So the Crunchpad is dead.  The details matter very little so I won’t quote but this really hits me where it hurts.  People think I’m being over dramatic (and maybe I am) but I’m honestly thinking of taking the rest of the day off.

(Yes I’m at work now and yes I post from work on occasion.  I work an average of 68 hours a week and I’m on salary so I only get paid for 40 so I get to update from work on occasion if I feel like it)

Let me try to explain. 

There’s a lot that can be done with a tablet.  I won’t go in to the work I’ve been doing over the past couple of years except to say it has convinced me that our computing world is constructed wrong primarily because many devices are trying to do too much.  As we rely on computing more and more the world is going to realize what I have which is that there are actually two types of devices: Input/Output and Passive view. 

In other words devices that are designed primarily for input but which can be used to view things and devices that are designed to view but can take minimal input.

Tablets are the ideal form for a “passive view” device.  They’re thin, can take very basic input (enough to find and view what you want) and can be carried around relatively easy.  More to the point they mimic an old world device that people already carry around (the paper notebook).  This is a big world that has yet to be opened up for people.  

(Microsoft Tablets don’t count because they’re trying to shove an input/output device into what should be a passive view device.  That’s why they’ve always failed)

No other device holds the promise of a passive tablet right now.  For various reasons they all are missing something (decent browser is the biggest culprit for the current crop of tablets). 

At this point every time I tell this story I get the same response: What about the Apple Tablet?

Here’s the thing.  It’s become en vogue to bash Michael Arrington.  I’ve personally come under attack just for daring to defend him on occasion.  But the reality is he’s at the top of his industry (tech blogs) and he still treats most people well.  He still links to other blogs, he still tries to be open, etc…

(Somewhere Duncan Riley is gritting his teeth and he doesn’t know why.  But I specifically said “most people” to acknowledge the alleged back channel hijinx)

That’s important.  Even if Michael Arrington is the horrible person some accuse him of being behind closed doors it doesn’t matter.  In public he tries to be open and treat people well.

Apple is just the opposite.

I’ve made the case over and over again that no business can really deal with Apple.  I love their devices as a consumer but as a responsible business person I couldn’t purchase hardware from them because I know they don’t care about me.  I know they’ll change things arbitrarily and not give a damn how much it costs me to accommodate those changes.

The Crunchpad had a simple concept which was to design a tablet completely around the web and that made it an ideal platform for realizing the dream of a passive tablet.  Because it's virtually without risk. The web is open and that gives  you certain guarantees.  Guarantees you just can’t get from Apple.  Again, you just can’t buy 100 Apple Tablets and hope Apple decides not to screw you. 

Anyway, that’s my Crunchpad story and that’s why I’m sad today.