The CrunchPad is almost ready for public consumption, with TechCrunch showing off conceptual drawings of the final design of the product. Will this ultra-low cost Web tablet actually hit the market? Will the price be kept low enough to make it worth buying over a netbook PC? Will Michael Arrington’s head get any bigger in the meantime?

I’ve been tracking the CrunchPad since the idea was first mooted by TechCrunch founder Michael Arrington in July 2008. At that time, Arrington proposed an ultra-cheap touchscreen Web tablet. It seemed like a pie-in-the-sky idea, with typical tablet computers costing upwards of $2,000, but Arrington isn’t a man to be easily dissuaded and so got down to turning vaporware into hardware.

The first prototype was aired in January, and boasted a 12-inch screen, 1Gb of RAM, a 4Gb Flash drive, Wi-Fi, an accelerometer, and a camera. The price had risen from the hoped-for $200 or less to around $300. Which though still cheap did make me question the logic of buying a CrunchPad when a cheap laptop would do the same thing but a lot more besides.

Then in April, pictures of the latest prototype, one thought to be very close to the finished product, were leaked to the Web. Two months later and we have another update, this time official. I hate to say it but even I as a skeptic am blown away with the current look of the CrunchPad, though I still have my doubts as to the price and availability come launch.

Improvements made include the screen being flush with the case and the thickness reduced to just 18mm. This is mainly due to material used being changed from plastic to aluminum, although Arrington admits this is a more expensive option. The video below shows the previous prototype in action:

Arrington claims there are now serious discussions being had about how to bring the CrunchPad to market. What’s more, there will be a special press and user event held in Silicon Valley during July. Where I’d guess the final prototype will be on display and maybe even pricing, specs, and availability details will be announced.

I hate to say it but my only thought while looking at the pictures and watching the video demonstration is that I want one. Seriously. The CrunchPad looks fantastic, almost Apple-like in its styling, and the features included are all I’d really ask for. If the device is released at anywhere near the $300 price point then I’d buy one in a shot. And I doubt I’d be the only person.

Related:

Entry was posted on Wednesday, June 3rd, 2009 at 11:58 pm under Internet, Opinion, Technology.

Read more entries by Dave Parrack.
Stumble It!