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Ask HN: A Laptop that outsources processing to a Desktop?

Why does not this exist? A laptop that just contains a display, a keyboard and a mouse/trackpad, that just take input and send them to desktop and just display what the desktop broadcasts? I have a powerful desktop at home, but I don't want to spend all day sitting in front of it. If I have such a device, I can work from anywhere in my home. And it would not fry my lap like a cheap laptop do... The way I see it, if you are living in a hot country, the actual machine does not even need to be inside your home, heating your rooms... Why does not this exist?

bigiain 11y ago
I know people who do this with EC2 instances. You don't even need to own a powerful desktop to make this work. (thin client, fat client, thin client - the more things change the more they stay the same...)
vytautask 11y ago
Just buy an ultrabook/some laptop with good screen, good network card and long-lasting battery. If heat is the problem for you, I would suggest some aluminum-encased laptop that would disperse heat more easily. IMHO, probably Google chromebook (https://www.google.com/chromebook/ https://www.google.com/chromebook/) is the kind of device you are looking for... Also what you need is a remote desktop app. There are quite a few nowadays (from "Remote Desktop" in Windows, to TeamViewer, VNC or etc.). A quite good list is in wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_remote_desktop_software https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_remote_desktop_s... .
- deleted 11y ago
  [deleted]
- imakesnowflakes 11y ago
  Yes. I know about those. I am a software developer. Buying an ultrabook/laptop just for continence seem a bit overkill to me. Those are not exactly cheap. But that is not the point. The point is how much untapped potential is there in existing systems. I think we should be trying to extract as much value from the existing set up, before buying more redundant stuff. We already have wireless keyboards and mouse. We just need an Lcd with bundled transmitter/reciever with enough bandwidth. Making It is quite trivial compared to the convenience it will provide. It might even be able to support multiple users. Put one desktop in your basement, and the whole family can use these dumb wireless terminals.
  - vytautask 11y ago
    "Bundled with transmitter/receiver" is the tricky part. How would you configure such device? How it would know where and how to convert/send/receive signal? To solve those basic problems you'll need some computational power. There we arrive at thin clients (for example like those: http://www.dell.com/us/business/p/cloud-client-computing?stp_redir=false&~ck=mn http://www.dell.com/us/business/p/cloud-client-computing?stp...). Some of them do have wireless connectivity...
    - imakesnowflakes 11y ago
      In the same way wireless keyboards and mouses work. You use a receiver/transmitter pair. It does not require any computational power. A receiver can be tuned to a particular transmitter. We might have to encrypt the display transmission. But it am sure it can be done using dedicated hardware.
      - joefarish 11y ago
        Sounds like you just want a wireless display adapter: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WiDi https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WiDi
        imakesnowflakes 11y ago
        Yes. That is what I am talking about. It seems like there are already cheap devices that can do wireless HDMI streaming [1]. [1] http://www.amazon.in/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=wireless+display+adapter http://www.amazon.in/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps...
        rahimnathwani 11y ago
        You're not going to like the latency of using Airplay or similar over wifi, unless you're doing something non-interactive (like watching a movie).
CyberFonic 11y ago
Have you looked at VNC? It does exactly what you are describing. See: http://www.tightvnc.com/ http://www.tightvnc.com/
- imakesnowflakes 11y ago
  Not sure. VNC is a program that runs on a computer. But we don't need a computer to simply relay input/output to a desktop. What I am suggesting is such a setup. We already have cheap wireless keyboards and mouse. We just need a lcd with a reciever/transmitter with sufficient bandwidth and bundle them together in a compact package, that act as a dumb terminal of sorts.
DrScump 11y ago
You mean, like an X terminal? Actually, a Chromebook is kind of like that - a browser only.
vansteen 11y ago
I never heard about such a device but I have a Motorola LAPDOCK to control my raspberry. I guess the raspberry could be adapted to control a distant desktop (adding a wifi or bluetooth card, a battery of some sort and a VNC-like software) Or even using a Motorola LAPDOCK + Smartphone with remote-control app See Motorola Lapdock: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004M17D62/ http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004M17D62/
