Skytone Alpha-680
 

ARM based 7" convertible tablet netbook, for Android. $99.

d-pad and buttons on either side of the screen, too.

I wonder how hard it'd be to get Mer and/or OpenPandora on it... especially multi-booting all 3. Even if you just use the shell, rip out the motherboard, and put the beagleboard in it, that'd still seem like a fair price just for the case.

http://phandroid.com/2009/04/21/skyt...ndroid-netbook


And now here's an engadget article as well:

http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/21/s...netbook-tablet

Re: Skytone Alpha-680
 

Very hard... Its a little lacking on the touchSCREEN front :D

Re: Skytone Alpha-680
 

I wouldactually like to see sutch a device. This is a very interesting netbook/tablet. does it say how to get one?

Re: Skytone Alpha-680
 

You sure? It didn't seem conclusive what kind of screen it has. It has a stylus... but it doesn't mention the screen in the input devices. But it's hard to imagine a mobile convertible tablet device that doesn't have a touch screen...

Re: Skytone Alpha-680
 

Here's the 680's page on the company site:

http://www.skytone.net.cn/en/products.php?bigclass=4

And the 600, which is the same thing but with some other Linux dist. on it:

http://www.skytone.net.cn/en/product...10&show_type=2

The 200 and 700 look interesting too... I'd love to see Mer ported to them.

Re: Skytone Alpha-680
 

I was thinking about contacting the company to see about the availability of the 600 and 680, and in what markets.

If someone beats me to it, let us know their response.

Re: Skytone Alpha-680
 

Yes, I'm sure. The touchscreen is mentioned in the article but not on the company site. In fact in the specifications we read:

Display 7“ TFT LCD true color
Input Device 80 Key standard keyboard; Capacitive TouchPad

If there was a touchscreen, it would have been listed alongside the screen and not called a Pad :)

Re: Skytone Alpha-680
 

Then why does it have a stylus? :-)

Re: Skytone Alpha-680
 

It has? It says "Pen" on the picture, maybe its a pen holder? :D

Re: Skytone Alpha-680
 

I think we're both speculating. I sent them an email asking (cut and paste from the email, with two slight edits):


1) Do the Alpha-680 and/or Alpha-600 have touch screens?

2) Is it at all possible to get larger RAM and/or Storage options for
these devices?

3) Is the Alpha-600 available in the US? in quantity only, or in unit
sales? If so, for how much, and how do I buy it?

4) When will the Alpha-680 be available in the US? in quantity only,
or in unit sales? And how will I buy it?

5) For the Alpha-600, and [their] other Linux device, have [they] looked at the Mer linux distribution? It's an open community version of Nokia's Maemo linux. Therefore, it has a strong application base to build from, very well thought out tablet based GUI, and is a mature/stable platform. It would be interesting to see it on the Alpha-600, Alpha-200, and Alpha-700.

Re: Skytone Alpha-680
 

No Bluetooth.

Re: Skytone Alpha-680
 

I have seen the skytone 680/700 in a show held in HK a few days ago. The 680 actually has touch screen running google android and using freescale i.mx31 CPU. The 700 is using MIPS CPU. They are ODM and don't target directly to consumer market.

Re: Skytone Alpha-680
 

Looks like this might be resurfacing as an Airis Alpha 680.

http://pdadb.net/index.php?m=specs&i...iris_alpha_680

The specs are so close to being great, but still not quite there.