9 ms·

The Lapdock Kit

146 points by marcodiego 4y ago

rbanffy 4y ago
There’s a point when the lapdock becomes almost as expensive as a whole laptop. During previous attempts to make something like this, companies found out the main board of the laptop is a relatively small part of the overall BoM.
paulhart 4y ago
Reminds me of this successful Kickstarter that failed to deliver (I was a backer): https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/andromium/the-superbook-turn-your-smartphone-into-a-laptop-f https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/andromium/the-superbook...
- pram 4y ago
  I had a Motorola Atrix a decade ago that did this. It still looks extremely modern. Shame “phone as a computer” hasn’t really gone anywhere in all this time.
  - wingmanjd 4y ago
    I miss the Atrix. The desktop mode running Ubuntu was great at the time, and once jailbroken, could install normal packages, which turned it into a great remote access machine between Remmina and terminal.
  - ppseafield 4y ago
    Indeed. Even before this the Nokia N900 could run a Debian desktop. I found Samsung DeX to be usable, if a bit awkward at times. By far the most annoying limitation was being limited to Android and not being able to install more powerful software. Termux is stuck on a version in the Google play store because apps may not longer be published using some features Termux requires. Years ago Microsoft did try the other way around - making Windows into a touch/mobile interface - but made both the desktop and mobile experiences a bit worse. Several linux-based projects are attempting to bridge the gap there, but they are often limited by compatible hardware and a lack of openness mobile device component manufacturers exhibit. Google and Apple have very little economic incentive to open up their ecosystems. It really shows comparing how open Android used to be in comparison to how it is now.
    - girvo 4y ago
      The Nokia N9 had potential too for this, but was limited by the Micro-USB port. It’s funny, the phones have been “ready” for this idea, but it’s the external lapdock part that seems to be the blocker. USB-C gets us closer, but the NexDock is pretty bad — poor battery life, poor screen quality, bad touchpad. Sadly it’s just too niche I think. By the time a small run lapdock with high enough quality exists, it’s now competing price wise with real laptops with much greater performance…
      - wkat4242 4y ago
        HP made a really nice dock for their Windows phone back in the day. Many people still use them with DeX, the right hardware version can do it. I wish they still made them.
    - ElectricalUnion 4y ago
      > Termux is stuck on a version in the Google play store because apps may not longer be published using some features Termux requires. The Google Play Store version was considered deprecated long before the feature issues; You should use the F-Droid version instead: https://f-droid.org/en/packages/com.termux/ https://f-droid.org/en/packages/com.termux/
- wingmanjd 4y ago
  I think I was one of the few lucky ones. I think I was one of the last batches shipped. I also had the Gen 1 Motorola Atrix's as well. I so badly want a truly ubiquitous device, but the few iterations I've tried just don't quite make it there.
- schultzie 4y ago
  They didn't entirely fail to deliver - I had received one (and subsequently sold it on eBay). There were many issues with it. Poor trackpad, poor software integration, unstable connection. It worked well enough for me to realize it's not a product that I'd ever realistically use.
- wkat4242 4y ago
  I still have one of those superbooks. They did deliver mine but it never worked properly. You're not missing anything, sadly.
trynewideas 4y ago
This kit, as noted on the page, is just the NexDock,[1] which itself is essentially a DisplayPort-over-USB-C or mini-HDMI 13" 16:9 1080p touchscreen display on a fold-over hinge, keyboard, trackpad, speakers, micro SDXC reader, headphone jack, and 44Wh battery in a 1.2kg laptop shell. The NexDock is $299 and its desktop mode features are already compatible with several Samsung, Huawei, Motorola, and a few other Android phones with video output. Since it's basically just a display, it also works with any USB-C/HDMI device, including Raspberry Pis, Steam Decks and other PCs, Nintendo Switches, etc. Purism charges $40 more and adds a magnetic mount (if not this $15 mount on Amazon,[2] then one very similar to it) and USB-C cable. 1: https://nexdock.com/explore-nexdock/ https://nexdock.com/explore-nexdock/ 2: https://www.amazon.com/Magnetic-Desktop-Monitor-Foldable-Portable/dp/B0B5FY4CT1/ref=sr_1_9?crid=3BH7KEH1WQKSA https://www.amazon.com/Magnetic-Desktop-Monitor-Foldable-Por...
- bee_rider 4y ago
  That is cool as hell, this is almost* exactly what I wanted for my usually-but-not-always desktop’d NUC for many years. Of course it was released right after I gave up and got a laptop, hahaha. * although getting power to the NUC could be tricky I guess
ppseafield 4y ago
I have a NexDock 360, which I have primarily used with a Samsung S21 but also with a PinePhone. The NexDock 360 is an OK device. The battery life lasted me about 2-3 hours, which isn't long enough for me. On Android with DeX there is no palm rejection, so I ended up keeping the touchpad switched off most of the time. PureOS might handle this better. The screen has touch input, but it's a pretty poor display - colors are washed out, and it isn't terribly bright. It was nice to be able to take notes without carrying around a full laptop, and I think with a better screen and battery life it would be much more useful for traveling. It has a mini HDMI port, and I did use it as a third monitor for my laptop for a bit, but I eventually just got another desktop monitor with a better screen.
- pengaru 4y ago
  Isn't the battery life going to be much less than those phones with a Librem 5?
  - ppseafield 4y ago
    I can't speak to the battery life of the Librem 5. You can choose to charge the phone or not charge the phone through the NextDock 360 pop-up menu, which can help it last a little longer.
- gavinray 4y ago
  I didn't know something like this existed, thanks for a thorough review I want something like this for reading PDFs (in tablet mode) and possibly coding from my phone, that I can carry around in my backpack when I'd rather not bring my whole laptop too.
