 12y ago
    My sentiments indeed. I will not dare to hack on a $400 Android tablet, but gladly brick a couple of $50 tablets in order to learn one thing or another.
eli 12y ago
For hobbyists you mean? Most people buy based on features and I think it would be very difficult to compete on user-facing features.
- toni 12y ago
  Why would it only attract hobbyists? I know a couple of software companies that develop "kiosk" type apps and can benefit from a Linux tablet. Currently they work with a barebone Win2K installation on an under-powered x86 mini pc + extra costs for connecting it to a touch-capable screen.
  - keithpeter 12y ago
    Huge touch-screen tablet at a local railway station for looking up times and platforms. Easily 30 inches. No idea what it runs on as it hasn't crashed yet. Bus stops: local transport people experimenting with e-paper displays for real time timetables. Kindle sized (might even be modified kindles?). The display/info space looks like a possibility.
  - eli 12y ago
    Still not quite following. You mean why don't the companies that develop kiosks use Linux instead of Windows? I don't know, but I'd imagine the cost of an OS license is a total non-issue compared to what they're charging the client. As a potential consumer of a kiosk, I don't particularly care what OS it's running.
    - toni 12y ago
      > I'd imagine the cost of an OS license is a total non-issue compared to what they're charging the client I think you'd be wrong if you knew how much the total sum of all Windows licenses cost in a large-scale deployment. That is why they usually install the kiosk with a decade-old Windows OS, usually Win2K or XP embedded which arguably costs less than a Win7 or 8.1 license. > As a potential consumer of a kiosk, I don't particularly care what OS it's running. I am afraid we are not particularly talking about consumers, but the companies that make these things.

by toni 12y ago

01Michael10 12y ago

Why does Linux always have to be associated with "cheap"? There is no market for Linux devices because everyone wants them to be "cheap". I would like a high end tablet that runs Linux myself...

toni 12y ago
My bad searching abilities :) Didn't really mean it must be cheap per se. I actually backed Ubuntu Edge. One thing I realized is that adding "cheap" to your search phrase will show up more hacker-type attempts to install Linux on Android devices.
keithpeter 12y ago
Linux does not always have to be associated with cheap, I recollect that Dell's 'Sputnik' tie up with Canonical wasn't at the $350 end of their laptop range. I read the grandparent comment along the lines of 'I want to see how to put Linux on a tablet. People will be hacking this with the possibility of bricking the device. I'll search for cheaper devices'
- toni 12y ago
  My sentiments indeed. I will not dare to hack on a $400 Android tablet, but gladly brick a couple of $50 tablets in order to learn one thing or another.

eli 12y ago

For hobbyists you mean? Most people buy based on features and I think it would be very difficult to compete on user-facing features.

toni 12y ago
Why would it only attract hobbyists? I know a couple of software companies that develop "kiosk" type apps and can benefit from a Linux tablet. Currently they work with a barebone Win2K installation on an under-powered x86 mini pc + extra costs for connecting it to a touch-capable screen.
- keithpeter 12y ago
  Huge touch-screen tablet at a local railway station for looking up times and platforms. Easily 30 inches. No idea what it runs on as it hasn't crashed yet. Bus stops: local transport people experimenting with e-paper displays for real time timetables. Kindle sized (might even be modified kindles?). The display/info space looks like a possibility.
- eli 12y ago
  Still not quite following. You mean why don't the companies that develop kiosks use Linux instead of Windows? I don't know, but I'd imagine the cost of an OS license is a total non-issue compared to what they're charging the client. As a potential consumer of a kiosk, I don't particularly care what OS it's running.
  - toni 12y ago
    > I'd imagine the cost of an OS license is a total non-issue compared to what they're charging the client I think you'd be wrong if you knew how much the total sum of all Windows licenses cost in a large-scale deployment. That is why they usually install the kiosk with a decade-old Windows OS, usually Win2K or XP embedded which arguably costs less than a Win7 or 8.1 license. > As a potential consumer of a kiosk, I don't particularly care what OS it's running. I am afraid we are not particularly talking about consumers, but the companies that make these things.