Hi community, I am coming back with a new poll.
This one is not necessarily shaping design decisions but it is important from a business decision point of view.
As open_slate continues to take shape, we want to involve the community in another important part of the project: launch configurations.
Our current plan (unless something changes) is to offer open_slate in two versions at launch:
- Base — 8GB RAM + 128GB storage
- Pro — 16GB RAM + 256GB storage
Both versions share the same core design principles: privacy-first hardware, multi-OS support, modularity, and long-term ownership.
Even though we intend to launch with two configurations, supporting multiple SKUs comes with real manufacturing challenges.
Each configuration requires separate planning across the supply chain — and most importantly, MOQ commitments (minimum order quantities).
This poll isn’t about choosing one over the other — it’s about helping us estimate the expected demand split between Base and Pro (roughly in terms of %).
That feedback helps us get an understanding of our community’s preference.
Our original thought process
As you are aware, we are working with limited resources in comparison to the big players. We can not really afford to run multiple variations, launch 5 products a year, etc. We need to be more careful with the SKUs we design, as we can not afford to fail.
Because of that, we initially leaned toward offering only the Pro version, for a simple reason: longevity.
open_slate is designed as a platform we want to support for years. And when you combine higher RAM with lightweight, bloat-free operating systems — like de-Googled Android or Linux — 16GB RAM can keep the device feeling fast and relevant not just today, but in 5, 6, 7+ years.
With expandable storage and long-term OS flexibility, the Pro configuration is built with that future-proof goal in mind.
Why the Base version matters
At the same time, our mission isn’t just to build private and capable devices.
It’s also to make these products accessible to more people by offering the products at a more affordable price. The crazy price hike on RAM and storage is making this harder by the day, we found offering a Base version of the product a solution.
The Base version isn’t meant as a compromise — it’s meant as a more affordable entry point for users who want the open_slate experience for lighter workloads, everyday tablet use, or simply a lower price bracket.
- Base (8GB + 128GB)
- Pro (16GB + 256GB)
Your feedback will directly help us estimate production demand better.
I will keep this poll upon till mid February.
Thank you for participating.