Haha lol to me that actually looks much simpler and cleaner, Apple really did a good job minimizing the space the mobo takes and integration of everything is really good, I was amazed at how much space there is in that thing :P

Yet somehow they still can't manage to fit in a battery that lasts for more than an hour...

 the ipad battery lasts 10 hours

Agreed, it lasts 10 hours of normal usage
6 hours of continuous 3d games
and up to 5 days of light usage

Now that is something Apple should definitely fix, since they make about $400 per iPad sold. . . Tech these days :P

Well, I was being both sarcastic and not at the same time. I did realize your point, but if you would look inside of all of those parts... 

:P yeah I see what you mean :D

 Still don't like Mac OS.

It's not running the Mac OS, but i get your point :)

I've never been a fan, but when i think about it.. theres nothign really attactive about WINdows.

No, there really isn't other than the fact that Windows is simply ahead in some areas; the other day I was using Office 2010 to create a powerpoint.  I opened it in OpenOffice, and while the compatibility and features are great, OpenOffice seems a bit stuck in 2003/2007 version, and lacks some of the 2010 beta's features.  Also,  Linux, although it has advanced a ton over the past 5 years, is still more code-based than GUI-based, and only a part of user interaction happens in the UI; the other part happens in the Terminal or before X Windowing loads.  Most power users are able to get around that small roadblock, though.  But these are small issues, the real issue is compatibility.  I would switch over to the new Ubuntu 10.01 LTS (which I run on a VBox machine) if it could run all the exes I use, but it can't, and most of my programs don't have Linux versions.  If you have enough resources, though, you can run a Windows VirtualBox machine on top of Linux for when you need an incompatible program, but sharing devices between OSs and syncing and speed issues are a pain in the rear end.  Some day, though, I think people will wake up and Microsoft will be in trouble; Windows costs so much, whereas Linux is free and open source, and Linux is not so bogged down.  Linux spins very likely will become the main OS in the future.  For now, however, it's undoubtable that although it's declining in popularity, Windows is probably the best choice for the average home user because most programs are designed for it (with mac probably second) and because next to never is CMD used with a home user; the GUI is thoroughly developed to the point where CMD isn't needed.

actually what I really love about linux is that it's fast and you can customize everything...

I love apple for their great design ideas on iPods, but still hate that there are always usefull things missing (like using your iPod Touch as harddrive....)at

So here comes my question:
wouldn't it be great if someone posted an instructable on
"how to make a personal iPad-like tablet-computer"

(I know that's a big thing, but still: You never stop dreaming :D )

But do you know why that is? Because people who actually use linux both want it and like it. I'm not one of them, however its just not realistic to expect them go through the effort of developing extensively for it., for us. But, it happens. Some people have actually gone out of their way to share the experience. But, do you know whats going to be both the uprise of linux and the downfall of Microsoft? Google CHROME OS. This is what is going to drag people outside of Microsoft cubical, and it then Linux will start to get some attention. Windows isn't jsut a brand name, its a way of living. And it can be better.

Chrome OS will show people that theres options, and theres open source.

ooohoo, couldn't have said it better!! :) Chrome is great right now, and it's only going to get better. Google is expanding soo much (yes, there's the evil monopoly word, but that doesnt exactly apply here), adding apps in virtually every area. Chrome will very soon get most of the Windows functionality the home user needs, and all based in the cloud, free and open-source, and fast!

It actually really isn't that hard.  All you need is a tablet with a CD drive or a compatible external CD drive and the install disc(s) for a Linux OS, such as Ubuntu's recently-released 10.01 LTS version, which has both the live CD and install in one CD.  After that, you'd just have to boot your BIOS into the disc and install Linux to the disc.  A simple task.  Also, most major spins of Linux (i.e. Fedora and Ubuntu) already contain drivers for almost all common parts (this most likely wouldn't work on the iPad, since Apple is very tight and closed, and doesn't want anything but Apple running on Apple) so you wouldn't have to do much after that.  Linux is a bit behind though on touch and multitouch interfacing, though, so it isn't exactly the best choice for a tablet yet.  Closed versions designed for smartphones (i.e. Android which is actually a version of Linux) would probably do much better with multitouch, although you would need good luck finding drivers for them since their small packages usually don't include drivers for laptops and tablets, only phones. General Linux definitely is probably not the best option for a tablet yet, but wait a couple years and I bet it will be much better. :P You can look at my above post for a ton of [boring :P] information on linux.
You never stop dreaming, but that's a good thing! No one thought there would be a such thing as a tablet 10 years ago, and those who did were considered crazy!
Hope this helped,
Ryan:P

But do you know why that is? Because people who actually use linux both want it and like it. I'm not one of them, however its just not realistic to expect them go through the effort of developing extensively for it., for us. But, it happens. Some people have actually gone out of their way to share the experience. But, do you know whats going to be both the uprise of linux and the downfall of Microsoft? Google CHROME OS. This is what is going to drag people outside of Microsoft cubical, and it then Linux will start to get some attention. Windows isn't jsut a brand name, its a way of living. And it can be better.

