There is a huge difference between a $200 device and a device whose bill of materials happens to be $200...

Where are you getting the screen?

+1 to where are you getting the screen. I recently (4 months ago) was involved with a touch screen project and the available screens were garbage compared to the iphone. if techcrunch has a source for awesome touch panels that is amazing but I'm skeptical. the rest of the hardware is tricky but at least doable. the software stack will take at least four times longer than estimated, perhaps moreso now that every armchair programmer on the internet has been invited to participate.

our supply chain guys sourced it - we haven't set yet if we are going LCD or exact specific specs (we need to run power tests). the dual touch pad sitting behind it is coming out of a company that hasn't seen their tech integrated into a major product yet.

im sorry we cant mention company names just yet - we are doing this through proxy (ie. using a supply chain company, design firm and manufacturer). I am hoping I can publish the full tech details at some point in the next 24h and we can go from there

It always seems like it works out this way. Secret sources to be named "soon". Untested near-products that aren't quite ready for release...

Lets do it with stuff we can get and see what happens:

Main Board: (truly open, schematics and all) : http://beagleboard.org/ ($149)

Screen : Lilliput 8" 1024x768 touch screen (http://www.case-mod.com/lilliput-809gl80npct-lcd-touch-scree...) ($259)

Network : 802.11g wifi (http://www.usbgear.com/USB-Wi-Fi.html) ($30)

Battery: 7.4v LiIon 5200mAh (4 hours run) http://www.all-battery.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&... ($50)

Case: Injection Mold plastic (http://www.emachineshop.com/molding_machines/injection_moldi...) ($10)

Cost to build a single one, ignoring volume discounts and cost to assemble: $498. Being able to make one without a proxy (ie. using a supply chain company, design firm and manufacturer). : Priceless.

this is too slow, but it costs $6. http://www.embeddedarm.com/products/arm-sbc.php#ts-7800-seri...

What can you get for $50 worth of embedded mainboard?

wow you are way off

I really hope the screen company is Pixel Qi. Here is their prediction for a touchscreen price:

"INTEGRATED TOUCHSCREENS

Touch should just be an incremental cost increase to the screen and embedded directly into it. Pixel Qi is working on low-cost approachs to integrated touch with a target of a $5 -$10 pricetag." (http://pixelqi.com/products)

They aren't selling the touchscreen yet, only the original OLPC XO screen.

I realize that, but hopefully TC is in talks with PQ about trying out prototypes, etc...

who are you?

editor at tcit - we are running the design + software build etc.

Cool! Do you have experience in hardware design, managing a hardware project, etc etc?

"Nik Cubrilovic (koo-bree-low-vick) is an Australian-born entrepreneur, technologist, software developer and blogger. Nik is the founder and CEO of Omnidrive, a web content and storage platform. Nik was also the founder of Solutionstap, a technology solutions and software development company. Prior to Solutionstap, Nik was a freelance developer, project manager and security specialist in Australia, the UK, South Africa and throughout Europe. Nik has contributed to a large number of open source projects and published a number of security vulnerabilities for various platforms and applications since 1996. In 2007, Nik was named in The Bulletin magazine as one of Australia’s “Smart 100.”

Nik has been a contributor and advisor to Techcrunch since 2005. In 1998 Nik was a founding member of the 2600 chapter in Australia, and in 2005 was a founding member of 2web, a loose-knit group of Australian technology entrepreneurs. Nik has advised, or is a current advisor to a range of companies and startups based in both Australia and the USA."

-As per his bio