Computer Science Canada Ubuntu for Tablets |
| Author: | mirhagk [ Thu Jan 12, 2012 2:36 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Ubuntu for Tablets |
http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9223342/Canonical_CEO_Ubuntu_tablet_OS_will_battle_Android_iOS?taxonomyId=89 Apparently Ubuntu is working on coming out on tablets. What do you guys think of this? Personally I hope this opens up the market to unlicensed tablets (tablets that are designed to work with Ubuntu, and come shipped with it on, but the manufacturer doesn't pay a dime for it), which could really help bring the cost of tablets down. If a tablet can be made for just the hardware costs, and then sold at a reasonable price (instead of the $300-$800 they currently are) then tablets could end up actually having a huge impact. Perhaps if no one else creates unlicensed tablets I will create my own jack-job tablets. The parts are all there really (for netbooks) so finding pieces that can be put together and actually assembling it shouldn't be too difficult. |
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| Author: | Tony [ Thu Jan 12, 2012 2:49 pm ] |
| Post subject: | RE:Ubuntu for Tablets |
Why not Android? |
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| Author: | Insectoid [ Thu Jan 12, 2012 2:55 pm ] |
| Post subject: | RE:Ubuntu for Tablets |
I'd be worried about fragmentation and OEMs doing things they shouldn't. The iPad benefits from proprietary software because the software and hardware were designed together from the start. As seen with Android, if Ubuntu doesn't keep a tight reign on the license there will be a lot of cool but useless 'features', disfunctional themes and devices running old software that the OEM never updated. Of course, this could turn out very well. It hinges primarily on the license though. |
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| Author: | mirhagk [ Thu Jan 12, 2012 3:30 pm ] |
| Post subject: | RE:Ubuntu for Tablets |
It's unlicensed actually. They provide services but the operating system is completely free. This means anybody could install it and sell it, meaning you'd have as broad a market for different tablets as you do for different desktop computers. They also talk about building support for new pieces of hardware OEM's are adding as part of their support package. That means it's very possible, and probably likely that some tablets will features that other tablets don't. And Tony, why not android? Licensing. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Android_%28operating_system%29 If 55% of REVENUE is going to Microsoft, then clearly the software is far from free. Not sure if Ubuntu will be any better, but if it can remove the need for licensing, then it can take over as the cheapest devices available. |
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| Author: | Tony [ Thu Jan 12, 2012 3:49 pm ] |
| Post subject: | RE:Ubuntu for Tablets |
reading comprehension yo Quote: 55% of worldwide revenue for Android devices ... [comes from] ten Android device manufacturers http://arstechnica.com/microsoft/news/2011/10/microsoft-collects-license-fees-on-50-of-android-devices-tells-google-to-wake-up.ars Quote: HTC reportedly pays Microsoft $5 for each Android phone it sells If you plan on getting sued, then yeah... you can make a device for $5 cheaper. |
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| Author: | mirhagk [ Thu Jan 12, 2012 4:06 pm ] |
| Post subject: | RE:Ubuntu for Tablets |
Actually it's not reading comprehension, it's the ambiguity of the comma. Under the rules of English it's not specified whether the "accounting for 55% of revenue" it's talking about the agreement or the companies. Wikipedia should be more careful about ambiguous sentences. But yes I do see that now, and the $5 license is not that significant for the more expensive devices. So does this mean if I created a device I could simply install android on it? I'm pretty sure you can't, you'd have to pay microsoft. With Ubuntu you might not have the restrictions like that. EDIT: I take that last part back, The patents used are so broad that they probably cover anything Ubuntu could put in a smart phone. |
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| Author: | Tony [ Thu Jan 12, 2012 4:35 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: RE:Ubuntu for Tablets |
mirhagk @ Thu Jan 12, 2012 4:06 pm wrote: EDIT: I take that last part back, The patents used are so broad that they probably cover anything Ubuntu could put in a smart phone.
Good catch, I was just going to point that out 
You don't have to pay Microsoft... my understanding is that major manufacturers decided to settle just to avoid a patent battle. |
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| Author: | mirhagk [ Thu Jan 12, 2012 6:47 pm ] |
| Post subject: | RE:Ubuntu for Tablets |
Looking around at Atom processors it seems like it should be more than possible to build a good tablet for under $200. A 1.6Ghz single core Atom can cost as low as $29. Memory is really cheap (you can usually find single sticks of 1 or 2GB for under $20) The screen is probably the most expensive part, and you can probably get them at wholesale for a decent price. I kinda want to build my own tablet, I don't think it'd be that hard, maybe even just convert my old XP laptop (which is like 8 years old and still has better specs then a tablet) into a tablet. EDIT: I am looking into turning my old laptop into a tablet, so I was looking at touch screen overlays. The cheapest I can find is $50. Does anybody know of a cheaper alternative? I only need single touch, and I'm willing to rip apart the screen to meddle with it. |
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