Linux Tablet

I have purchased a 7-inch tablet that boots an ARM version of Linux. It is the PengPod 700, and there is also a 10-inch version available. They also boot Android, if that is what you want. They can have both, and be dual-boot (that is what I have).

http://www.pengpod.com/

The main reason I want Linux and not Android is this:

1) Full printing support, including networked printers using Linux CUPS printing.
2) Full office suite support using LibreOffice.

Thanks for sharing this site. The dual-boot capability would be nice, especially since Android is so poor at things like printing.

My concerns about the PenPong are the resolution of the screen (800 x 480 on the 7" and 1,024 x 600 on the 10") and whether the build quality of a Chinese-sourced hardware will be any good.

Tim Marcum wrote:
My concerns about the PenPong are the resolution of the screen (800 x 480 on the 7" and 1,024 x 600 on the 10") and whether the build quality of a Chinese-sourced hardware will be any good.

It's a cheap Android tablet, that has a Linux kernel compiled for it. But for around $100, what do you expect? It has it's quirks, and is far from a sleek, finished product. It is a startup operation, that was funded through an Indiegogo crowd funding campaign.

As for it being Chinese made, do you know of anything that isn't?

I didn't mean to denigrate your choice of tablets. I think the concept is wonderful. I especially liked the project on their Web site where they used a 7" tablet as a dedicated interface to a 3D printer. However, I was just saying I would rather spend more to get a higher resolution, faster-processor device.

As far as the comment on Chinese products -- you got me there. That was a little insensitive (and naive) on my part.

I hope that PengPod gets enough profit from it's initial offerings to expand the line. The problem with the deluge of Chinese Android tablets is that the Chinese ARM CPU manufacturers are not releasing the source of their kernel patch. Even though the Linux open-source license requires them to do so, no one can force them to.

The PengPod line uses the Allwinner A10 CPU. It's been said that the kernel source was accidentally put online by one of the tablet manufacturers that use the A10. When discovered, the source was taken offline, but it was too late. The cat was out of the bag, so the Allwinner company went with the flow and "open-sourced" it. They are not doing the same with any other of their CPUs.

It's the low resolution that keeps me from considering it. Other than that, a great bargain.