TechCrunch just posted an update regarding their CrunchPad project. And there’s a ‘launch prototype’, which I assume is somewhat like a ‘release client’ in software development. Feature complete and ready for a last round of testing. The new renderings look even slicker than before, and there’s a nice video of the previous prototype in action that hints at what the software is going to be like. I just knew these prototypes were further along than they’d have us believe back then.

I can’t help but feel excited about this project. Tablet PCs failed miserably (as a consumer product) when they were introduced years ago, but this looks like a different approach altogether. It’s the netbook of tablets, and I love how they had the guts have it boot straight into a browser. This is purely a web browsing device.

Too bad the video also confirms my fears about Flash performance. The YouTube clip they play back at full screen is choppy as hell. Makes you wonder why they put that in the demo video. This is an issue that TechCrunch won’t be able to fix, unless Adobe steps in and gets Flash up to speed on Linux.

Still no release date, but there will be a press event in July. Let’s hope they’ll start selling the next day

1. Crunchpad: Does this look like a prototype to you?
2. Crunchpad: An e-book reader for the web
3. A $150 laptop, too good to be true? – Updated again
4. Why am I still not excited about Tegra?
5. My thoughts on Flash and the iPad