Chrome OS will show people that theres options, and theres open source.

No reason to use linux for a tablet, any OS more or less will do as long as it has touch support (win/osx/linux) - also yes, tablets were thought about 10 years ago ;P

lol so tablets were thought of 10 years ago, but people thought they were dreaming ahead of time, exactly what this guy is doing here.  Which is what I meant.  Also, it isn't true that any OS will do the same because Linux is much more customizable, portable, and less resource-intensive than Windows.  You can run Linux on many, many platforms, especially with a bare-boned spin, but Windows requires many more resources for almost the same task.  Also, until Vista and Windows 7, Windows didn't automatically include and install drivers during setup.  Most major Linux platforms, however, did.  You won't get much more of a benefit in running Linux on a tablet than on a laptop or desktop, if any at all, but that's beside the point; I was merely explaining just how simple it would be to install Linux on a tablet.
Ryan :P

Simple to install yes, but be prepared to spend countless hours afterwards making everything work ;)

Which is why I listed it as one of the cons above (Lance Mt.'s post).  Nearly all of Windows's interaction with the user happens in the GUI, whereas Linux still has much of its interaction in the Terminal, especially when setting up programs.  Which I why I also said Linux is not quite yet the best choice of an OS for a home user.

But do you know why that is? Because people who actually use linux both want it and like it. I'm not one of them, however its just not realistic to expect them go through the effort of developing extensively for it., for us. But, it happens. Some people have actually gone out of their way to share the experience. But, do you know whats going to be both the uprise of linux and the downfall of Microsoft? Google CHROME OS. This is what is going to drag people outside of Microsoft cubical, and it then Linux will start to get some attention. Windows isn't jsut a brand name, its a way of living. And it can be better.

Chrome OS will show people that theres options, and theres open source.

Chrome OS is a good idea, but nothing that will change the market in regards to standard use. Chrome OS afaik is "a browser based OS". Basically you have a browser and you launch your applications from that. Afaik it will be used on notebooks, pda's and so on - but not as standard OS for desktop/extensive laptop users :) Cloud computing is awesome for what it's made for.

But I think you've missed the point. Its a neise market, that their aiming towards the casual market that only WANTS it for browsing, and text editing, and media centres and, actually it can do everything.

 How about the wii-mote electric whiteboard? 

Simply duct-tape a laptop to a laptop with a broken screen, attach a tripod and some simple auto-run apps to get it all working straight out. Cheap, simple, open to change and can double as many utilities. 

lol do you even have a clue about what we're talking about? A wiimote whiteboard has nothing to do with linux. . . :P

... Yes, it does? It'll be identical to a wiimote white board, but running LINUX! No, really. It is needed, you need that extra customization not available to dos uses. Mac isn't even worth mentioning.

That's true. I thought you were talking about something else, something completely unrelated. . . ;P but no really that is a good point. I just might do that! :D

I was concepting something along the lines of a wii-whiteboard on a EEPC thats taped to a projector. It'd auto run all required software. HELPFUL!

"Linux is only free if your sparetime has no value" - i like the concept of linux, but i've had my share for awhile ;) a custom tablet could be made with either win/OSX/linux. I remember someone once made a tablet out of an eee pc...

242,8 × 189,7 × 13,4 mm
it has a 1GHz Apple A4 cpu
it come with 16, 32 or 64 GB flash storage
it has a 256 MB DRAM (2x 128MB) that is built into the cpu and gpu package

while my iPod touch 3Gen has:
a 833MHz cpu (that is underclocked to 600)
32 GB (also awailable in 64 GB [ the 8 GB one still is a 2Gen !!!])
also 256 MB DRAM
and a much smaler screen.

so basicly the iPad is just a bigger iPod Touch,
or as someone else already said somewhere on instructables:
the iPod Touch is just an iPad Nano :)

hope I could help !

thanks that helps me a lot
!!!!!!!!!!!!!

OUTDATED, new 4th GEN IPOD 1Ghz

Well put moffboffjoe! :)