  - ppseafield 4y ago
    I found reading on this screen to be pretty mediocre, and it is quite large to be held like a tablet (but possible, if awkward). If you would like to code on your phone, you would most likely need something browser based, or something running Linux like the Librem 5 here. It's not as easy to set up a decent development environment using Android.
singron 4y ago
Is scrolling broken on this page? On mobile it seems to jump around a little.
bitL 4y ago
It would be great if PineBook allowed internal display input not just external display output to function both as a laptop and lapdock.
haswell 4y ago
I owned the Motorola Atrix [0] way back when, which also offered a "Lapdock" accessory. It was way ahead of its time, and I always found it unfortunate that it never took off. Even though the phone is long dead/gone, the Motorola Lapdock turned out to be fairly hackable, and I was able to repurpose it to be a screen for a Raspberry Pi. It's cool to see some version of this tech return. Current phones are far more capable of delivering what the Atrix promised. - [0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motorola_Atrix_4G https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motorola_Atrix_4G
- imiric 4y ago
  The Atrix was indeed ahead of its time, but it was flawed in many ways. From reviews of the era, I remember that performance in the lapdock environment was poor. And since it ran an entirely separate Linux OS, the integration with Android wasn't great. Motorola had a good idea, but the execution felt more like a hack job than a product they were willing to support and improve. They soon abandoned the concept, and it wasn't until Samsung took it up with DeX that we saw an improvement on it. This iteration by Purism looks interesting, but my main concern would be performance. And whether Purism is dedicated to supporting it, or if I'll be left with a USB-C monitor in a couple of years.
femiagbabiaka 4y ago
I’m still waiting on delivery of a Librem 5 I purchased in 2021. So while it’s a cool product, that’s about it.
- seba_dos1 4y ago
  Librem 5 was a crowdfunded project that started shipping backorders in 2020, which was also the year of great supply chain disruptions and in the end it's still going through the shipping queue. It has just reached mid-2019 orders, but things got better now and you should get yours in a matter of months: https://puri.sm/posts/where-is-my-librem-5-part-2/ https://puri.sm/posts/where-is-my-librem-5-part-2/
  - femiagbabiaka 4y ago
    I’ll believe it when I see it. :)
- steponlego 4y ago
  I ordered mine in 2017 and it's still not here.
  - seba_dos1 4y ago
    2017 orders have been handled several months ago already. You may have missed your address confirmation e-mail. You may want to contact support.
    - steponlego 4y ago
      Yeah I'll do that, good idea.
  - monopoliessuck 4y ago
    Same. I didn't miss an email confirmation or anything. They're very aware of me in the "queue". Contacting support on a monthly basis gets the same answer. I have to wait for some arbitrary deadline on "current pre-orders" and they are unsure about when that'll happen, but are definitely sure it WILL happen... eventually.
TheNewAndy 4y ago
Be wary of ordering anything from them. My order from 2019 is now ready to ship, but I have since changed my mind and asked for a refund instead. That was about a month or so ago, and while their words assure me that they will do it, they have refused to provide even an ETA for it.
- allanrbo 4y ago
  Same. Still waiting for the librem i ordered in 2019. Scammers.
  - CuriousCosmic 4y ago
    Assuming you are talking about the librem 5, they have only really just started consistently shipping in the last year and have been clearing the backlog of orders going back to 2017 in roughly the order that they were placed. So based on their last update, your 2019 order almost certainly exists physically exists in a warehouse somewhere waiting for shipping details to be confirmed and then to be sent out. There's a decent chance they tried to contact you via email to confirm that the shipping address was still good (so they don't mail it to some appt you don't live in anymore). If not they will likely send you an email soon as people w/ 2019 orders started getting their confirmation emails in the last few weeks. Your best bet if you haven't gotten an email from them is to just contact them, confirm your shipping details, and request an estimate delivery date. https://puri.sm/posts/where-is-my-librem-5-part-2/ https://puri.sm/posts/where-is-my-librem-5-part-2/
- jamesmunns 4y ago
  Another confirmation of this. I ordered a Librem 5 at the end of 2019, and have not gotten any meaningful update on it. I (now) know someone who ordered earlier than that, who has been trying for years to get a refund for his device.
m463 4y ago
when I see this device, I think it might make a good monitor+keyboard/mouse for configuring or debugging headless servers.
- Klasiaster 4y ago
  Should work with one of those USB-C to USB-A adapters for keyboard/mouse at least, and one more cable/adapter for the MiniHDMI port.
mmcclure 4y ago
This reminds me of the Ubuntu docking phone[1] back in the day. Honestly I’m still bummed that didn’t really pan out. [1] https://www.theverge.com/2012/2/21/2812424/ubuntu-for-android-hands-on https://www.theverge.com/2012/2/21/2812424/ubuntu-for-androi...
- muyuu 4y ago
  i can't see why would the market treat this one differently, but if they can keep their costs low they may carve themselves a sustainable niche and perhaps aim for a bigger market in the future
- justsomehnguy 4y ago
  Which is a spin on Motorola "HD Multimedia Dock" https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motorola_Atrix_4G#Accessories https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motorola_Atrix_4G#Accessories
turbobooster 4y ago
Samsung did this 10 years ago
TheCleric 4y ago
I use a NexDock with my SteamDeck and it works great for turning that device into a "gaming laptop".
raffraffraff 4y ago
Stupid question time: if I don't have a Librem phone, does it work with anything else?
- fsflover 4y ago
  Yes, the list of supported phones is at the official site of NexDock.

