Ubuntu Edge - crowdfunding surprise

[SIW2]

It is a big pledge for those who want the product. More than I expected , I was thinking £299 / $450 It is also possible to contribute a few bucks.



Interesting to see how this goes, funds seem to be coming in at quite a rate, $4.5m already. They are looking for $32m

Ubuntu Edge | Indiegogo

 

[bobafetthotmail]

:huh:

Nice specs and design (if they don't change them). That's a tablet in a phone chassis. Or a Mini-PC (as it has MHL connector).

I also like their idea of an all-in-one smartphone/PC/whatever. I wonder about battery life though. And question why they don't plan to use Li-FePO4 batteries and a e-ink color screen (that would do wonders for battery life).

4 people donated 10 thousand bucks. Amazing.

 

[SIW2]

I love the idea.

Very brave of Shutters to try this.

4 people donated 10 thousand bucks. Amazing.

Bill Gates can be generous.

Surely it will slow down as the pledge levels increase. If you got in early, they were doing them at $600.

 

[bobafetthotmail]

Thinking more about it, to the contrary of the Surface, it actually makes sense to own something like this and ditch your desktop (or even laptop).

A phone-like device that can run a real desktop environment (stressing real) if connected to a screen sounds like it could really work as a device for real people with a real life. Although Ubuntu on ARM does not have a huge amount of programs at the moment (they have to be altered and recompiled for ARM) like its x86 counterpart.

Hmm... XBMC runs in Ubuntu (ARM and x86), and assuming they give the XBMC team the source for the device's hardware decoder coprocessors "drivers", this thing is going to rule as a media center as well with 1080p and all that jazz.

 

[SIW2]

It might fly.

Hard to tell how big the market really is. The average Joe might not have any need for a full os of any kind. They might just stick with android.

There is always the byod market, as well as the enthusiasts., plus anyone who would have bought a laptop type thing.

It is less difficult to get pledges in at 600-700 ish. Once they have gone, it will get tougher to find enough people who can pledge very large sums.

 

[bobafetthotmail]

This kind of multitasking is the reason phablets are selling. You can ditch 2-3 devices (phone, tablet and PC) and have only one that does everything. Which could justify a high-end phone price even for a not-so-rich customer base.

Hmm...
First block at 625 gives them 781'250 bucks, and is sold out.
Second block at 675 gives them 843'750 and is filling at a good rate.
Third block at 725 gives them 906'250 and is probably the last that will fill at a good rate.
Fourth block at 775 gives them 968'750.
And as you said, not a lot of people will cough up 830 bucks for kicks.

So yeah, I doubt that they were counting on selling the device to get to 32 millions.

My personal speculation is that most of the money will come from the 20 bucks of low-tier donation from geeks and general Ubuntu supporters/fanboys.
IF it will come. Although there are much more rich people than you might think.

For the sake of making a calculation, in this precise moment there are 1911 donations of 20 bucks.
Tomorrow I'll look again and try to guesstimate if I'm correct.

 

[SIW2]

Someone has started a thing to contribute $1. The idea is to spread it on Fbook, Twitbook, Forums, etc. No need to shell out $20.That is to get a perk. Even one buck is a contribution.

Lovely idea to get people involved.

Ubuntu Edge | Indiegogo

 

[Layback Bear]

Sounds like something Apple, Microsoft, or Samsung will buy out and hide for a while.

 

[SIW2]

Ubuntu Edge has broken the world record.

Interesting to see who is backing it:

http://www.indiegogo.com/individuals/499351/campaigns

Stephen Fry

The more variation and choice in form factors, operating systems, the more innovation in terms of your device and its response to the environment, the better. The more open hardware and software APIs that allow for medical, military, charitable, mercantile, individual, artistic and social interaction for pleasure, gain, reward and the furthering of mankind’s destiny, the better.

Boo to monopolies. Hurrah for competition and innovation.

 

[nommy the first]

Thanks for bringing this to my attention!
I've just donated 730 bucks Really hope they make it. I've used Ubuntu on my lappy for quite a while, and this seems the kind of thing to bring me back to it.


Nommy

 

[SIW2]

Delighted to hear it nommy. Not enough people know about it.

Looks like my favourite Uncle Stephen is referring people, but there isn't much time left.

http://www.indiegogo.com/individuals/499351/x/4147648

 

[SIW2]

Ubuntu Edge

 

[SIW2]

11hrs to go. Massive world record. Be great if it went a lot higher in the last few hours. That is what we need to encourage diversity.

Anybody using any type of Ubuntu really should contribute. Even if it only one dollar. It is the least you can do, if you have been using a free os.

It might not reach target - the important thing is to get the total as high as possible.

Ubuntu Edge

 

[A Guy]

Ubuntu Edge Fails Crowdfund Goal – What Failed?

It was an ambitious number. Even though they had 13,232 people back with $12,813,501, the Ubuntu Edge did not reach its goal of $32 million dollars.

Source

A Guy

 

[SIW2]

I have been keeping up with the story. Not the best way to raise that kind of sum. Shutters himself described it as a crazy, beautiful idea. Would have been amazing. Probably will help overall, though.

 

[A Guy]

I don't think this will be the end, too much enthusiasm.

Hi everyone

So ends a crazy month. We’ve broken records, we’ve been written and talked about across the world, we’ve worn out our F5 keys, and we’ve learned a lot of invaluable lessons about crowdfunding. Our bold campaign to build a visionary new device ultimately fell short, but we can take away so many positives.

Source

 

[bobafetthotmail]

Yeah, I've heard around that they will try to pull the same concept off on the higher-end ubuntu phones.
If someone makes them, anyway.