> ...meanwhile, LimePC pops up again in an engineers conference, showing
> evidence that the products actually exist. But why they never get to first world market?

From your link:

"LinkBook: same as LimeBook A9 but with a Freescale MPC5121e. I think its called the LimeBook at www.limepc.com"

Seems this "Linkbook" labelled LimeBook has been released to South Africa meanwhile.

Press release:
http://www.vodacom.com/news_article.php?articleID=593

Website:
http://www.linkbook.co.za

More:
http://www.google.com/search?q=vodacom+linkbook+freescale
http://www.google.com/search?q=vodacom+linkbook+motorola [sic!]
http://www.google.com/search?q=vodacom+linkbook+powerpc
http://www.google.com/search?q=vodacom+linkbook

Pretty cute! This "Linkbook" looks like the enhanced LimeBook I'd love to own. But is it really an MPC5121e powered device? Not even the "linuxfordevices" link assures so...

I've even taken a look at the user manual, it looks reasonably polished. Absolutely zero technical details, of course. Pity.

I agree that the "new" CherryPal "Asia" looks nicer, but this LinkBook IS the realization of a broadly marketed consumer product based on the MPC5121e, something believed almost impossible.

Funny tip: From the most insightful TechCentral hands on, it says: "the projecth has morphed over the years"



On the other hand, I find obscene to attempt to make a buck from the third world. Who knows, perhaps some pretend that it's better to deliver computers and internet connections for profit than drinkable water...

> This "Linkbook" looks like the enhanced LimeBook I'd love to own.

Enhanced? You mean the software side?

> is it really an MPC5121e powered device?

See your link to powerdeveloper.org where I quoted from ;-)

> Not even the "linuxfordevices" link assures so...

"The CPU is presumably one of Freescale's PowerPC processors" could go into more detail, yes.

> it says: "the projecth has morphed over the years"

That line is aimed at the OLPC project, not at the Linkbook.

Quote:

Yes, but perhaps the hardware is also better, as a long time has passed since the first LimeBook was made. By the way, I'd love to see a certain operating system "enhancement" for this little computer...

All in all, it would be better judged if we had one at our fingertips. Who knows, is there any interested amigan in South Africa?

Quote:

Sure that information from myself solves the question?

Quote:

That's what I meant, I'd love if it was true, but not even a technical web site dares to confirm. Alright, who cares about the CPU in todays world... Well, we do! (are we that weird?)

See Andreas, after freescale switching (almost) to ARM, I get an unexpectedly pleasant surprise at every PowerPC consumer divice that pops up anywhere.

> perhaps the hardware is also better, as a long time has passed since the
> first LimeBook was made.

I can't see any hardware enhancement in the reported Linkbook specs over the LimeBook Z9 specs.

http://www.limepc.com/book_specs.shtml

> Sure that information from myself solves the question?

Yes, I am :-) The Linkbook is a rebadged LimeBook Z9 for sure.

> not even a technical web site dares to confirm.

The following Google searches may reveal something:

http://www.google.com/search?q=linkbook+limebook
http://www.google.com/search?q=linkbook+limepc

Problem is I don't know any Portuguese ;-)

> who cares about the CPU in todays world... Well, we do!

Do you even doubt the widely reported perception that the Linkbook has a Freescale PowerPC CPU? :-)

|||




[ Edited by Velcro_SP 20.04.2011 - 06:29 ]

Quote:

Agreed. It was also the most probable sittuation.

Quote:

It surprises me that there's more information from tech sites that are not among the leading technology countries than the usual ones.

For us spaniards, it's very easy to understand portuguese, and the brazilian "tecnologia.ig.com.br" article seems as complete as it can be. Google's translation is fairly good, but reveals nothing new.
Also linked is an article from "linuxfordevices.com" which holds more information, coming from "techcentral.co.za" article who were the ones that actually tested the Linkbook, with mixed feelings: Two year Old Ubuntu "Hardy Heron" operating system, with a simple but functional user interface on top, and more applications that you might expect.

The biggest downer is an amazingly short battery life, someting very surprising, given the supposed MPC5121e SOC. Surprising or obvious? This chip (for which they say that comes from Motorola, not frescale) although tempting for a mobile device, is actually for another kind of mobile device: A car...

|||

[ Edited by Velcro_SP 20.04.2011 - 06:31 ]

Quote:

I'm no fool, sorry. Nor anyone else here. The big deal, indeed, is not about that "false" operating system that everybody noticed anyway. The deal is the price tag.