146 points by marcodiego 4y ago

There’s a point when the lapdock becomes almost as expensive as a whole laptop. During previous attempts to make something like this, companies found out the main board of the laptop is a relatively small part of the overall BoM.

paulhart 4y ago

Reminds me of this successful Kickstarter that failed to deliver (I was a backer): https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/andromium/the-superbook-turn-your-smartphone-into-a-laptop-f https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/andromium/the-superbook...

pram 4y ago
I had a Motorola Atrix a decade ago that did this. It still looks extremely modern. Shame “phone as a computer” hasn’t really gone anywhere in all this time.
- wingmanjd 4y ago
  I miss the Atrix. The desktop mode running Ubuntu was great at the time, and once jailbroken, could install normal packages, which turned it into a great remote access machine between Remmina and terminal.
- ppseafield 4y ago
  Indeed. Even before this the Nokia N900 could run a Debian desktop. I found Samsung DeX to be usable, if a bit awkward at times. By far the most annoying limitation was being limited to Android and not being able to install more powerful software. Termux is stuck on a version in the Google play store because apps may not longer be published using some features Termux requires. Years ago Microsoft did try the other way around - making Windows into a touch/mobile interface - but made both the desktop and mobile experiences a bit worse. Several linux-based projects are attempting to bridge the gap there, but they are often limited by compatible hardware and a lack of openness mobile device component manufacturers exhibit. Google and Apple have very little economic incentive to open up their ecosystems. It really shows comparing how open Android used to be in comparison to how it is now.
  - girvo 4y ago
    The Nokia N9 had potential too for this, but was limited by the Micro-USB port. It’s funny, the phones have been “ready” for this idea, but it’s the external lapdock part that seems to be the blocker. USB-C gets us closer, but the NexDock is pretty bad — poor battery life, poor screen quality, bad touchpad. Sadly it’s just too niche I think. By the time a small run lapdock with high enough quality exists, it’s now competing price wise with real laptops with much greater performance…
    - wkat4242 4y ago
      HP made a really nice dock for their Windows phone back in the day. Many people still use them with DeX, the right hardware version can do it. I wish they still made them.
  - ElectricalUnion 4y ago
    > Termux is stuck on a version in the Google play store because apps may not longer be published using some features Termux requires. The Google Play Store version was considered deprecated long before the feature issues; You should use the F-Droid version instead: https://f-droid.org/en/packages/com.termux/ https://f-droid.org/en/packages/com.termux/
wingmanjd 4y ago
I think I was one of the few lucky ones. I think I was one of the last batches shipped. I also had the Gen 1 Motorola Atrix's as well. I so badly want a truly ubiquitous device, but the few iterations I've tried just don't quite make it there.
schultzie 4y ago
They didn't entirely fail to deliver - I had received one (and subsequently sold it on eBay). There were many issues with it. Poor trackpad, poor software integration, unstable connection. It worked well enough for me to realize it's not a product that I'd ever realistically use.
wkat4242 4y ago
I still have one of those superbooks. They did deliver mine but it never worked properly. You're not missing anything, sadly.

