Unless there is some serious restriction, it seems easier to get software right, than hardware + software.
You can install Ubuntu on the Nexus 7 today. https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Nexus7/Installation The Nexus 10 will probably happen too.
Another interesting trick Canonical has talked about is Ubuntu on Android http://www.ubuntu.com/devices/android - essentially running a virtualized linux on the Android kernel. I don't believe it is available yet (their target market appears to be handset manufacturers, not us) and I have my doubts whether it will be useful enough to break into the general market.
WRT getting the software right, it is not easy moving a desktop-oriented system to a tablet/touch-oriented system. Canonical and others have been working that problem, so it will get better over time. This video (from 2010) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nn3m09zkcbo makes it look like it works great. Maybe it is time for me to buy that Nexus 7. :-)
So making a good Linux distribution seems to be what this project is for. It's very unclear what they're actually offering - it seems that any donations will go towards work on a very limited set of missing functionality for existing Linux ports for these devices.
Personally I found the page very misleading.
EDIT: Here's details on Linux on the MiniPC they show:
https://www.miniand.com/forums/forums/2/topics/1
And here's details on Linux on one of the LY-F1 tablet models they show pictures of:
I think this most important work will be doing is to setup and maintain repositories of available packages for the A10 and tablet based improvements. Also we also providing device preloaded and maintaining images for people who don't have time, or don't yet have the skills but would like to run GNU/Linux on their device.
I realize you can buy these devices at cut rates directly from China. Since we have to flash and test these in the USA, we have to pay livable wages to our staff. I realize its not great for the bottom line. It allows us to ship with the latest work we have completed without delaying the production run. This will help to avoid running into Chinese new year and a long production delay.
"By using crowd funding to consolidate the orders we will be able to achieve the prices listed in the rewards and upgrades to the hardware become possible."
Then why is the PengStick/Mini MK802 twice the price of Amazon?
Getting linux running on these devices requires a lot of expertise on your own part, or trawling forums for builds other have created. What they're proposing sounds like a real improvement-
"While we have a good, running Linux system now for all the devices, there are still some rough edges. We intend to fix up the tablet related features, host a central repository of A10 specific packages and create images and guides to make these devices even better. All these efforts will take time and we plan to use the proceeds from the crowd funding to fund the remainder of the software work and maintenance."
In terms of "central repository of A10 specific images", that might be useful, but there's already a wide range of community sites collating information on Linux on A10, without trying to extract cash for it..
The tablets they show are almost certainly LY-F1 - it's sold under dozens of brand names and in a few different configurations and a few different cases, but the specs match perfectly and at least one of the pics are of the case that's most commonly used with the A10 version of the LY-F1.
But most all of the A10 based boards are practically identical - I'm assuming most are variations over some prototype provided by Allwinner given how similar they are.
Also, if you want an Allwinner based tablet there are/will be many available. The main work would be to find one where you can get the schematics, and also spec sheets for all the peripherals. Some companies might be open to releasing that stuff if you pay them.
That said, there's work ongoing to reverse engineer it (Linux works on it, but without hardware acceleration)
Edit: Das keyboard in laptop form with a battery. When I use the keyboard i'm sitting down for 'serious work' anyway, so a bit bigger wouldn't matter; 20 hours battery life + a real programmers keyboard in a clamshell would rock.
Add $5 to have Linux installed on the on board flash.
> free of Google and Android's restrictions
Well, we have an OS that is completely open source. An SDK that can be used on any platform and with any IDE without paying anything. Freedom to write and distribute applications to any device without anyone's approval.
> Hey, it's Linux right? It'll be open, run all the programs I'm familiar with and let me hack around and have some fun right?
Linux is a kernel. No, it won't run the programs made for desktop operating systems just because they use the same kernel, which are likely to offer poor user experience on a tablet anyway.
This is an example of Ubuntu running on the LY-F1 (which is incidentally one of the tablets these guys show pictures of, so it's not very clear what they're actually planning on doing for this money other than passing orders on to distributors and chucking in suitable Ubuntu image):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MyVarHgHMWg
The poor user experience part I agree with, though.
I dont want to run X applications on a tablet, I have tried that before with the n700. I want a fully finger friendly user interface, the one that comes with android works pretty well.
I can understand the appeal of a community owned FOSS user interface, but why attach the linux tag as a selling point.
And because there's a lot of work ongoing to make X apps "finger friendly". E.g. Ubuntu 13.04 has making Ubuntu work better on tablets as a major goal.
And these devices are not just tablets. The MiniPC (which is just a MK802 or MK803) has HDMI out and full HD.
Also $50k of funding seems quite light for this project.
I hope anyway that it succeeds, because it would still be an interesting device.
The tablet form factor is, at its base, a minimal container for a screen. If the screen isn't good, then there goes the whole thing no matter how many other goodies you throw in. Low screen resolution means not good screen.
What's more frustrating is that I share the goals of this device. I want a linux tablet. That is, I want a tablet that will integrate into the workflow I have on my other computing devices, which are all linux.
I don't have very complex requirements for that; I don't need appliKations or Gancy Gesktop Genvironments. I just want a nice high res screen that talks to a bluetooth keyboard when I want, run a standards-compliant web browser, a bunch of tiled terminals, and most importantly Emacs. Android doesn't fit the bill. I can only see appreciating the way Android runs emacs if I was a devoted Buddhist and embraced frequent segfaults as a lesson in patience and discipline.
EDIT: At least that's what the pictures are of. I have that keyboard case, and at least one of those tablets, already.