First we had the Amazon Kindle, then Plastic Logic came along - yet to go on the market - and now Michael Arrington and the team at TechCrunch bring us the CrunchPad.

It all started with a dream

Last July, Arrington posted an article with the following headline: "We Want A Dead Simple Web Tablet for $200. Help Us Build It." Arrington went on to describe what his dream tablet would look like and how it would function: Running as an open-source device, the screen would be Apple-thin with an iPhone-like touch screen keyboard. There would be a headphone socket, a built-in camera, speakers and microphone and the tablet would function on Wifi, be Firefox-enabled, support Skype (or other VOIP service) and be fitted with an internal battery and solid hard drive. The goal? "To keep the machine very simple and very cheap."

Fast forward almost one year later and the people at TechCrunch - along with Singapore-based developers Fusion Garage - have come up with a stylish product that is reminiscent of the iPhone or iPhone Shuffle. The sleek design is impressive and it's difficult not to think of it as an Apple product. Navigation operates like the iPhone, as Arrington had envisaged. But what of the price? Here's where alarm bells start ringing. Back in April, Arrington gave readers an initial preview of things to come, at the time saying it would cost about $250 to produce and suggesting it could possibly be sold at $300. That's already a 50% increase and the retail price has yet to be confirmed. However, if TechCrunch can work with its partners to keep costs down to its originally predicted $200 price tag, the CrunchPad is likely to fly off the shelves.

And so for newspapers

Given the size - a 12inch screen with an 18mm-thick aluminium casing - the CrunchPad is ideal for browsing the Internet and reading a newspaper, as the picture of the device surfing the New York Times (right) demonstrates. As one person commenting on GottaBeMobile.com site put it: "This device could be a game changer for newspapers and book readers. If it is affordable, it could be huge." Another individual on Engadget.com concurs: "When I'm lying on my sofa reading a newspaper site I don't want a laptop form factor. I want a tablet. A lightweight tablet that I can use my fingers with, not the Microsoft controlled pen tablet that is a failure for me."

Still, not everyone will be satisfied with the CrunchPad. Firstly, its limitations, which supposedly help to keep costs down, mean that this isn't a word processor, so don't expect to create a PDF document in between surfing news sites. Although this was never what the device was intended for. The size, which lends itself to reading a newspaper without straining the eyes, doesn't make it the most portable of devices and it is therefore more likely to be prone to damage during transportation.

Whether or not e-readers will result in boosting traffic for the Web versions of newspapers remains to be seen. Factors such as pricing and design will continue to play a role and until such devices become affordable they are unlikely to become household objects - a feat they must overcome if they are serious about having a future. The CrunchPad appears to be a beautiful product and it is its sheer simplicity that actually makes it sophisticate. Yet, the real crunch time will come when the product is let loose on the public - only then will we really know if it's a question of style over substance. Nevertheless, TechCrunch should be applauded for having the vision, the reserve - and arguably the funds - to create the tablet they thought the market was lacking. Although, it would have been nice to see newspapers taking the lead themselves. Apart from Hearst, which is currently working on its own prototype, we have yet to hear of any other newspaper publishers taking the initiative. Let's watch this space.

Sources: TechCrunch (1) , TechCrunch (2) , TechCrunch (3) , GottaBeMobile , Engadget