- deleted 11y ago
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veddox 11y ago
Wouldn't that be terribly inefficient? I'm hazarding a guess here, but I think that no matter what kind of networking technology you use, it's going to be dreadfully slow as compared to doing it locally. Plus, the laptop would lose 90% of its mobility advantage, as it would always have to be in the (network-) vicinity of a desktop.
- imakesnowflakes 11y ago
  > it's going to be dreadfully slow as compared to doing it locally. We don't use networking. We use direct RF link. >Plus, the laptop would lose 90% of its mobility advantage, as it would always have to be in the (network-) vicinity of a desktop. This is not a replacement for laptop. But an extension of a desktop. Instead of having to sit directly infront of it, you can work from anywhere in the same building.
  - ProblemFactory 11y ago
    So you are looking for a device that contains a laptop body, screen, keyboard, touchpad, speakers, battery, battery charger, RF antennas, and enough processing power to decode and display the video stream arriving over radio? My guess is that this would cost at least 80% of a similar quality laptop that also includes "computer parts" and works as an actual computer. Hell, the current HDMI video streaming dongles like Chromecast have more processing power built in than my first actual laptop.
    - imakesnowflakes 11y ago
      >My guess is that this would cost at least 80% of a similar quality laptop that also includes "computer parts" and works as an actual computer. 80%? Without cpu, harddisk, memory, motherboard and without having to cramming all of this into a small space, without heat and power management circulatory to provide and manage power for all of these things? So in a laptop, you think these amount to only 20% of the cost? > enough processing power to decode and display the video stream arriving over radio How much processing power did your 20 year old television set have?
LarryMade2 11y ago
Sounds a lot like the Linux Terminal Server Project http://www.ltsp.org/ http://www.ltsp.org/
deleted 11y ago
[deleted]
runjake 11y ago
You mean, something like X11? Something like VNC? Something like Microsoft's RDP? Something like 9P? Something like TeamViewer? Something like Citrix? Something like vCloud Air? Or something else? Side tirade: These kinds of "Why does this not exist?"|"Why don't they just do $x" questions [1] seem to be a trend as of late on HN. Do some basic Googling and gaining of situational awareness before asking flat-out dumb questions. Exercise some basic critical thinking. Consider that others have probably already deeply examined the problem domain and they don't do something in particular because it's a bad idea. 1. https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=10586642 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=10586642 , https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=10586642 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=10586642 , and whatever that Ask HN lost Malaysian flight thread was that asked why aircraft didn't broadcast their location
- imakesnowflakes 11y ago
  No. Nothing like them at all. Please read more carefully. What I suggest does not have a processor. It just relays input/output.
  - pkinsky 11y ago
    It relays input/output over a network without a processor?
    - imakesnowflakes 11y ago
      It does not use a network. It uses direct RF link. Like wireless keyboards and mouses do. Imagine getting a wireless keyboard and mouse and a wireless hdmi adapter. You plug the transmitters of these wireless keyboard and mouse to your desktops usb. You attach the transmitter of wirless hdmi adapter to the hdmi port of your desktop. Now you can take the display, keyboard and mouse to anywhere the range of the radios allows and work from there. Pack the items at the receiving end into a compact/cheap package and I think you ll have a great product.
      - bigiain 11y ago
michaelbuddy 11y ago
it's kind of what a steam machine link device and the new xbox one streaming are. You are able to run games on a less powerful system as long as the wifi or hard wired network are pretty robust.
ripken 11y ago
Amazon workspaces + what's called a zero client https://aws.amazon.com/blogs/aws/workspaces-zero-client/ https://aws.amazon.com/blogs/aws/workspaces-zero-client/
j2bax 11y ago
Are you thinking of something similar to the Wii U controller which can play games wirelessly from the Wii U via a direct link? Edit: more info on the Wii U game pad link. http://www.polygon.com/2012/11/16/3653294/wii-u-range-test-gamepad http://www.polygon.com/2012/11/16/3653294/wii-u-range-test-g...

