Intel plans to unveil next week a prototype consumer portable computer that blurs the line between desktops and notebooks by shedding the traditional clamshell laptop design.
Intel Blurs Line Between Desktops, Notebooks
About The Author
Eugenia Loli
Ex-programmer, ex-editor in chief at OSNews.com, now a visual artist/filmmaker.
Follow me on Twitter @EugeniaLoli
if this thing allowed you to upgrade key features like the motherboard and cpu, etc…just like big bulky desktop pc’s. Maybe it could come in the form of a module that you can pull out and replace with another one. All the while the case is nothing more then a shell with connectors that connect each componet to the main cpu/motherboard module and the scren attached via a connector that allows dead screens to be replaced easily.
They’ve rediscovered luggable computers! (but added a battery)
Makes me want to get out my old Commodore 64-SX with built in 3″ CRT screen.
Sounds neat, but I don’t see these taking off when laptops are so cheap and most of the time you want to have the keyboard integrated anyway.
Okay, so how is this different from a 17″ PowerBook G4? Does it just run hotter since it has a Pentium?
Yeah right, it’s just like a luggable, your 64SX or my Kaypro 2. The difference is my luggable weighs about 35 lbs and has a 9″ monochrome screen. So there’s really no similarity. In fact, overall upright design and the flop-off keyboard is more similar to the sewing-machine style Compaq Portable III.
Anyway, I’m not sure that this is an answer to any of the problems I see with laptops (when compared to desktops):
1. low performance of “onboard” or “integrated” components
2. non-standard, non-interchangable components
3. small screen
4. miniature-size keyboard
5. expensive – initial cost and upgrades
Overall, it looks kinda cool, but I don’t see how you could use it on a bus or plane. They’ll have to make an attachment to the base for those that really want to use it in their laps.
-Bob
From CNET:
Intel believes that its concept could catch on, even if a desktop with a notebook processor is somewhat unusual.
I don’t find it unusual, some people like me want a quiet computer. The Pentium M can deliver that.
I remember the guys at the theinquirer.net a while back when Centrino notebooks came out, were pleading that Intel would make this technology available to desktop systems.
The wave of the future for me is really just the good old docking station. With notebooks coming down to the price of good desktops, it makes sense for me to click a notebook out when I leave and click it back in for the nice large screen and keyboard when I return to settle in for serious work.
Added benefits are the space savings and quite operation.
Call it lingerie, because it is sexy.
It’s a slate computer with a bigger screen and swappable components which can be slipped into a dock and serve as a display as well.
It’s about time. The ATX box’es are mostly containers for empty space anyway. But will support a potted plant. The same goes for stereo’s. People do not mind paying big bucks for a wristwatches, a diamond, a camera, etc. But when it comes to computers and stereo’s then it has to take up space – I suppose to give a feeling of getting your moneys worth. I bet with a little clever ground breaking redesign the entire inside of a standard PC could be fit in a matchbox. I’d take one.
Want a slick monster monitor? Want a Kinesis ergo keyboard that looks like it came from Mars? Then you don’t want an integrated unit. These look cool but they are DOA as products.
Want a Kinesis ergo keyboard that looks like it came from Mars?
I *love* my kinesis-ergo! Nuthin’ beats my Contoured Classic set for dvorak.
Yup. I don’t go for that monolithic stuff either. I don’t mind my ATX case. As Clause notes above, it makes a nice little shelf for other stuff.
sed -e ‘s/Clause/Claus/’
What about the machine from which Intel used as a model for its own concoction?!
http://www.everymac.com/systems/apple/20th_mac/index.html
In a way, I wish Apple revisit what they did 5 years ago!
Why they think these types of machines have a market. I can’t see myself replacing my parts swapable Desktop for a Laptop let alone an all-in-one. Very niche market item.
so what people wants is the upgradeability of a desktop with the transportability of a laptop? why am i thinking something like how you upgraded the amiga 500 or there about. snap-in units on a kind of pci bus. hmm, i think this is an idea worth following up on.
hmm, a big motherboard unit that have connectors for keyboard, mouse and screen on top, this you snap a keyboard/pad combo on top of, into this you snap a flatscreen (hmm, how to make that hinge work? maybe best to leave it permantetly connected to the screen and have the snap work below the hinge, at the back of the keyboard). on the back of the motehrboard unit there are holes for stuff like soundboard units and so on running on a minipci bus (or the next gen pci bus when that turns up). you just remove a cover and stuff the unit in. in front there are to slots for standard hardrive or cd/dvd units. now to find somewhere to hide the battery/powersupply. and maybe find out how you should be able to replace the default gpu chip with a new and better one, maybe a designated slot for that one, mutch like the agp bus on a desktop. this could work, in theory.