Quote:

Whatever you say, the computer business is about making money. Developing countries are, for business, just a virgin market to exploit. Who knows, if I ran a business, I might be somehow forced to attempt the same. Anyway, the first world countries are overcrowded with computers already.

|||

[ Edited by Velcro_SP 20.04.2011 - 06:28 ]

> Annoying and off-the-point and lame and irrelevant, like about 70% of Wolf's links

I'm positively surprised by the fact that you actually find as much as about 30% of my links enjoyable and on-the-point and persuasive and relevant. That's way more than I had expected judging from your past (non-)ability to grasp their implications on the matter discussed.

Me bored.

> Me bored.

I think you answered the wrong posting (see threaded view) ;-)

>> The Linkbook is a rebadged LimeBook Z9 for sure.

> Agreed. It was also the most probable sittuation.

BBRV share our view on this:

"yes, this is the same thing."
http://www.powerdeveloper.org/forums/viewtopic.php?p=13527#13527

|||

[ Edited by Velcro_SP 20.04.2011 - 06:26 ]

> Wolf gaping error of logic #35: assumes everything not awful must be great.

You must find these about 30% of my links on-the-point and relevant at least. Or can there be something between off-the-point and on-the-point or between irrelevant and relevant?

Sorry for the latecomer:

> This chip [...] although tempting for a mobile device, is actually for
> another kind of mobile device: A car...

Freescale target the MPC5121e also at:

- Set-top boxes
- Gaming and pachinko machines
- Ultra-mobile PCs

Source: http://www.freescale.com/webapp/sps/site/prod_summary.jsp?code=MPC5121e

> good to see they have removed this tri-core nonsense from the description of the C120.

They didn't:

"The Freescale power architecture triple-core 5121e processor provides a fantastic Internet browsing and multimedia user experience."
http://www.cherrypal.com/products.php

"The Freescale power architecture triple-core 5121e processor provides a pleasant Internet browsing and multimedia user experience."
http://www.cherrypal.com/secure/product_info.php?products_id=1

I've just been bored enough to watch(*) Seybold's talk he gave at Standford University in early June (blog entry, abstract, slides), and guess what he states at 24:38 in respect to the processor of the C114/C120 ;-)
(Btw, there appears some new product coming, a sub-$300 tablet computer called "America". See page 11 in the slides, or at 37:30 in the video stream, or there.)

(*) stream URL: mms://lang.stanford.edu/courses/ee380/100602/100602-ee380-500.wmv

Edit: Youtube video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-paFEBAjHPo

> "techcentral.co.za" article who were the ones that actually tested the Linkbook,
> with mixed feelings

Another review article:
http://mybroadband.co.za/news/reviews/13724-Linkbook-review.html

Discussions of the Linkbook:
http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/showthread.php/230669-Linkbook-from-Vodacom-arrives
http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/showthread.php/249890-Vodacom-Linkbook-review
http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/showthread.php/259369-Linkbook-giveaway-Enter-now

Interesting posting from one of those threads:

"I was thinking of getting one of these for each of my nieces. They're under 8 years old, and do not need data, so I wanted just the LinkBook, vc can keep their data. So I phoned up the local Vodashop and asked them. Yes, you can buy it cash, for R 3276"

So it seems the Linkbook is also available without Vodacom contract for 3276 R (which is about 340 EUR at the moment).

Linkbook "hacks":
http://blog.hexdream.za.net/2010/08/vodacom-linkbook-hacks/


Edit: Another thread:
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1602866

[ Edited by Andreas_Wolf on 2010/10/22 12:19 ]

> Wonder what Max Seybold will do next time.

"I have decided to step down as CEO of Cherrypal and handed over the keys to John Collier who is now responsible for the day-to-day operations."
http://www.cherrypal.com/GreenOpenFair/2010/10/05/edwinfoundation/

Apparently, Seybold is now the CTO.

Amazing research, as always Andreas. You are dedicating a lot of time to this, perhaps more than it deserves...

But the fact is that the Linkbook does exist indeed, as that "hacks" link you provide testifies. It's a great read, by the way. Also, it seems some people are actually quite happy with it. What a pity it has never reached outside small markets.

> it has never reached outside small markets.

East Asia is damn big don't you think? ;-) We just don't know how widespread it is there.

Update:

>> good to see they have removed this tri-core nonsense from the
>> description of the C120.

