Raspberry Pi Forums

Hello everybody! (7/29/2015 update)

I would like to introduce my project idea. First, I encourage you to comment and criticise my idea because I would like to make it as good as it can possibly be. Here's the general idea. My plan is to start a Kickstarter campaign for PiTab project. PiTab is an open-source Raspberry Pi 2 Model B/ A+ powered tablet with 7" 800x480p/ 10" HD capacitive touchscreen (connected via HDMI cable), WiFi, Bluetooth, speaker, GPIO pins on the side, 2x low profile USB connectors, tiny switch, 32 GB Micro SD with preinstalled Raspbian, Li ion battery for approximately 5 work hours and a PiCam. The case itself would be 3D-printed and available in few colors, everything would be secured with machine screws and the tablet wouldn't be thicker than 2-2,5 centimeters. Everything would be preassembled, drivers installed and, of course, tested. Finished product would sell for about 200 dollars .

Unlike other RPi tablets mine is designed to be thin, lightweight, with smooth design, connecors accessible from the outside, and, most importantly, full GPIO access for developing electronics projects.

Here's the short story how I started
I got the idea when I worked on few electronics projects and everything was so messy and tangled: big HDMI connected to TV, power cable, powered USB hub (not to mention short cabls and power-socket problems),got frustrated when had to connect jumper wires to GPIOs because cases are poorly designed (cases have narrow openings and are very high), using mouse and keyboard, need to disconnect some cables when changing workspace or when demonstrating..... And I thought:"Hey, it would be nice to have it all in one device which can be carried arround." and got the idea.

And most important of all... Would you be interested in it (and how many)?
If there is more than 10 requests, I will consider creating a prototype and start production.
Still developing final design for a prototype, feel free to advise/comment.

how does your project compare to the other RPI tablet projects that have been on kickstarter and elsewhere?

tpylkko wrote:how does your project compare to the other RPI tablet projects that have been on kickstarter and elsewhere?

Well, unlike others, mine has smooth design, full GPIO access, modified USB ports on the outside(all connectors are located on sides of the tablet), the Pi itself is secured in the case (doesn't need to be removed for doing GPIO projects or charging), no empty/unused space inside the case,

What use do you see for this device? Why would someone buy this rather than a cheap proper tablet? I don't think you can match size, weight, battery life, apps or price.

Is there a killer application for a Pi tablet?

PiGraham wrote:What use do you see for this device? Why would someone buy this rather than a cheap proper tablet? I don't think you can match size, weight, battery life, apps or price.

Is there a killer application for a Pi tablet?

I had similar concerns and questions when I saw others make RPi-powered portable devices.

I would like to note that I have a proper tablet, yet it cannot do what I want (from programmer/engineer's perspective). It runs Andoid, doesn't have GPIOs, cannot interact with electroics/sensors and most importantly, I cannot modify it to do everything I'd like to do what I want. On the other hand Raspberry Pi is open-source little computer which is fully modofiable (and runs Linux) and ideal motherboard for open-source tablet.

True. PiTab will obviously be less powerful than "real" tablets, also thicker and heavier. But more capable, it will run Linux (Raspbian) and do whatever its user wants it to.

My goal is to make Raspberry Pi portable and fully functional as a portable device. Almost all portable Pis lack something (ext. USB, GPIO access, camera, touch, battery life, design, mass etc.) I simply want to improve user experience and make it possible to use the most of Raspberry pi without worrying about cables, power, monitors, dongles...

Considering its use... user decides what to do with it, it's completely open-source (modifiable and hackable).

In brevi, it can be anything you want it to be.

It can be used as fully functional tablet, tablet which can control electronics (aka microcontroller), for home automation, learning, developnig electronics projects, portable oscilloscope, for fun.

Note that you may be able to run Linux on your tablet:

http://www.linux-magazine.com/Online/Fe ... e-to-Linux

You can obviously write your own apps for Android.

You can use USB or Bluetooth, WIFI for GPIO.

What specifically do you want to do with it? All the examples you listed could be done on a tablet.

The big thing Pi lacks for a handheld is power management.

By all means do what you like with your Pi. It will be a learning experience. But if you want to sell it make sure you are offering something people will actually buy.

