14 DAY TRIAL // Those who want to try their hand at building their own tablet, should know that there's actually a way to do so. The home-made slate can be assembled starting from a Raspberry PI.
Before starting out on a project like this, you should know that the DukePad is not a product per se, but an open source available to everybody who wants to build such a device using shelf components.
PocketLint reports that the Raspberry PI in itself is a cheap computer, created to be used for educational and DIY purposes. It does miss some key components like a keyboard and a display, which users have to add themselves.
The PI is basically a small box featuring a processor, memory, input and output ports and a memory card slot.
Basically, the DukePad is a set of instructions – walking a user through the process of assembling the tablet.
You will have to do everything yourself from the case to setting up a software ecosystem via Raspbian Linux and Java.
All in all, building this device won't cost you less than if you'd go out to purchase a complete device off retail shaves. Bear in mind that key components must be purchased before the tablet can actually work.
The DukePad will appeal to those who want to take device customization to the highest levels, not to the general public. But maybe the offer will become more appealing when the people behind the project will roll out pre-built kits. There's no word, however when that is going to happen.