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Marvell's Moby Tablet: An education game changer? At $99 it has a shot

While the tech world focuses on Apple's iPad launch April 3, it may be worth paying a little attention to a little $99 tablet dubbed Moby from Marvell Technology.
Written by Larry Dignan, Contributor

While the tech world focuses on Apple's iPad launch April 3, it may be worth paying a little attention to a little $99 tablet dubbed Moby from Marvell Technology.

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Marvell, which makes mobile chips, last week announced the Moby Tablet, which promises full high-def, Flash and long battery life for $99. Marvell will show off the Moby Tablet at CTIA this week.

The idea is that this Moby Tablet would be part e-reader, part netbook and Web browser. Add it up and the Moby Tablet could be a handy textbook or student companion. Marvell says the Moby Tablet will change the way students learn. In its statement, Marvell said the Moby is designed to keep textbooks current, cut costs and lessen the load students lug around in backpacks.

We've heard this before. Any e-reader can make the same claims that Marvell does.

So why pay any attention to the Moby Tablet when there are iPads, Kindles and companies that have integrated stores and apps and other fun items? The price point. The Moby Tablet costs less than a good pair of running shoes.

As Rachel King notes, this tablet idea is crazy enough to work.

That price point matters. At $99, the Moby Tablet is built for mass adoption. First, the Moby Tablet will be used in a pilot for at-risk schools in Washington D.C.

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