It may make more sense to use a Pi as an IoT device and a standard tablet as a portable GUI / controller

PiGraham wrote:Note that you may be able to run Linux on your tablet:

http://www.linux-magazine.com/Online/Fe ... e-to-Linux

You can obviously write your own apps for Android.

You can use USB or Bluetooth, WIFI for GPIO.

What specifically do you want to do with it? All the examples you listed could be done on a tablet.

The big thing Pi lacks for a handheld is power management.

By all means do what you like with your Pi. It will be a learning experience. But if you want to sell it make sure you are offering something people will actually buy.

You are absolutely right. I would like some advice or examples what would people like to buy considering Pi.
Considering Linux on Android tablet, I meant Linux OS, not an app (app itself is good).

I will consider any proper advice/argument. Thank you for commenting and feel free to proceed. I won't give up on my project and I certainly want to improve it.

Found one on Kickstarter but it is only a 10" monitor with battery and back cover (and Pi): https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/pi ... escription
PiTablet is certainly ok but it is only a monitor without touch with batter, cables and cover. It is not a true tablet/ doesn't even have touch.

Here is Raspitab: http://www.geeky-gadgets.com/raspitab-r ... 1-11-2014/
It is a nice tablet yet it lacks GPIO and it could be few mm thinner.

I am here to offer a fully functional and tested device and guarantee it will work and be tested before packaging.

considering power management, I found a shield: http://www.raspberrypi-spy.co.uk/2015/0 ... pberry-pi/
I will use sthg like that to enable true tablet experience.
It won't be on top of the Pi because it wil make the PiTab thicker, it would be modified and placed next to it.

What kind of price are you aiming at?

Even Tesco's do a very nice 8.3" tablet (Hudl2) running KitKat for £99. I doubt whether you're going to be able to cram everything in and get a working version of KitKat or Lollipop on a RPi2 for anywhere near that price. So there's no market for your "PiTab".

To be able to get to market you're going to need to be much closer to £50 (and £35 of that is the price of the RPI2) because otherwise everyone will just head to Tesco, buy their Hudl2 and run away happy.

Getting a working version of Android is the thing that stops you dead in your track. There's no working version of Android available for the RPi2. The desire for a Raspbian based tablet is zero.

Thank you for your opinion DougieLawson, I appreciate your post.
I know that there are Android tablets with fast CPUs long life batteries and stuff. I wanted to make something different, something open-source, something modifiable and based on RPi computer. PiTab cannot be compared to usual tablets. My price goal is around 200 dollars (for now).

A Pi 2 plus touchscreen is definitely going to be more expensive than a cheap tablet.
Add battery, case etc and you really have to value a GPIO port highly, and not care much about packaging or battery life to go for a Pi Tablet.

From a big reputable component distributor:

7" dual core £50 (incl. VAT)
http://cpc.farnell.com/prestigio/pmt337 ... dp/SB05633

10" quad core £72 (incl. VAT)
http://cpc.farnell.com/cello/t1124/10-1 ... dp/SB05694

3.1415926535 wrote:considering power management, I found a shield: http://www.raspberrypi-spy.co.uk/2015/0 ... pberry-pi/
I will use sthg like that to enable true tablet experience.
It won't be on top of the Pi because it wil make the PiTab thicker, it would be modified and placed next to it.

That will allow the Pi to turn of under software control, but it doesn't help to operate in low power, fast start modes like a tablet. People expect to pick up a tablet, touch a button and have it ready to go instantly. You can't do that on a Pi runningRaspbian. People will expect batteries to last days in standby and hours (a day) with use. You will need a big expensive weighty battery to get that on a Pi.

Hi there. I am interested in your product.
The truth is that only people who appreciate Raspberry Pi and open-source electronics would be interested. I am one of them.
I hate thing that when I want to go to another room I have to shut down the Pi, take all cables and reconnect them agian and again. My wife is on our Desktop PC, kids watch TV most of the time and I can do mywork only when they aren't around. I even considered buyin a monitor for my Pi but wouldn't help. I almost bought PiTop kit (Pi laptop) but it was too expensive and poorly designed. I would appreciate to see a prototype or a video of your product before buying it.

So, if you start your project contact me.

Take care.

