I don't know if the day will come when tablets powered by Linux will be a real alternative, but for lack of trying it won't be. In March 2021, the jing pad, a tablet with its own interface, based on Linux and that was very similar to what Apple's iPadOS offers... but this year they have been very quiet and it is not known if the project will continue. Earlier, PINE64 and UBports released the PineTab… in which things could be better. Now, Juno Computers has presented a tablet with Linux, and at the moment we only know the first details.
In the product description, Juno Computers says that we are facing a beta product (oh no…again) which generally works, but there are still bugs that need to be fixed. For example, PipeWire doesn't work, and the internal microphone and camera don't work either. It is assumed that they will correct the bugs over time, but I know of a tablet with two years on the market in which the camera cannot be used even today.
Juno Tablet Technical Specifications
| Weight : | 670 gr. |
| CPU | Intel Jasper Lake Intel Celeron N5100 (4 cores / 4 threads) – 1.10GHz (Turbo 2.80 GHz) |
| Graphics | Intel UHD Graphics Maximum: 350MHz – 800MHz |
| Screen size | 10.1" |
| Type of screen | FHD IPS 1920×1200 capacitive |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz |
| Resolutions (Maximum) | HDMI: 4096×2160@60Hz DP: 4096×2160@60Hz Integrated: 1920×1200 (scaled x2) |
| Dimensions | 9.80″ x 6.57″ x 0.43″/249mm x 167mm x 11mm |
| Casing (with leg/bracket) | Plastic |
| Keyboard | Not included |
| WiFi | Intel Wireless AC 9460/9560, Jefferson Peak 2.4 and 5GHz + Bluetooth 4.2 |
| Ports | USB3.0 Type-C 3.1 (Charging Subports + Video Out) Mini HDMI Micro SD (TF) 3.5mm DC in charger Headphone jack integrated microphone |
| Speakers | Built-in stereo speaker 8R/1.0W x 2 |
| Sound card | Intel ES8336 |
| Cameras | 2MP on the border, 5MP on the main/rear |
| Battery | 3200mAh 7.6v |
| Charger | 36w DC – 12v 3A |
| Operating Systems | Mobian Manjaro Phosh and Plasma Supports Windows 11 (not installed) |
| kernel (minimum) | Linux 5.18 |
| DirectX support | 12 |
| OpenGL | 4.5 |
| Base price | 429 $ (441.23 €) |
Of the specifications, highlight the FHD resolution, the support or leg that is integrated into the casing, made of plastic, and the operating systems, to choose between Mobian with Phosh or Manjaro also with Phosh and with Plasma. Windows 11 is mentioned, so in theory it supports it, but the operating system would not be installed by default. This tablet has 8GB of RAM and 256GB, 512GB ($455) or 1TB ($480) SSD storage.
On price and availability, the Juno Tablet is available to reserve from $429, to which you can add a stylus for $22 more. It does not have an official keyboard, but a Bluetooth or radio one could be added if the antenna is connected to the USB 3 port. They will be shipped in 2 to 4 weeks, and, by its nature, it is a product that does not accept returns.
Worth?
On paper, the hardware has to make it an interesting tablet. 8GB of RAM It's the same memory my laptop had when I bought it, and with fast storage and the FHD screen, it should be fine in theory. Also, it does support the 5GHz frequency, so the connection speed should be good in most scenarios.
In the end, what will tell if it is worth it or not will be the support, and Mobian and Manjaro are two of the best options available in the Linux section for tablets. In both cases you can install packages from official repositories, so they will perfectly support GIMP or LibreOffice, and even Visual Studio Code. At this point, say that this type of tablet is not suitable for all audiences, since it is necessary to know how to solve the possible problems that we are encountering, and that between Phosh and Plasma the one that works best at present is Phosh . Also, Plasma is not in Spanish.
A month from now there should be some reviews on sites like YouTube, and that's when we know more. Will Juno Computers take this cat to water?
Image: Juno Computers.