Chinese manufacturers do tend to have room to move on samples and MOQs, I think it's really important for someone considering attempting hardware on the smaller scale have someone in China assist with interacting with the manufacturers. A big issue is the large amount of miscommunication which always seem to happen when western companies try to deal with manufacturers directly.

Like, a preferably low-cost / revenue-split consulting company for nonprofits and startups which gets the customers in contact with the Chinese HW/SW vendors and provides engineering (gongkai ecosystem) and especially cultural advice (translations!).

Also I'd prefer something much thicker to have more battery and a more powerful CPU. Thicker means easier to dissipate heat since air can circulate more.

Something much thicker would kind of defeat the purpose of being portable.

I believe what we have today is limited more by physical constraints (i.e. I can´t see myself writing code on a 7/8 screen, or typing comfortably on a keyboard that small) than actual technology.

Already, both on the Surface or a small footprint laptop (say, 11' Macbook Air), for me the experience is way worse than what you can get on a slightly larger laptop (13').

Batteries always takes room. I'd prefer a thicker laptop with more autonomy. I dont understand thinner laptops, especially plastic ones, since plastic doesnt seem to disperse heat very well.

Couldn't you use GSM modules [1] in your product right-away?

[1]: http://www.u-blox.com/en/wireless-modules/umtshsdpa-modules/...

Also let me connect my phone to a monitor and keyboard and use the thing as my development platform. All in one.

Maybe a modular breakout board connectible to the IO port would be a better startup idea.

I've never programmed for mobile devices but are the operating systems open enough to let it be possible to write a drivers for these things?

Android IOIO: https://www.sparkfun.com/products/12633