> They didn't:
>
> "The Freescale power architecture triple-core 5121e processor provides a
> fantastic Internet browsing and multimedia user experience."
> http://www.cherrypal.com/products.php
>
> "The Freescale power architecture triple-core 5121e processor provides a
> pleasant Internet browsing and multimedia user experience."
> http://www.cherrypal.com/secure/product_info.php?products_id=1

Now they've added even another funny claim to the "triple-core" nonsense. The line "access to the Green Maraschiono Cloud (optional)" has been replaced by "Designed in Palo Alto, manufactured in Asia" in their new partner store.

> there appears some new product coming, a sub-$300 tablet computer called "America".

It's even sub-$200:

http://www.cherrypal.com/home.htm
http://www.prlog.org/10983212-cherrypal-launches-powerful-7-inch-188-android-21-3d-tablet-computer-for-the-sub-ipad-market.html

Video presentations by Max Seybold:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5sxS-muxjQ ("800 GHz processor" ;-)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X3kSQSL41C0

Unboxing video:
http://www.vimeo.com/16302600 (interesting: "Model number: S1003" at 3:15)

Reviews:
http://hothardware.com/Reviews/CherryPad-7Inch-Android-Tablet-Video-Review/
http://blog.laptopmag.com/cherrypal-cherrypad-america-hands-on-an-188-android-tablet-that-works
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2371640,00.asp (very brief)
http://www.laptopmag.com/review/tablets/cherrypal-cherrypad.aspx
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2372225,00.asp

Edit: Added another video URL.
Edit2: Added some more links.
Edit3: Added another review.
Edit4: Added PCMag review.

[ Edited by Andreas_Wolf on 2010/10/19 23:43 ]
[ Edited by Andreas_Wolf on 2010/10/30 16:16 ]
[ Edited by Andreas_Wolf on 2010/11/4 18:20 ]
[ Edited by Andreas_Wolf on 2010/11/10 0:31 ]

Quote:

Watching it right now. Quite boring, which is very adequate for a consumer product: It works. The browsing experience was kind of depressing, with those very nineties like "mobile version" web sites. In all, it's like my brief experience with demo iPads at stores: It simply bores me, it can't do anything new or interesting.

But anyway, hey, it works, it seems to do everything the iPad does, only with less bells and wistles... and expense. Oh, shit, it has even reached mainstream, influential web sites...

Which led me to this phylosophical controversy: Why on earth are people so excited about tablets, that just do a subset of the things we've been doing since ages on our regular computers? How clever is a population that gets impressed by a form factor alone?

And a second thought: MorphOS Team, for god's sake, go ARM! There's such an amount of people, with orders of magnitude LESS talent than you, doing it...

You might say, this guy first said "go x86", and now this... Right, but just imagine the inevitable competition with a certain very popular operating system on x86. Now think how well MorphOS would compete against the kind of operating systems running on these ARM based toys. We ARE competitive! No one would repeat the sick "bah, MorphOS, it doesn't run office". I bet we meet ALL the requirements people expect from tablets...

...only faster. WAY faster. And cooler. Immensely cooler.

> very adequate for a consumer product: It works.

To be sure of what anyone who knows Cherrypal's history knows anyway I did some search for the "Cherrypal developed" CherryPad America's looks and specs and found this:

http://www.touchscreendirect.co.uk/0001-560800-B0043LVKDI-DWM_R703_Tablet_PC_with_7_Inch_LCDAndroid_211280768_Pixels_Resolution.html
http://www.amazon.co.uk/DWM-R703-Tablet-Android-Pixels-Resolution/dp/B0043LVKDI

...with the difference that it's said to have a Telechips processor instead of the CherryPad's alleged Samsung processor.

> The browsing experience was kind of depressing, with those very nineties like
> "mobile version" web sites.

The reason for this is that Android runs on smaller screen cell phones usually and only just recently also on the bigger screen tablet PCs. The web servers are detecting the client's Android system but can't tell a cell phone from a tablet PC obviously and thus change to the mobile version of the website for either device. To circumvent this the website would have to check the client's screen resolution via JavaScript for example and decide based on that.

> it has even reached mainstream, influential web sites

Didn't each and every Cherrypal product reach that site to date?

Edit:
http://www.the-digital-reader.com/2010/10/08/cherrypal-start-their-scams-again-this-time-with-an-android-tablet/

[ Edited by Andreas_Wolf on 2010/10/14 23:29 ]