I would use 9000/10000 mAh battery. I value the hole thing, just want to pack it in a portable device with nice design.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/ ... T-210.html this is a webfound PiPad which costs 350 dollars, just for comparison.

3.1415926535 wrote:http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/ ... T-210.html this is a webfound PiPad which costs 350 dollars, just for comparison.

It's a piece of art, but not a practical tablet.
And $350!! (Note it's not on sale, that's just the parts cost)

Good Luck with it.

I don't think you can compare it to a 'normal' tablet and expect users to be the same as those that buy a Hudl from Tesco to browse the net, send email etc. Yes it will do that BUT I expect users to use it who want to programme, use the GPIO etc.

How many people will pay the price I have no idea.

Gordon77

PiGraham wrote:

3.1415926535 wrote:http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/ ... T-210.html this is a webfound PiPad which costs 350 dollars, just for comparison.

It's a piece of art, but not a practical tablet.
And $350!! (Note it's not on sale, that's just the parts cost)

Here's his build page.

There are several cost cutting measures that could be taken.

You can ditch the USB hub that he bought (not needed for a B+ or Pi2B).

Is the Bluetooth keyboard an essential part of the "tablet" build? If so you can probably get a cheaper one.

The headphone amplifier is quite expensive, you could make a cheaper one for a lot less, (convenience of a prebuilt one vs time / effort cost of building your own).

BMS Doug wrote:

PiGraham wrote:

3.1415926535 wrote:http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/ ... T-210.html this is a webfound PiPad which costs 350 dollars, just for comparison.

It's a piece of art, but not a practical tablet.
And $350!! (Note it's not on sale, that's just the parts cost)

Here's his build page.

There are several cost cutting measures that could be taken.

You can ditch the USB hub that he bought (not needed for a B+ or Pi2B).

Is the Bluetooth keyboard an essential part of the "tablet" build? If so you can probably get a cheaper one.

The headphone amplifier is quite expensive, you could make a cheaper one for a lot less, (convenience of a prebuilt one vs time / effort cost of building your own).

You are right, it is not value engineered and could be done cheaper. Note, however, that member 3.1415926535 has a target price of $200, still twice the cost of a more capable tablet, and I think that will difficult to achieve in a commercially viable small volume production run.

There was the Pengpod Linux tablet.
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/peng ... pcs#/story
Doesn't seem to have worked out. pengpod.com is now dead.

PiGraham wrote:

BMS Doug wrote:There are several cost cutting measures that could be taken.

You are right, it is not value engineered and could be done cheaper. Note, however, that member 3.1415926535 has a target price of $200, still twice the cost of a more capable tablet, and I think that will difficult to achieve in a commercially viable small volume production run.

I'm sure that very few people will want to buy a pre-made PiTablet, I certainly wouldn't.

Most people looking to buy a tablet will be wanting the kind of Performance or Price that a PiTab can't compete with.
Most people wanting a PiTab will be doing so for the challenge of building their own, buying one misses that point.

I may (at some nebulous future time) decide to build my own PiTab (I have most of the components for it already, just need a 10" screen and LDVS board), If I do so then it will be with the knowledge that I'll still be able to steal the parts for another project in the future.

PiGraham wrote:There was the Pengpod Linux tablet.
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/peng ... pcs#/story
Doesn't seem to have worked out. pengpod.com is now dead.

It seems that that did actually make (some of) them.

as one of the few people who had a Pengpod I can report that there were some serous performance issues with it. It was like having my old Nokia n810 with Mer would be if I still had it today. The project was more about proving it could be done rather than providing an end user ready product.

BMS Doug wrote:

PiGraham wrote:

3.1415926535 wrote:http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/ ... T-210.html this is a webfound PiPad which costs 350 dollars, just for comparison.

It's a piece of art, but not a practical tablet.
And $350!! (Note it's not on sale, that's just the parts cost)

Here's his build page.

There are several cost cutting measures that could be taken.

You can ditch the USB hub that he bought (not needed for a B+ or Pi2B).

Is the Bluetooth keyboard an essential part of the "tablet" build? If so you can probably get a cheaper one.

The headphone amplifier is quite expensive, you could make a cheaper one for a lot less, (convenience of a prebuilt one vs time / effort cost of building your own).

It has touchscreen, I think thai it doesn't need BT keyboard.