JooJoo pre-orders increasing, new funding coming in, launching this month?

Color me slightly optimistic, but reports around the JooJoo today (remember, the CrunchPad that evaporated into vaporware only to re-emerge as crapware) have it not only on track, but enjoying increased pre-orders since the iPad announcement, a new round of funding, and a South African carrier deal in the mix — quite the buffet of luck if you ask me.

As far as the increased pre-order claim, Fusion Garage CEO Chandra Rathakrishnan didn’t actually post any numbers for us to look at so his claims are unverified at this point. With that said, being able to actually track whether or not JooJoo pre-orders did rise after Apple’s mid-week bonanza last week is next to impossible without said numbers.

Moving on, Chandra has also stated that he and FusionGarage are committed to starting shipments of the JooJoo in February. That’s fine and dandy and all but those who have pre-ordered so far have been met with the same 8-10 week shipment date that’s been around for well over a month now. If I were you, I wouldn’t put down any money until these things actually make it into the streets. They call “vaporware” by it’s name for a reason.

As for the new round of funding and carrier deal in the mix, could the JooJoo be the poor mans iPad that costs the same as an iPad?

Engadget

[TechPluto]

JooJoo “The born again CrunchPad” get’s detailed…

Fusion Garage and TechCrunch have been going at it for the last several days in a cut throat manner, both accusing the other of lies, deceit, and all kinds of other hurtful things. We all know what Michael Arrington and the entire ‘Crunch team think. Fusion Garage announced today that any IP property or copyright claimed by TechCrunch and Michael Arrington is “ludicrous” and simply not true. Fusion Garage CEO even goes as far as to say that Michael Arrington didn’t do enough — practically anything worthwhile or useful in the advancement and development of the CrunchPad. Ouch. Bickering aside, you just want specs and pictures.

Sadly, no one is going to be impressed with the underpowered specs that include 1.6GHz Intel Atom CPU, 4GB RAM, 5 hours of battery life, and a few other mid to low range features that now cost $500. The OS boots straight into a browser (ala Chrome OS) so native apps are looking pretty unlikely at this point. Overall it looks to me as if Fusion Garage just created another table clone computer that will only appeal to a small, select group.

Ya, so much for actually wanting a CrunchPad JooJoo. At the size and price, I’d rather get a cheaper laptop or a nice smartphone. It’s sad, the CrunchPad was a novel idea. Now it’s legacy is nothing more than a typical over-hyped, under performing hardware/software combo yet again. Anyone still interested?

Electronista