One look at the KNO and you know this is serious stuff. Designed as a replacement for the textbook (and to decimate badly built, me-too android/windows7 tablets for weeknight laughs and fun), its already being field testing at US universities to tweak its education-specific user experience.

After raising a mind boggling $46 million in a new round of financing,  KNO,  ( the company and tablet share the same name) founded by Osman Rashid and Babur Habib is now on its way to (hopefully) winning the 2011 Crunchies awards for best new device.  That is, ofcourse, if you vote before the 19th of Jan! You can cast your vote now here and look at the other contestants for the same prize.

ITT and Jehan have previously also profiled Osman Rashid. His previous venture, Chegg.com literally created the online textbook rental market, and raised $219 million (yes thats million!) USD.

So, will the KNO replace those pesky little netbooks and age old laptops I see all my friends carry to school? Hopefully. To learn more about the KNO , here is a great CNET video.