trynewideas 4y ago

This kit, as noted on the page, is just the NexDock,[1] which itself is essentially a DisplayPort-over-USB-C or mini-HDMI 13" 16:9 1080p touchscreen display on a fold-over hinge, keyboard, trackpad, speakers, micro SDXC reader, headphone jack, and 44Wh battery in a 1.2kg laptop shell. The NexDock is $299 and its desktop mode features are already compatible with several Samsung, Huawei, Motorola, and a few other Android phones with video output. Since it's basically just a display, it also works with any USB-C/HDMI device, including Raspberry Pis, Steam Decks and other PCs, Nintendo Switches, etc. Purism charges $40 more and adds a magnetic mount (if not this $15 mount on Amazon,[2] then one very similar to it) and USB-C cable. 1: https://nexdock.com/explore-nexdock/ https://nexdock.com/explore-nexdock/ 2: https://www.amazon.com/Magnetic-Desktop-Monitor-Foldable-Portable/dp/B0B5FY4CT1/ref=sr_1_9?crid=3BH7KEH1WQKSA https://www.amazon.com/Magnetic-Desktop-Monitor-Foldable-Por...

bee_rider 4y ago
That is cool as hell, this is almost* exactly what I wanted for my usually-but-not-always desktop’d NUC for many years. Of course it was released right after I gave up and got a laptop, hahaha. * although getting power to the NUC could be tricky I guess

ppseafield 4y ago

I have a NexDock 360, which I have primarily used with a Samsung S21 but also with a PinePhone. The NexDock 360 is an OK device. The battery life lasted me about 2-3 hours, which isn't long enough for me. On Android with DeX there is no palm rejection, so I ended up keeping the touchpad switched off most of the time. PureOS might handle this better. The screen has touch input, but it's a pretty poor display - colors are washed out, and it isn't terribly bright. It was nice to be able to take notes without carrying around a full laptop, and I think with a better screen and battery life it would be much more useful for traveling. It has a mini HDMI port, and I did use it as a third monitor for my laptop for a bit, but I eventually just got another desktop monitor with a better screen.

pengaru 4y ago
Isn't the battery life going to be much less than those phones with a Librem 5?
- ppseafield 4y ago
  I can't speak to the battery life of the Librem 5. You can choose to charge the phone or not charge the phone through the NextDock 360 pop-up menu, which can help it last a little longer.
gavinray 4y ago
I didn't know something like this existed, thanks for a thorough review I want something like this for reading PDFs (in tablet mode) and possibly coding from my phone, that I can carry around in my backpack when I'd rather not bring my whole laptop too.
- ppseafield 4y ago
  I found reading on this screen to be pretty mediocre, and it is quite large to be held like a tablet (but possible, if awkward). If you would like to code on your phone, you would most likely need something browser based, or something running Linux like the Librem 5 here. It's not as easy to set up a decent development environment using Android.

singron 4y ago

Is scrolling broken on this page? On mobile it seems to jump around a little.

bitL 4y ago

It would be great if PineBook allowed internal display input not just external display output to function both as a laptop and lapdock.

