Cheap Good Linux Tablet PC from Pengpod

Image Credit: Hot Hardware

Linux is well known for its nature of being available for free. Android itself is based on Linux. So it is only a matter of time before someone made a Linux tablet. While this is the first Linux tablet, this is a very interesting tablet. Pengpod, founded by Neal Peacock is launching an Indiegogo campaign to raise money for Linux tablet with a $49,000 goal.

There will be three different tablet models:

PengPod 1000 Tablet 

PengPod’s 10 inch tablet features a 1024 x 600 pixel display, 1 GB of RAM, 8GB of storage, 2 USB ports, 1 USB OTG port, HDMI, and a front-facing 0.3MP camera. 

It has a microSD card slot and can dual boot two operating systems by running one from internal storage and a second OS from the SD card. 

Backers who pledge $185 or more on Indiegogo can reserve this tablet… but if the project doesn’t meet its $49,000 goal, the order will be canceled. 

PengPod 700 Tablet 

This tablet has a 7 inch, 800 x 480 pixel display, a 1.3MP front-facing camera, and 1 USB OTG port. It also has 1GB of RAM and 8GB of storage. 

The smaller tablet has a battery that’s about half the size of the PengPod 1000′s battery — but the smaller scree probably won’t consume as much power. 

PengPod is offering an early bird special on this model. The first 25 backers to pledge $99 or more can claim one. After that, the tablet will go for $120. 

PengStick 

PengPod is also offering a USB thumb drive-sized device called the PengStick which has 1GB of RAM, 4GB of storage, 1 USB port, a USB OTG port, HDMI output, and WiFi. 

If the PengStick (which goes for $85) looks familiar, that’s because it’s virtually identical to the MK802. The difference is that PengPod hopes to ship the PengStick with a fully functional Linux-based operating system as an alternative to Android. 

Other devices 

If PengPod exceeds its crowdfunding goals, the company could add other devices to the mix including a 10 inch netbook, another 7 inch tablet, and a different mini PC.

Source: Liliputing

For now it is planned for the tablets to come preloaded with standard Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. With the Linux OS, on kernel 3.0.42, available as a dual-boot via Micro-SD card. Should you wish to have it preloaded with Linux OS inside, it will cost you $5 extra and a longer waiting time. The Linux preloaded will be delivered several weeks after the first PengPod ships.