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Linux tablet arrives in the UK
TABLET UPSTART Fusion Garage has announced the availability of its Joojoo tablet in the UK, beating the cappuccino firm's delayed Ipad launch outside the US.
The firm claims that the 12.1-inch tablet is the world's largest capacitive touchscreen device. Beneath the screen is an Intel 1.6GHz Atom processor and an Nvidia ION chipset, making the Joojoo fairly spritely. Like Apple's Ipad, there is no keyboard and the battery is not removable, however the similarities end there.
Unlike the fruit themed gadget flogger's fancy plaything, the Joojoo comes with a video camera, a USB port and an operating system that supports multi-tasking and Adobe's Flash. The company also makes a big deal of its app store, which it claims is "the Internet".
There are a few disappointments to the device's specifications. The 12.1-inch screen has a resolution of only 1366x768 and onboard storage is limited to a 4GB SSD. There's no word whether users can upgrade the SSD drive, but given the large "app store" Fusion Garage is touting, 4GB seems a tad small.
The Joojoo is said to have a five hour battery life while using WiFi. There's no information on whether a 3G radio will be included, but given that the device features a USB port, the question is whether users can plug in one of the many 3G 'dongles' that are being flogged by mobile operators.
Another slap in the face to Apple fanbois is the fact that the Joojoo, beneath its browser interface, actually runs Linux. This will undoubtedly offer opportunities for community based development of software, drivers and applications as well as provide decent security.
Fusion Garage deserve some praise for not shafting Brits when it comes to price conversion from US dollars. The Joojoo can be had for £320 plus VAT and shipping, which beats the current exchange rate.
Those punters who put down their cash on a Joojoo can expect delivery within two weeks. µ
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Well, nearly. Two weeks.
On the other hand, it mostly isn't a Linux tablet, it's a web browser tablet. General Linux functionality is kinda hidden, it seems. And yeah - its "app store" is not apps but web sites. Web sites with features that you can't use on iPad, yes. Flash, and Java, and probably Java applications that don't need to be connected.
If you want a web browser that comes in a slate, and you want it now, consider this one.
Also consider the Asus T91 and others, that run Windows.
But yes, Joojoo's storage and physical connectivity are limited - one USB port (and audio), although you can probably use a hub. SD or other memory card has to be fited in the USB port, and you probably don't want to leave it in. I could live with that. Keyboard, um... USB, or Bluetooth with a USB-Bluetooth connector, maybe?
There's a desk "dock", which appears to be just a plastic desk stand, and not, say, a power or connection deliverer.
I want: to view my own video recordings; to browse the World Wide Web; to create documents; to use the Fitaly on-screen keyboard from Textware Inc.
Oh well...
The ION chipset CAN accelerate h.264 video (which is what the JooJoo is using for it's YouTube app), but the developers at Adobe, for reasons known only to themselves, insist on using software compositing of adverts and on-screen controls (rather than putting them in a transparent window over the top of a hardware decoded video window). This is poorly supported in Linux, and it's a major part of the reason that the Linux flash player is horribly slow compared to the Windows version.
Trying to run non-touch aware desktop applications on an Atom powered tablet is just asking for failure. Tablet form factor Windows machines have been selling poorly for years for the same reasons.
Being x86 based is a disadvantage for a tablet machine (higher power requirements, as demonstrated by the JooJoo battery life), and if you have Open Source code you can compile it to ARM or whatever else without problems.
Dual booting with Windows inside of a 4GB flash drive? You HAVE to be joking.
Stop trying to think about these machines as PCs. They're internet/media consumption devices, and for what they're designed for the iPad is a better piece of hardware. You don't even have to buy your media from Apple, it supports open audio, video and book formats that you can source from multiple other locations.
@ Steve T
It does beat the ipad when it comes to flash playback. The nvidia Ion can acelerate Flash video even Flash HD video.
granted ill admit that battery life and the screen which is a TN takes points away
BUT
Ill be able to watch HD video in widescreen format and it will fill up the screen unlike the IPad which you must admit will play widescreen vidoes in letterbox. (black spaces around the video therefore wasting the already small screen space).