bigiain 11y ago

I know people who do this with EC2 instances. You don't even need to own a powerful desktop to make this work. (thin client, fat client, thin client - the more things change the more they stay the same...)

vytautask 11y ago

Just buy an ultrabook/some laptop with good screen, good network card and long-lasting battery. If heat is the problem for you, I would suggest some aluminum-encased laptop that would disperse heat more easily. IMHO, probably Google chromebook (https://www.google.com/chromebook/ https://www.google.com/chromebook/) is the kind of device you are looking for... Also what you need is a remote desktop app. There are quite a few nowadays (from "Remote Desktop" in Windows, to TeamViewer, VNC or etc.). A quite good list is in wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_remote_desktop_software https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_remote_desktop_s... .

deleted 11y ago
[deleted]
imakesnowflakes 11y ago
Yes. I know about those. I am a software developer. Buying an ultrabook/laptop just for continence seem a bit overkill to me. Those are not exactly cheap. But that is not the point. The point is how much untapped potential is there in existing systems. I think we should be trying to extract as much value from the existing set up, before buying more redundant stuff. We already have wireless keyboards and mouse. We just need an Lcd with bundled transmitter/reciever with enough bandwidth. Making It is quite trivial compared to the convenience it will provide. It might even be able to support multiple users. Put one desktop in your basement, and the whole family can use these dumb wireless terminals.
- vytautask 11y ago
  "Bundled with transmitter/receiver" is the tricky part. How would you configure such device? How it would know where and how to convert/send/receive signal? To solve those basic problems you'll need some computational power. There we arrive at thin clients (for example like those: http://www.dell.com/us/business/p/cloud-client-computing?stp_redir=false&~ck=mn http://www.dell.com/us/business/p/cloud-client-computing?stp...). Some of them do have wireless connectivity...
  - imakesnowflakes 11y ago
    In the same way wireless keyboards and mouses work. You use a receiver/transmitter pair. It does not require any computational power. A receiver can be tuned to a particular transmitter. We might have to encrypt the display transmission. But it am sure it can be done using dedicated hardware.
    - joefarish 11y ago
      Sounds like you just want a wireless display adapter: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WiDi https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WiDi
      - imakesnowflakes 11y ago
        Yes. That is what I am talking about. It seems like there are already cheap devices that can do wireless HDMI streaming [1]. [1] http://www.amazon.in/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=wireless+display+adapter http://www.amazon.in/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps...
        rahimnathwani 11y ago
        You're not going to like the latency of using Airplay or similar over wifi, unless you're doing something non-interactive (like watching a movie).

CyberFonic 11y ago

Have you looked at VNC? It does exactly what you are describing. See: http://www.tightvnc.com/ http://www.tightvnc.com/

imakesnowflakes 11y ago
Not sure. VNC is a program that runs on a computer. But we don't need a computer to simply relay input/output to a desktop. What I am suggesting is such a setup. We already have cheap wireless keyboards and mouse. We just need a lcd with a reciever/transmitter with sufficient bandwidth and bundle them together in a compact package, that act as a dumb terminal of sorts.