haswell 4y ago

I owned the Motorola Atrix [0] way back when, which also offered a "Lapdock" accessory. It was way ahead of its time, and I always found it unfortunate that it never took off. Even though the phone is long dead/gone, the Motorola Lapdock turned out to be fairly hackable, and I was able to repurpose it to be a screen for a Raspberry Pi. It's cool to see some version of this tech return. Current phones are far more capable of delivering what the Atrix promised. - [0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motorola_Atrix_4G https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motorola_Atrix_4G

imiric 4y ago
The Atrix was indeed ahead of its time, but it was flawed in many ways. From reviews of the era, I remember that performance in the lapdock environment was poor. And since it ran an entirely separate Linux OS, the integration with Android wasn't great. Motorola had a good idea, but the execution felt more like a hack job than a product they were willing to support and improve. They soon abandoned the concept, and it wasn't until Samsung took it up with DeX that we saw an improvement on it. This iteration by Purism looks interesting, but my main concern would be performance. And whether Purism is dedicated to supporting it, or if I'll be left with a USB-C monitor in a couple of years.

femiagbabiaka 4y ago

I’m still waiting on delivery of a Librem 5 I purchased in 2021. So while it’s a cool product, that’s about it.

seba_dos1 4y ago
Librem 5 was a crowdfunded project that started shipping backorders in 2020, which was also the year of great supply chain disruptions and in the end it's still going through the shipping queue. It has just reached mid-2019 orders, but things got better now and you should get yours in a matter of months: https://puri.sm/posts/where-is-my-librem-5-part-2/ https://puri.sm/posts/where-is-my-librem-5-part-2/
- femiagbabiaka 4y ago
  I’ll believe it when I see it. :)
steponlego 4y ago
I ordered mine in 2017 and it's still not here.
- seba_dos1 4y ago
  2017 orders have been handled several months ago already. You may have missed your address confirmation e-mail. You may want to contact support.
  - steponlego 4y ago
    Yeah I'll do that, good idea.
- monopoliessuck 4y ago
  Same. I didn't miss an email confirmation or anything. They're very aware of me in the "queue". Contacting support on a monthly basis gets the same answer. I have to wait for some arbitrary deadline on "current pre-orders" and they are unsure about when that'll happen, but are definitely sure it WILL happen... eventually.

TheNewAndy 4y ago

Be wary of ordering anything from them. My order from 2019 is now ready to ship, but I have since changed my mind and asked for a refund instead. That was about a month or so ago, and while their words assure me that they will do it, they have refused to provide even an ETA for it.

allanrbo 4y ago
Same. Still waiting for the librem i ordered in 2019. Scammers.
- CuriousCosmic 4y ago
  Assuming you are talking about the librem 5, they have only really just started consistently shipping in the last year and have been clearing the backlog of orders going back to 2017 in roughly the order that they were placed. So based on their last update, your 2019 order almost certainly exists physically exists in a warehouse somewhere waiting for shipping details to be confirmed and then to be sent out. There's a decent chance they tried to contact you via email to confirm that the shipping address was still good (so they don't mail it to some appt you don't live in anymore). If not they will likely send you an email soon as people w/ 2019 orders started getting their confirmation emails in the last few weeks. Your best bet if you haven't gotten an email from them is to just contact them, confirm your shipping details, and request an estimate delivery date. https://puri.sm/posts/where-is-my-librem-5-part-2/ https://puri.sm/posts/where-is-my-librem-5-part-2/
jamesmunns 4y ago
Another confirmation of this. I ordered a Librem 5 at the end of 2019, and have not gotten any meaningful update on it. I (now) know someone who ordered earlier than that, who has been trying for years to get a refund for his device.

m463 4y ago

when I see this device, I think it might make a good monitor+keyboard/mouse for configuring or debugging headless servers.

Klasiaster 4y ago
Should work with one of those USB-C to USB-A adapters for keyboard/mouse at least, and one more cable/adapter for the MiniHDMI port.

mmcclure 4y ago

This reminds me of the Ubuntu docking phone[1] back in the day. Honestly I’m still bummed that didn’t really pan out. [1] https://www.theverge.com/2012/2/21/2812424/ubuntu-for-android-hands-on https://www.theverge.com/2012/2/21/2812424/ubuntu-for-androi...

muyuu 4y ago
i can't see why would the market treat this one differently, but if they can keep their costs low they may carve themselves a sustainable niche and perhaps aim for a bigger market in the future
justsomehnguy 4y ago
Which is a spin on Motorola "HD Multimedia Dock" https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motorola_Atrix_4G#Accessories https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motorola_Atrix_4G#Accessories

turbobooster 4y ago

Samsung did this 10 years ago

TheCleric 4y ago

I use a NexDock with my SteamDeck and it works great for turning that device into a "gaming laptop".

raffraffraff 4y ago

Stupid question time: if I don't have a Librem phone, does it work with anything else?

fsflover 4y ago
Yes, the list of supported phones is at the official site of NexDock.