Thinking a litl differently
Gregory Huang and Wade Roush from Xconomy teamed up today to capture reaction from the Boston and Seattle start-up communities to Apple's newly announced tablet. Their article, "The Apple iPad’s Impact on Mobile, Gaming, and E-Books: Local Techies and Startups React", is well worth reading.
Our CEO, John Chuang, added his perspective, concluding that we're pursuing a fundamentally different vision for the future of personal computing:
Ultimately, we are about a much bigger change in how operating systems work and how computers work. We are about [the] operating-system-as-a-service, about being extremely maintenance-free, about content, about synching. [The iPad] is more of a traditional device—an extension of the mobile platform, which we’ve seen, but at the end of the day it’s still local hardware, with local storage, and that’s not what we’re trying to accomplish.
As John's previously described, litl is premised on the fundamental belief that personal computing, especially at home, will continue its rapid move to the cloud. Email and photos transitioned first, but casual gaming, web video, video chat, social networking, and even productivity apps are all following fast. And yet, the hardware and software tools we use to enjoy the web are still mostly based on "pre-web" thinking: powerful on-board processors with large hard drives supporting local operating systems and standalone software.
We don't think this mismatch between consumer behavior and computing devices can endure. More than anything, it creates unnecessary complexity and compels consumers to become de facto systems administrators. Outside of the technical community, few consumers have an interest in updating software, backing up hard drives, or patching their operating system: they want the web to be fun and they want it to be easy.
The mismatch also stunts innovation by tying manufacturers and consumers to outdated thinking. John Gruber, technology observer and pundit, lamented the dearth of innovative thinking, "If a small startup can build the Litl, why couldn’t a big company like Dell or Sony? People today still love HP calculators made 30 or even 40 years ago. Has HP made anything this decade that anyone will remember fondly even five years from now? Inkjet printers?".
So, we at litl have chosen a very different path from the tablet and other traditional computing devices. Learn more about it on our website. And, if you agree with our thinking, please tell your friends and help us change the world a "litl" bit 
Photo credit: John Harvey
Tools keep multiplying
The litl webbook operates in the cloud so it doesn't run local applications. So how do you perform simple tasks like, say, adding up the cost of flowers, dinner, and a movie? Just use the new calculator tool that we added to our card catalog. It's a web-based calculator that performs basic addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. It's just what you need...unless you're a scientist. For non-litl users, you can check out the tool here.
In the coming months, we've got a whole slate of other cards and channels coming out, plus the release of our SDK. But hey - sometimes even the simplest tool can be exciting. Just ask these guys.
Best use of 17 beta litl units. Ever.
CEO/founder John Chuang and Software Engineer David Ignacio
It must be Friday afternoon! Shall we try for a 4-high litl pyramid next week, or something even more radical? Leave a comment below with ideas for what you'd like to see John and David build.
litl unboxing photos @ Berlin, Germany
Thanks to Germany's Tim Lossen for kindly sharing his litl webbook unboxing photos. Tim says via email that he's pleased with his litl and is thinking of giving it to his mother. Knowing what he paid in remailing fees and import tax, we thank him even more!
(We're not selling the litl webbook outside of the U.S. at the moment, but we appreciate the interest we've seen from people like Tim around the world. Watch for an announcement here or on Twitter if/when we officially add international markets.)
A litl different from the rest :)
Kevin Schram, reviewer for the technology website "Thoughts from the Sidelines", shared some of his observations about the litl webbook today.
The article touched on many points, but specifically highlighted the webbook's innovativeness ("In a market that’s flooded with cheap, indistinguishable 10-inch netbooks, this new product from boutique startup Litl stands out.").
Great observation, Kevin. We're "pushing the reset button" on home computing because we think today's computers and operating systems are fundamentally a mismatch with how they're actually being used. John Chuang, litl's founder and CEO, described this lack of alignment in an interview with Xconomy's Wade Roush:
"Everything my family uses is on the Web," says litl's CEO, John Chuang. "I have kids from 5 to 13 years old. My 13-year-old has never installed software in her life. Everything she uses is a Web app. Yet she’s using a technology that was completely not designed for that. I thought that was a mismatch."
