We have been hearing about Ubuntu Tablet for the past couple of months. Already there is a buzz around Ubuntu Touch OS and Canonical’s operating system that is going to run smartphones and tablets. The gesture-based navigation is very interesting and the platform quite promising.
Ubuntu-powered tablets and smartphones are not going to be here until 2014. Nevertheless, we already see the first Ubuntu tablet up for pre-order along with an earlier shipping date. It is not only odd but rather disappointing. The pre-order page displays the price tag of US$307 and release date of October that is subject to change.
Although the specs are not bad but nothing to boast of either and it seems a bit unusual to put the gadget on pre order. The first Ubuntu-based tablet offered for pre-order is not gathering much fans. It doesn’t seem like a good idea at all.
Developed by Australia’s Intermatrix , U7 arrives with a quad-core Cortex A9 processor and 7 inch display. It runs at1.5 GHz and carries 1 GB of RAM and 16 GB of storage. But Ubuntu OS needs minimum of 2 GB of RAM to work on. The OS has been run and it seems the 1 GB of RAM is just not enough. The users felt the experience a bit sluggish.
Other specifications of Intermatrix U7 Ubuntu include microSD Card Slot, 2 MP primary camera and 0.3 MP secondary camera. Connectivity includes microUSB 2.0, WLAN 802. HDMI 1.4, and 3.5 mm Audio Jack. Enthusiasts can pre-order the Intermatrix U7 for the price that has been currently set, but it is subjected to change in the future.
Mark Shuttleworth, founder of Canonical, has already publicized that Ubuntu tablets will not go on sale before April 2014. Therefore, releasing a pre order at this stage doesn’t make sense at all.