5 ms·

At first, I thought "damn, I want one right now." But then I realized something - most of the time, when I use a laptop, I'm fairly space-sensitive. You can't

At first, I thought "damn, I want one right now." But then I realized something - most of the time, when I use a laptop, I'm fairly space-sensitive. You can't use one of these on a train, tram, bus, plane, or in any situation where there are people next to you. And even when there is enough room, you pretty much instantly give up any semblance of privacy. Even though 99.9% of the time what I have on my monitor isn't something that I'd mind a random person seeing, sometimes it is. My current laptop's an Ideapad Yoga, 13" screen, and if I close a window and a sensitive document, or picture, or what have you is on the screen it's not a big deal. My body easily hides the screen from anyone behind me, and since the laptop is so small it's usually kinda tricky to see stuff on the screen from the sides anyway. Besides, I'm one of several people in the (train car|bus|plane|area) that have a laptop open, so usually nobody's watching my screen anyway. If someone's got one of these things? I'm going to take a look at it, probably look at what they've got open and what they've got on the screens. So are the other 40 people around me. When they say "mobile desktop", that's exactly what it is, to me. If you use the 3 screens anywhere you wouldn't use a desktop PC, things become awkward. The problem is that the vast majority of places where I use my laptop aren't places I'd use a desktop PC.

bkane521 10y ago
I wonder if there will be an option to keep the two extra screens collapsed. Certainly there's still the weight factor, but this would allow it to be more compact and would probably extend battery life considerably (though I imagine it will still be laughably bad). I think it would be awesome to have access to three screens when you're on the road, but this thing definitely won't be replacing any ultrabooks anytime soon.
ChuckMcM 10y ago
I think there is a comedy routine in there somewhere. Imagine the passenger in the middle seat of a crowded flight and suddenly their laptop keeps growing and growing :-). IBM did a similar idea with a dual screen thinkpad, it was not very successful. My impression was that it just didn't make a lot of sense. Imagine a couple of USB-C connected displays on either side when you wanted them, no need to lug them around when you didn't. That would seem to be a bit more sensible to me.
- owenversteeg 10y ago
  Heh, funny you mentioned the IBM laptop. I actually have been thinking of getting one of those (W700ds) and gutting them to be more modern. I like it cause it's IBM (so pretty strong), the second screen is small-ish and not that intrusive, it's easy to take in or out, and it wouldn't take up that much space on a train/plane/wherever. But yeah, I'm with you that I'd like a mini display that's detachable instead. I think one exists, but horribly overpriced, ugly, and horrible resolution.
- eridius 10y ago
  This isn't on an airplane but I think it's similar to what you're suggesting: https://youtu.be/6Vjb_LqYOMw https://youtu.be/6Vjb_LqYOMw
- geoffpado 10y ago
  Apple actually marketed their computers this way once… I don't think they meant it to be funny: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQWjxAdSsHE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQWjxAdSsHE
- joveian 10y ago
  Also, on every laptop-like device I've used, there are four things that ever break (well not counting cosmetic damage and five if you count hard drives; I've been lucky with memory). Two of these are display hinges and the display cable. Three integrated displays sounds like asking for trouble. Seperate displays like you suggest might at least make it easier to replace the parts that break. Also you could then use them on a different laptop more easily too. (The other two things that break for me are the power connection inside the laptop and the power cord where it bends just outside the laptop. I don't think I'm that rough on them...)
mschuster91 10y ago
> You can't use one of these on a train, tram, bus, plane, or in any situation where there are people next to you. Oh you can. You just use the display that gets slided at the front position. > And even when there is enough room, you pretty much instantly give up any semblance of privacy. I have a 3M display view protector foil. Works quite well, except if the spectator is directly behind you.
zem 10y ago
can see it being useful for people who do a lot of business travel. you use it in single screen mode in public places, and expand to three-screen back in your hotel room or on your desk at the client's site.

bkane521 10y ago

I wonder if there will be an option to keep the two extra screens collapsed. Certainly there's still the weight factor, but this would allow it to be more compact and would probably extend battery life considerably (though I imagine it will still be laughably bad). I think it would be awesome to have access to three screens when you're on the road, but this thing definitely won't be replacing any ultrabooks anytime soon.

ChuckMcM 10y ago

I think there is a comedy routine in there somewhere. Imagine the passenger in the middle seat of a crowded flight and suddenly their laptop keeps growing and growing :-). IBM did a similar idea with a dual screen thinkpad, it was not very successful. My impression was that it just didn't make a lot of sense. Imagine a couple of USB-C connected displays on either side when you wanted them, no need to lug them around when you didn't. That would seem to be a bit more sensible to me.

owenversteeg 10y ago
Heh, funny you mentioned the IBM laptop. I actually have been thinking of getting one of those (W700ds) and gutting them to be more modern. I like it cause it's IBM (so pretty strong), the second screen is small-ish and not that intrusive, it's easy to take in or out, and it wouldn't take up that much space on a train/plane/wherever. But yeah, I'm with you that I'd like a mini display that's detachable instead. I think one exists, but horribly overpriced, ugly, and horrible resolution.
eridius 10y ago
This isn't on an airplane but I think it's similar to what you're suggesting: https://youtu.be/6Vjb_LqYOMw https://youtu.be/6Vjb_LqYOMw
geoffpado 10y ago
Apple actually marketed their computers this way once… I don't think they meant it to be funny: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQWjxAdSsHE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQWjxAdSsHE
joveian 10y ago
Also, on every laptop-like device I've used, there are four things that ever break (well not counting cosmetic damage and five if you count hard drives; I've been lucky with memory). Two of these are display hinges and the display cable. Three integrated displays sounds like asking for trouble. Seperate displays like you suggest might at least make it easier to replace the parts that break. Also you could then use them on a different laptop more easily too. (The other two things that break for me are the power connection inside the laptop and the power cord where it bends just outside the laptop. I don't think I'm that rough on them...)

mschuster91 10y ago

> You can't use one of these on a train, tram, bus, plane, or in any situation where there are people next to you. Oh you can. You just use the display that gets slided at the front position. > And even when there is enough room, you pretty much instantly give up any semblance of privacy. I have a 3M display view protector foil. Works quite well, except if the spectator is directly behind you.

zem 10y ago

can see it being useful for people who do a lot of business travel. you use it in single screen mode in public places, and expand to three-screen back in your hotel room or on your desk at the client's site.