What the hell is a CrunchPad? That is the question you may be asking yourself right about now, especially if you don’t spend your days reading blogs all day as I tend to do. The CrunchPad is a new product envisioned and designed by the technology blog, TechCrunch. And the latest prototype, possibly close to the finished product has now leaked online.

TechCrunch first mulled over the idea of producing a new gadget in July of last year. At the time, Michael Arrington, head honcho at the site, explained how he wanted an “ultra-cheap Web tablet with very few features, but a simple design, and an iPhone-style touch screen.” Don’t we all? Maybe, maybe not. But unlike most of us who would think about the prospect and then do nothing about it, Arrington decided to actually make the damn thing.

The project has evolved somewhat. When it was first discussed the CrunchPad was going to be completely open-source and it was to be up to the readers of TechCrunch to sort out the finer details. Then it all got a little more serious and a project leader was hired. With the chance to actually develop and sell a product for real it seems TechCrunch decided to become a bit more traditional in its approach.

So apart from the odd update and showing of latest prototypes, the whole thing has been kept under wraps. When Prototype B was unveiled in January, I expressed my admiration for the product but asked whether ultimately it was both a waste of time and money. For the $300 price point being quoted wouldn’t it be better to buy a cheap netbook for $50 more?

Over the last couple of days, someone inadvertently posted pictures of the latest (and one would assume close to the finished article) prototype to the Web. The pictures spread like wildfire and despite attempts to keep them under wraps Arrington has finally admitted defeat and spoken about where the project is and where it’s heading.

The latest iteration of the CrunchPad looks fantastic – almost Apple-like in its styling. It has an Intel Atom chipset inside along with “a bottom-up linux operating system and a new version of the Webkit browser.” A retail price of $300 is still looking doable and the whole thing feels like its a real product rather than the wishes of a technology blogger. Which is, after all, what the CrunchPad was nine months ago.

TechCrunch isn’t yet ready to fully go public with the details of the CrunchPad, but I personally can’t see that day being far away. With the amount of people saying they’d buy one if it was on the market, I don’t think Arrington will have much trouble getting a distribution deal. Would you buy one?

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Entry was posted on Friday, April 10th, 2009 at 11:55 pm under Internet, Opinion, Technology.

Read more entries by Dave Parrack.
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