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"World's first Ubuntu tablet" looks like a bad idea

"World's first Ubuntu tablet" looks like a bad idea

Posted: 05 Mar 2013, 18:41, by Michael H.

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It's always fun to see the race to become the "world's first" anything. Most of the time, it really doesn't amount to anything, and it looks like that may be the case with the race to be the "world's first Ubuntu tablet". If we're talking about the first Ubuntu tablet to go up for pre-order, that has now happened, and it looks like a bad idea.

The tablet is from Intermatrix, an Australian manufacturer. It's called the U7, and it is listed to have a 1.5GHz quad-core Cortex A9 CPU, quad-core Vivante GC1000+ GPU, 1GB of RAM, 16GB of storage, a 7" IPS capacitive touchscreen, and front and rear webcams. That all sounds fine, but there are some red flags.

First, the minimum requirements for an Ubuntu tablet is 2GB of RAM. We tested the Touch Preview on a Nexus 7, which only has 1GB of RAM, and it was noticeably sluggish. Also, the website claims that the tablet will ship in October, when Canonical has made it clear that Ubuntu tablets won't be shipping until April, when Ubuntu 14.04 is released. Pre-orders are set at AU$299 (US$307), but end up at AU$269 (US$274).10 after a 10% discount. And, if the final price is lower, you will be refunded the difference.

Intermatrix does say that the shipping date, price, and specs are not final and are not guaranteed, but it still doesn't really make sense to offer this pre-order (let alone purchase one). Ubuntu tablets aren't going to be coming for over a year, and a year is a long time in mobile hardware.

source: Intermatrix via OMG!Ubuntu!

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1. k4j98 posted on 05 Mar 2013, 19:58 4 5

Ubuntu is a desktop system, and it's good at it. Keep to what you're good at.

4. MichaelHeller posted on 05 Mar 2013, 20:16 15 0

Yeah, good thing that Apple and Google kept to what they were good at. Would have sucked if they branched out into new products.

5. Contreramanjaro posted on 05 Mar 2013, 20:47 2 2

Also, I don't think tablet and phone OS versions are so much of a branching out as a logical next step. Desktops are becoming much less important so portable computing is where you want to be going.

13. simplyj posted on 06 Mar 2013, 08:43 0 1

Apple and Google did branch out, what are you talking about? Apple went from the desktop OS to making iOS for phones and tablets, and you have Apple TV. Google has gone from a search engine to making Android, Chome browser, Chrome OS, Google TV, etc.

14. MichaelHeller posted on 06 Mar 2013, 11:19 1 1

*sarcasm*

This comment is posted in response to #13 Show

This comment is posted in response to #13 Hide

2. sorcio46 posted on 05 Mar 2013, 19:59 2 0

Preorder a thing that would come in one year is a bit weird...

It's a tablet, not an hand made Pagani !

6. sks1969 posted on 05 Mar 2013, 22:50 2 1

Please title your article properly... To PA anything order than Android, WP, iphone is a bad idea, seems to me that whatever makes money is good and anything new is not.
Ubuntu is all about flexibility. Ubuntu does not prevent you to release a tablet with whatever version is currently available, we have upgrade options later. we have an ARM version for Ubuntu for about a year now.

8. giri5555 posted on 05 Mar 2013, 23:33 0 0

agree man, I was a fan of this site earlier, but now a days it seems these guys have lost it completely, or may they are getting paid by Apple. Quality of articles have seriously depreciated, they are focusing more on quantity of articles than quality. I hope these writers are not 16 year olds!

7. giri5555 posted on 05 Mar 2013, 23:28 2 1

PA can't tolerate a new OS enter to the market, they only worship iOS...

11. appleroyally. (banned) posted on 06 Mar 2013, 03:30 0 3

We all like that

15. MichaelHeller posted on 06 Mar 2013, 11:20 0 0

Have you completely ignored all of our other Ubuntu coverage?

9. rusticguy posted on 06 Mar 2013, 01:29 2 0

Good at least someone other than big players dared to take the lead. This would make others start thinking. Good for Ubuntu. All Ubuntu needs is not APPS but good collection of GAMES to begin with in addition to 10-12 good productivity/office related apps. Have all the popular GAMES and Ubuntu will become popular.

10. darac posted on 06 Mar 2013, 02:24 0 0

It's not such an issue.
There's Wine and the Steam is taking an initiative

12. rusticguy posted on 06 Mar 2013, 05:57 0 0

Last when i tried Wine it couldn't run Outlook 2007 with Axigen connector :)

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"World's first Ubuntu tablet" looks like a bad idea

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14 Comments Follow Following

1. k4j98 posted on 05 Mar 2013, 19:58 4 5

4. MichaelHeller posted on 05 Mar 2013, 20:16 15 0

5. Contreramanjaro posted on 05 Mar 2013, 20:47 2 2

13. simplyj posted on 06 Mar 2013, 08:43 0 1

14. MichaelHeller posted on 06 Mar 2013, 11:19 1 1

2. sorcio46 posted on 05 Mar 2013, 19:59 2 0

6. sks1969 posted on 05 Mar 2013, 22:50 2 1

8. giri5555 posted on 05 Mar 2013, 23:33 0 0

7. giri5555 posted on 05 Mar 2013, 23:28 2 1

11. appleroyally. (banned) posted on 06 Mar 2013, 03:30 0 3

15. MichaelHeller posted on 06 Mar 2013, 11:20 0 0

9. rusticguy posted on 06 Mar 2013, 01:29 2 0

10. darac posted on 06 Mar 2013, 02:24 0 0

12. rusticguy posted on 06 Mar 2013, 05:57 0 0

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