I would think it’s hard to stay in business promoting Linux-first products as it is, and the higher price is because they know they will sell fewer units, and so they need to recoup a higher per-unit cost to functionally stay in business.
I agree that the price seems a bit absurdly high, but finding a quality Linux tablet of any type seems pretty dicey as it is.
For example, this Linux tablet from Pine64 is more affordable, but with a Rockchip RK3566 it’s just way underpowered compared to the N100, and that’s over $200. Further, the Pine64 seems restricted to 64gb eMMC while the Juno Tab 3 can be upgraded to 2tb storage with its M.2 slot. I see no mention of an M.2 slot for the Pine64 Tablet. This genuinely seems like a more fully featured tablet compared to other available Linux-first tablets.
The PineTab doesn’t even have a wifi/bt radio that’s supported by its own OS. When you’re an OEM and you’re choosing what chips you’re putting in a design, I think you should stick to chips that are usable. Chips where the manufacturer has written specs and maybe even a driver that transforms “a piece of glass with a lead frame” into something with a purpose.
I would think it’s hard to stay in business promoting Linux-first products as it is, and the higher price is because they know they will sell fewer units, and so they need to recoup a higher per-unit cost to functionally stay in business.
I agree that the price seems a bit absurdly high, but finding a quality Linux tablet of any type seems pretty dicey as it is.
EDIT: https://pine64.com/product/pinetab2-10-1-4gb-64gb-linux-tablet-with-detached-backlit-keyboard/
For example, this Linux tablet from Pine64 is more affordable, but with a Rockchip RK3566 it’s just way underpowered compared to the N100, and that’s over $200. Further, the Pine64 seems restricted to 64gb eMMC while the Juno Tab 3 can be upgraded to 2tb storage with its M.2 slot. I see no mention of an M.2 slot for the Pine64 Tablet. This genuinely seems like a more fully featured tablet compared to other available Linux-first tablets.
StarLabs has one with an N200 but that’s still dated
The PineTab doesn’t even have a wifi/bt radio that’s supported by its own OS. When you’re an OEM and you’re choosing what chips you’re putting in a design, I think you should stick to chips that are usable. Chips where the manufacturer has written specs and maybe even a driver that transforms “a piece of glass with a lead frame” into something with a purpose.
Anyway, that’s just how I feel.