DrScump 11y ago

You mean, like an X terminal? Actually, a Chromebook is kind of like that - a browser only.

vansteen 11y ago

I never heard about such a device but I have a Motorola LAPDOCK to control my raspberry. I guess the raspberry could be adapted to control a distant desktop (adding a wifi or bluetooth card, a battery of some sort and a VNC-like software) Or even using a Motorola LAPDOCK + Smartphone with remote-control app See Motorola Lapdock: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004M17D62/ http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004M17D62/

deleted 11y ago
[deleted]

veddox 11y ago

Wouldn't that be terribly inefficient? I'm hazarding a guess here, but I think that no matter what kind of networking technology you use, it's going to be dreadfully slow as compared to doing it locally. Plus, the laptop would lose 90% of its mobility advantage, as it would always have to be in the (network-) vicinity of a desktop.

imakesnowflakes 11y ago
> it's going to be dreadfully slow as compared to doing it locally. We don't use networking. We use direct RF link. >Plus, the laptop would lose 90% of its mobility advantage, as it would always have to be in the (network-) vicinity of a desktop. This is not a replacement for laptop. But an extension of a desktop. Instead of having to sit directly infront of it, you can work from anywhere in the same building.
- ProblemFactory 11y ago
  So you are looking for a device that contains a laptop body, screen, keyboard, touchpad, speakers, battery, battery charger, RF antennas, and enough processing power to decode and display the video stream arriving over radio? My guess is that this would cost at least 80% of a similar quality laptop that also includes "computer parts" and works as an actual computer. Hell, the current HDMI video streaming dongles like Chromecast have more processing power built in than my first actual laptop.
  - imakesnowflakes 11y ago
    >My guess is that this would cost at least 80% of a similar quality laptop that also includes "computer parts" and works as an actual computer. 80%? Without cpu, harddisk, memory, motherboard and without having to cramming all of this into a small space, without heat and power management circulatory to provide and manage power for all of these things? So in a laptop, you think these amount to only 20% of the cost? > enough processing power to decode and display the video stream arriving over radio How much processing power did your 20 year old television set have?

LarryMade2 11y ago

Sounds a lot like the Linux Terminal Server Project http://www.ltsp.org/ http://www.ltsp.org/

deleted 11y ago

[deleted]

runjake 11y ago

You mean, something like X11? Something like VNC? Something like Microsoft's RDP? Something like 9P? Something like TeamViewer? Something like Citrix? Something like vCloud Air? Or something else? Side tirade: These kinds of "Why does this not exist?"|"Why don't they just do $x" questions [1] seem to be a trend as of late on HN. Do some basic Googling and gaining of situational awareness before asking flat-out dumb questions. Exercise some basic critical thinking. Consider that others have probably already deeply examined the problem domain and they don't do something in particular because it's a bad idea. 1. https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=10586642 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=10586642 , https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=10586642 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=10586642 , and whatever that Ask HN lost Malaysian flight thread was that asked why aircraft didn't broadcast their location

imakesnowflakes 11y ago
No. Nothing like them at all. Please read more carefully. What I suggest does not have a processor. It just relays input/output.
- pkinsky 11y ago
  It relays input/output over a network without a processor?
  - imakesnowflakes 11y ago
    It does not use a network. It uses direct RF link. Like wireless keyboards and mouses do. Imagine getting a wireless keyboard and mouse and a wireless hdmi adapter. You plug the transmitters of these wireless keyboard and mouse to your desktops usb. You attach the transmitter of wirless hdmi adapter to the hdmi port of your desktop. Now you can take the display, keyboard and mouse to anywhere the range of the radios allows and work from there. Pack the items at the receiving end into a compact/cheap package and I think you ll have a great product.
    - bigiain 11y ago

michaelbuddy 11y ago

it's kind of what a steam machine link device and the new xbox one streaming are. You are able to run games on a less powerful system as long as the wifi or hard wired network are pretty robust.

ripken 11y ago

Amazon workspaces + what's called a zero client https://aws.amazon.com/blogs/aws/workspaces-zero-client/ https://aws.amazon.com/blogs/aws/workspaces-zero-client/

j2bax 11y ago

Are you thinking of something similar to the Wii U controller which can play games wirelessly from the Wii U via a direct link? Edit: more info on the Wii U game pad link. http://www.polygon.com/2012/11/16/3653294/wii-u-range-test-gamepad http://www.polygon.com/2012/11/16/3653294/wii-u-range-test-g...