Jide‘s Remix tablet is an Android tablet designed to work resemble a Windows machine. It runs a custom version of Android called Remix OS which features as taskbar and support for running apps in resizeable windows. And the tablet itself resembles a Microsoft Surface… complete with a detachable keyboard.

The company introduced the tablet at the Consumer Electronics Show in January and hopes to sell it later this year for around $399.

But starting March 25th, you might be able to request an early unit for as little as $39. Jide plans to launch a Kickstarter campaign designed to get the tablet into the hands of testers who will help provide feedback which will help improve future versions of the software.

Update: Check out our in-depth preview of the tablet.

Basically Jide will be providing tablets to folks who back the Kickstarter campaign at any reward level — and the lowest tier will start at $39.

Update: You’ll have to act fast to snag a $39 tablet. Only 200 will be available at that price initially. 200 additional backers of the Kickstarter campaign will be able to reserve one for $199. After that, the reward level goes up to $349.

Update 2: Unsurprisingly, the $39 tablets went almost immediately.

The tablet itself features an 11.6 inch, full HD display, a keyboard case which also functions as a kickstand, and the Remix OS software which is currently based on Android 4.4 KitKat, but which will soon be updated to Android 5.0 Lollipop.

It also features NVIDIA Tegra 4 processors, 2GB of RAM, up to 64GB of storage, microSD card slot, front and rear cameras, and 8100mAh batteries.

While crowdfunding campaigns are often used to raise money which will be used to build hardware, Jide is hoping to use its campaign to build a community of users, enthusiasts, and testers.

The company is already selling a version of the Remix tablet in China, but wants help testing the software so that it can be localized and offered as a productivity-based tablet in the United States.

A $399 tablet designed to run Android apps in a Windows-like fashion might be a tough sell. But the same tablet is a pretty great bargain at $39. And if Jide can get enough people to jump onboard through deeply discounted Kickstarter rewards, maybe the company can build some word-of-mouth for its product.

Press Release

Remix to Ship Every Kickstarter Backer a Tablet

March 17, 2015 (Beijing) – Crowdfunding is not a new idea. Nor is launching a piece of hardware to help you be more creative and connected to all things digital. But on March 25th, a new Kickstarter campaign from a Chinese technology company called Jide will introduce a new twist on the crowdsourcing concept.

Jason Zheng is the International Marketing Manager for this new idea. “We want to try something totally different, and test our product in a community of users while creating a new idea, a new brand, and a new way of connecting a product to the market. Remix will be the first community built and backed product where users will get to engage with us firsthand in building a mobile productivity tool for the 21st century”.

Jide Technology is set to run the campaign with a singular goal of finding passionate innovators and early adopters who want to become a part of their first community of users. To build this community from the ground up, they plan to give all their backers, no matter which tier they pledge, a Remix ultra-table. Retail price on the Android device will be $399. The lowest reward tier is set to start at $39. In essence, they are giving away hardware and asking for help in making the next version of their software fresh and inspired by their community.

Remix: A Laptop Experience on a Big Android Tablet

Remix is a big, full HD 11.6” tablet that comes with a full size keyboard. Its OS is based on Android 4.4.2 (and soon to be upgraded to Android 5.0) been optimized for its big touchscreen and attached keyboard. Thus what makes Remix unique to the market: it’s a laptop experience on a big Android tablet.

“Our vision is simple: we believe that the next generation of personal computing will take place on bigger tablets and that Android can be customized to run them seamlessly,” said Jeremy Chau, main cofounder of Jide, in a recent interview. “Remix is the first embodiment of this vision. We believe our role in this future is to have Remix OS running on the majority of bigger Android tablets in the market.”

On Kickstarter to Build Their Community

To emphasize the community building aspect of their Kickstarter campaign, Jide is making available the Remix ultra-tablet on every reward tier. In effect, they are not using the platform as a traditional funding vehicle, but as a community building vehicle. Their goal is to get Remix into as many curious and appreciative hands as possible.

“We believe Kickstarter is the perfect platform for Remix to launch on in the US,” Chau continued. “The Kickstarter community typically isn’t backing a product just for the rewards themselves, but because they believe in the projects and they want to be involved in making them better to use. This is exactly the type of community Remix is looking for; engaged, creative, connected people who want to push their own circles to try something different.

Not a Conventional Kickstarter Project

Remix has begun to sell a localized version of their tablet in the Chinese market. What they’re making available through Kickstarter is a localized version built as a productivity tool for the US market.

“Back us at any amount and we’ll ship you a Remix. We’re looking for users to give us feedback and help us make Remix a better product for the US user and people will find useful. Our ask isn’t to love us immediately, our ask is to join a community and let’s build something together,” stated David Ko, fellow cofounder and VP of software development. “For us, building towards our vision means building our community, one user at a time.

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