Most Importantly
Its x86 based. I dont have to go to itunes to install any software I want.
Linux has tons of free software.
Even 3dgames. All free...
I can even install and dualboot windows if i want to.
Without needing the approval of Itunes or Steve Jobs.
I can really own the device i bought and do anything i want with it.
Which isnt what Itunes wants me to do with the ipad or the iphone.
You've got a point there.
inq uses the word Fanboi on any article that mentions Apple so it's no suprise to see if here.
Shame though, that they need to resort to namecalling...
re the 'joojoo' - sily name (but aren't all gadgets these days?) - I'm actually quite interested in it though...
Not saying I'd buy one, the storage is an issue for me and I'm not so up to speed with Linux - As mentioned Android would have been nice (but there'll no doubt be someone out there that can get Android onto it)
Nice looking thing, lacking in a few areas (then so's the iPad)
Good try though IMO
I don't know about upgrading the built-in SDD, but removable memory cards can possibly be added. See here:
https://thejoojoo.com/sites/accessories
However, a place for a memory card is not shown on this other pic nor is it listed on the tech specs.
https://thejoojoo.com/sites/tech_specs
Possibly two versions will be offered, but who knows. Hopefully the USB port is full size so it will take a standard thumb drive or mouse/keyboard (for use with their 'dock' lol) without an adapter.
of the word "beats"
Lets start with the screen. It's a little larger and higher res, but it's an ordinary TN device that has a narrow viewing angle and colour shifts off axis. Win for the Apple.
Battery life. The JooJoo has half the claimed battery life of the iPad. Thrash it like Lawrence did with the iPad and you'll get 2.5 hours use, 1/3rd of the 7-8 hours he claimed for the iPad (most reviewers claim between 9-11 hours BTW). Win for the iPad.
Weight. Lawrence complained that the iPad was too heavy, this weights slightly under a pound more. Win for the iPad.
Flash playback. It can't handle video at full speed (no hardware acceleration, and the Linux flash player is spectacularly cr*p anyway) so you have to revert to an app to play YouTube video - just like the iPad. No advantage.
Software. If you're a hacker then you can write your own software for the JooJoo, but then for $99 you can write your own software for the iPad. You won't be able to get Apple to publish it if you don't follow their rules, but you can run anything you like. If you're not a hacker then you want to know how much software is available for the devices. The answer for the JooJoo is non at all, compared to 200K+ apps for the iPhone/iPad. Win for the iPad.
3G wireless. For your extra $130 Apple gives you a contract free device with a low monthly PAYG data plan. The JooJoo needs something like a MiFi and a more expensive data contract. Win for the iPad.
Cost. It's the same price as the base 16GB iPad (which Lawrence complained wasn't enough memory), but you get only 4GB. Win for the iPad.
Yup the JooJoo really "beats" the iPad doesn't it.
Is this your first time reading the Inq? Seriously, drink a beer and chill. Err.. if you're old enough to have one, that is.
Typing in double spaces and then abbreviating your own screen name sounds like something a pimply nerd would do. E4S? Really?
"Another slap in the face of Apple Fanbois"
Listen to yourself :
Are you a journalist or a pimple faced nerd ?
Why not accept that the iPad is an innovative bit of kit ?
You don't have to like it to appreciate that other manufacturers want to get in on the action.
It represents a new area for users..
I am an OS Agnostic : meaning that I am happy to work with Macs, Linux, Unix, Windows : whatever...
All of them are useful for various reasons.
I have been using computers since 1984.
My advice to you is pretty simple...
Get over the purile name calling...& grow up.
E4S
"There are a few disappointments to the device's specifications. The 12.1-inch screen has a resolution of only 1366x768..."
Disappointment? I would be disappointed if the resolution is any higher than that! There's no way any touchpad with a DPI higher than that could have any semblence of accuracy.
Isnt this the crunchpad which fusion garage is sposed to of nicked from crunchgear at some point.
It seems strange that all that history seems to of been tucked under the carpet.
Nuff said...