Have you seen the CrunchPad?

Now this is just plain cool.

Tired of waiting for Apple or Dell or Sony to put out a killer-app tablet that won’t break the bank, tech site TechCrunch.com took the initiative to make it happen on their own. The result is the CrunchPad, and despite all odds, it actually seems to be happening.

TechCrunch’s idea is simple: create a very thin, light touch screen device that has no hard drive and exists solely to surf the web. Upon investigating, TC’s Michael Arrington discovered that such a gadget could be constructed for less than $250, and sold for less than $300.

They’ve been prototyping the thing for more than a year, and it’s getting closer and closer to actual production. The customer for this thing is envisioned as someone who wants to surf the web, read email, watch online videos, and video chat. It’s a bare-bones device not intended for data entry, with just one USB port, a built-in camera, speakers, microphone, and a 12+ inch screen. The OS they’re using is Linux-based, with a Webkit-based browser.

The prototype is darn purdy and looks like something I’d love to have. And at less than $300, it’s seems like the perfect device for anyone who wants to surf the web on the couch for pleasure, without the need for a leg-burning full laptop. I can’t wait to see more of the CrunchPad! Here’s hoping it actually goes into production.

Image: Copyright 2009 ©TechCrunch.