No warranties offered (haven't tried them... yet): Zenithink 280 http://www.aliexpress.com/category/100005062/tablet-pc.html?pvid=48-1461 http://www.slatedroid.com/topic/31075-linux-on-the-zt-280-c71/page__p__33501... Adrian On Wed, Mar 21, 2012 at 2:42 AM, Russell Coker wrote:

On Wed, 21 Mar 2012, Russell Shaw wrote:

...

How about the Spark tablet?

http://www.slashgear.com/spark-linux-tablet-given-video-rundown-10213078/

...

http://www.geek.com/articles/gadgets/spark-linux-tablet-now-available-to-pr

...

e-order-20120217/

Thanks for the suggestion but the 7" display at 800*600 resolution doesn't compare well with the Samsung Galaxy Note which has 5.3" and 1280*800. If the Galaxy Note is as easy to mod as a Galaxy S then it seems like a better option than the Spark tablet. While the Galaxy Note isn't yet supported by Cyanogenmod I can't imagine such nice and popular hardware not being supported soon.

Basically I'm after something like an iPad2 that can run free software. Nothing really high-end (so not like an iPad 3 that has redefined high-end tablets) but not like a Spark.

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Russell Coker writes:

Maybe I should just give up for the moment and buy something like the Zenithink as an Android ebook reader and delay my plans for a free software tablet. :(

If it's going to be a book reader, why is the Vivaldi tablet (running GNU+Linux) not an option again? -- \ “If you can do no good, at least do no harm.” —_Slapstick_, | `\ Kurt Vonnegut | _o__) | Ben Finney

Interesting discussion guys ... I've been thinking myself of a new purchase along similar lines. It sounds not exactly what Russell's after, but I read a good post recently about installing Debian on a Kindle: http://www.turnkeylinux.org/blog/kindle-root Back in ~2006 I was running Ubuntu on an Asus TabletPC, one of the ones with the convertible format with the keyboard that could be tucked behind the display. Maybe it's unlikely but someday would like to see a good pen-based tablet running an open OS at a reasonable price-point ;) -- Pat. On Wed, Mar 21, 2012 at 7:45 PM, Russell Coker wrote:

On Wed, 21 Mar 2012, Ben Finney wrote:

...

...

Maybe I should just give up for the moment and buy something like the Zenithink as an Android ebook reader and delay my plans for a free software tablet. :(

If it's going to be a book reader, why is the Vivaldi tablet (running GNU+Linux) not an option again?

It's not just an eBook reader.  While reading books is going to be a major purpose of the device web browsing will be an important use.  Also the device won't be primarily used by me so there will be other unforseen demands.

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On Wed, 21 Mar 2012, Ben Finney wrote:

Russell Coker writes:

...

Basically I'm after something like an iPad2 that can run free software.

You will have to compromise significantly on that, I fear.

One or more of:

* It won't be running free software (e.g. you'll run CyanogenMod).

Yes, device driver support is a real problem. But I'm not after 3G support so one major area of non-free drivers is removed from the scope.

* It won't be like the iPad (e.g. you'll get one of the few tablet devices that do support free software).

I'm not after an iPad3, surely wanting an iPad2 like device isn't asking too much!

* It won't be any time soon (you'll wait for one of the free-software OSen to support an iPad-like tablet).

It's a pity that Apple can't just release a modable version of the iPad. Apple make some really nice hardware and system software that's quite OK. If they weren't so opposed to freedom I would occasionally buy things from them. -- My Main Blog http://etbe.coker.com.au/ My Documents Blog http://doc.coker.com.au/