John continued in the article:
“We didn’t want to build anything that already existed, or something with just marginal improvements,” Chuang says. “PCs have served a great purpose, but we wanted to take a crack at a different type of computer that would be for and of the Net.”
To learn where our passion to build a new and better computing experience - with more than "marginal improvements" - took us, spend a few minutes on our website. We've written extensively about our company philosophy and our approach to both software and hardware innovation.
Thanks for the interest in litl, Kevin. We appreciate it.
TechnoDad: hands-on with the litl webbook
Michael Ferrara, better known to many as TechnoDad, is a popular home and family-focused technology reviewer. He's appeared on hundreds of local morning television shows across the country as well as on HGTV's "TIPical Mary Ellen" and "Our Home".
On his blog today, Michael published his first thoughts after some hands-on experience with the litl webbook. He noted our bias towards simplicity, adding that the litl could be perfect for his "technophobic" mom. His comments concluded:
"The litl, at $699 seems like its priced out of the market compared to cheap, Windows-based netbooks. But when you factor in the included lifetime upgrades, the multi-angle screen, the automatic backups (litl will shut down your account if the computer is stolen), a two-year money-back guarantee, and the planned automatic upgrades like the ability to download photos and videos, the litl’s premium price is not only reasonable, but looks like a good value."
Thanks for your interest, Michael! We look forward to additional feedback.
Out of stock, but more on the way
The litl webbook is out of stock right now, but we're busy making more.
If you'd like to know when more are available, we've started an email list on our website. Add your email address and we'll contact you.
(While you're waiting, please follow us on Twitter @litl to stay current on our news and announcements.)
“Springwise” litl webbook review
Springwise is a popular European website that features emerging social trends, promising business ideas, and interesting new products. They source their articles from more than 8,000 global business and marketing-savvy spotters in over 70 countries.
The litl webbook was "spotted" last week by one of their trend researchers. Their article, "Simplifed web computer mimics TV", discussed litl's thinking about home computing and concluded with a recommendation to aspiring technology entrepreneurs:
"Judging by the success netbooks have already achieved, there's clearly something to the idea of focusing home computers on the web—many, in fact, predict that will be the future of personal computing. Litl says it will soon provide the technical details necessary for independent developers and potential partners to create custom channels of their own, so for app-minded entrepreneurs, this could be one to get in on early. For all others, it's definitely one to watch!"
Thanks, Springwise! We appreciate your support.
Engadget: hands-on with the litl webbook
We sat down last week at CES with Engadget's Joanna Stern and Thomas Ricker for a hands-on demonstration of the litl webbook.
It was a pleasure to meet them and have an in-depth discussion about our vision and philosophy. While Joanna and Thomas are both technology enthusiasts, they seemed to appreciate that not everyone shares this passion: many (most?) people simply want to get online and enjoy a hassle-free home computing experience.
(If you haven't seen the litl alarm clock in action -- the "Best.Alarm.Ever." according to Engadget -- check it out midway through the video!)
(Video supplied by Engadget with special production thanks to Joanna Stern and Thomas Ricker)
2009 Crunchies Awards
Thanks to everyone for their support of our nomination as "Best New Gadget" at the 2009 Crunchies Awards. We didn't win nor did we get a chance to "thank all the litl people", but it was a thrill to be honored as a finalist. Congratulations to the other nominees and this year's winners.
litl heading to CES
Later this week, the litl team will be heading to Las Vegas for CES! For those who will be at the show, stop by the Intel booth for a peek at the litl webbook. Or, e-mail asklitl@litl.com to schedule a time to meet with someone from litl.
Hope to see you there!
A litl holiday cheer with ABC’s The View
We had a blast bringing holiday cheer to ABC's The View during their Christmas eve broadcast!
After a really fun show -- who will ever forget the "ugly holiday sweater" fashion show? -- executive producer Bill Geddie surprised everyone by coming out dressed as Santa Claus. Much to the audience's delight, he brought a great Christmas giveaway with him... a litl webbook. The audience, as you'll see in the video clip, was more than happy with their unexpected Christmas gift.
Thanks to everyone at The View for their enthusiastic support: the show's producers and hosts, our fellow guests, and especially the studio audience.
