Crunchpad Is Dead And Something Else Might Come About

[BuffaloHelp 24]

A while ago, I was anticipating the launch of small, personal web surfing device that is like iPod Touch but with bigger screen...let's say 10-12 inches.

 

Sounds like a perfect device for surfing and doing all web things, right? But how much? Initially the developers of Crunchpad was aiming for around $200 USD. No way, you say? Well, prototypes were launched, YouTube has bunch of working final product and the web was all over about this new device. Popular Mechanics called it one of the 10 "most brilliant products" of this year. It was going to be the destroyer of Apple's $800+ tablet, ipod Touch killer and geeks and nerds everywhere will be seen with this on their laps! It was going to revolutionize how we consume the internet!

 

But, on November 30, 2009, Michael Arrington the creator of Crunchpad announced that the company, Fusion Garage, he's been working with decided to pull the plug and launch on their own, without Michael Arrington and Techcrunch. The article draws analogy that it's like Foxconn, who build the iPhone, notifying Apple a couple of days before launch that they’d be moving ahead and selling the iPhone directly without any involvement from Apple.

 

So, Crunchpad is dead but Fusion Garage has revealed Joojoo pad with the price tag of $499. Arrington's Crunchpad would have been around $299 with options. Fusion Garage claims that they were working on "browser as operating system" concept long before Arrington's arrival. And they are now battling it out in the court because one party is claiming no contract was drawn and very little has been inputted from Arrington and his team.

 

Whatever the case may be, Fusion Garage to notify Arrington via email just days before the official launching of Crunchpad is suspicious. The reasons for the holdup can be read from Arrington's post. And there are three sides to the story--one from Arrington, one from Fusion Garage, and there's the real truth. And if the real truth involves holding out for more money, then the real victims of this tragedy are consumers who were looking forward to a device like this.

 

Apple, the big corporation, would have raped us with Apple tablet at a price range of $800 to $1000. People would have continue to squint at iPod Touch and iPhone's small screen to stay within the spending limit of $150 to $400. The luxurious 12 inches of multi-touch screen dedicated for web experience at a price of $300 would have been the perfect kick start to get other giant, over-fed-with-our-money corporations to perk up and listen to our demands--produce affordable high-tech devices that don't SUCK!

 

At the age of huge companies devouring small yet innovative, forward progressing inventions, I hope that this isn't the case. Who knows if some big Inc. arranged Crunchpad to be silenced. Maybe $300 was too low for other products to compete. Crunchpad certainly created many controversial moves by promising low price with everything-you-can-do gadget. And if Crunchpad is the victim of capitalism, then I am truly, truly sad...

 

...it could've been a contender...