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Multi-head Meets the Laptop

Posted by timothy on from the good-ideas-make-good-vapor dept.

PARENA writes: "Estari comes with a Dual-Screen Laptop! "A what?!" Yes: Dual-Screen. In fact, they are 2 15" TOUCH screens. According to TwoMobile: 'Unlike electronic tablets, the 2-VU(TM) allows users to view two full-page files or documents simultaneously. Users can page through two books at once, or take handwritten notes in a notebook on one screen while paging through a book on the other screen.' Sounds pretty cool!"

150 of 211 comments (clear)

  1. Is see it already..... by curtisk · · Score: 5, Funny

    when you see someone holding this laptop sideways it means one thing......

    they're on Playboy dot com, checking out the centerfold, the way they were meant to be checked out!

    :)

    Cool device though.....

    --

    Sehr geehrter Toilettenbenutzer!

    1. Re:Is see it already..... by MindStalker · · Score: 1

      I'm sure they mean WinXP embedded, which can run on much smaller devices.

    2. Re:Is see it already..... by Mr.+Jaggers · · Score: 1

      Err... what is Razzle anyway? (for those of us who don't have corner shops...)

      --

      When I grow up, I want to have Christopher Walken hair.
  2. I think this is the best feature by Sc00ter · · Score: 2
    "or take handwritten notes in a notebook on one screen while paging through a book on the other screen"

    You can keep notes in class, teachers can make lesson notes in it the night before, they can point out stuff in the book. Another nice feature would be a highlight function, so you can use your stylus as a highlighter. Very cool

    --
    Free Mac Mini
    1. Re:I think this is the best feature by knulleke · · Score: 1, Funny

      First reaction from our CEO: where can I download this?

      --
      no sig error.
    2. Re:I think this is the best feature by aengblom · · Score: 2

      Asketh the article:

      Estari Inc., a leader in providing digital document management solution software, will bring to market the patented dual-screen laptop in the fourth quarter of 2002.

      --


      So close and yet so far from the world's perfect ID number
  3. Read our minds by flipflapflopflup · · Score: 2
    Everyone thought this was cool, except it should have been in colour.

    Now it is. Nice.

    1. Re:Read our minds by janimal · · Score: 2, Interesting

      The black and white solution was superior in quality. You have to remember that this is meant for READING.. in this area, resolution is far more important than colour, and so a black and white screen with the same pixel density as colour will provide 3-4 times (depending on pixel geometry) the resolution. This is an INSANE advantage over this thing.

      J

  4. Remember when.... by hachiman · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Laptops were there to be carted around because you need a computer on the move? You chose something that was small, light and just powerful enough to do what you needed.

    That's the reason I still use my Thinkpad 760xl. It's tiny by modern standards, but it's rugged as h3ll and has survived two 4 foot drops.

    Then we have the sort of laptop that execs use to show off with.... 17" screens, more memory than you can shake a stick at and all that jazz... They weigh a ton, last about 30 minutes on battery and spent all their life in the docking station. What's the point?

    It's the same with this new laptop. How the hell are you going to find the space on a plane to use both screens? Or on a train. Yes, it's toy. Yes, it's shiny (and shiny is good) but it's got very little practical use as far as I am concerned.

    --
    Teamwork is essential. It gives the enemy someone else to shoot at
    1. Re:Remember when.... by Sc00ter · · Score: 2

      Did you even look at it? it's not a dual head laptop, it's more like an ebook with a folding screen.. Probably not much bigger then a normal book.

      --
      Free Mac Mini
    2. Re:Remember when.... by hachiman · · Score: 1

      Some of my points still stand. The whole thing is toy. I hate it when people bring out stuff like this. How long before the connectors fsck up and break? How long bfore you get a crack in the screen.

      Also, if it is supposed to be book size, how can future models have a 15" diagonal screen on either side? It's going to be like holding a very expensive, breakable world atlas. Now that will be comfy won't it?

      --
      Teamwork is essential. It gives the enemy someone else to shoot at
    3. Re:Remember when.... by carlos_benj · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Did you even look at it? it's not a dual head laptop, it's more like an ebook with a folding screen.. Probably not much bigger then a normal book.

      Did you read the article? These are two 15" diag screens. What kind of books do you consider "normal"?

      --

      --

      As a matter of fact, I am a lawyer. But I play an actor on TV.

    4. Re:Remember when.... by carlos_benj · · Score: 1

      Most people have no trouble finding space on a plane or train to use a magazine or a newspaper. This should fall somewhere closer to magazine size judging by picture and description. As far as practical use, your own use of a laptop must be very limited if you can't see any practicality in this form factor. Get those aging executives with bad eyes to review and mark up documents during their commute or business flight using this since many of them still don't (won't) type anyway.

      I do wonder if it has a keyboard how practical it is to use both screens while typing though. I could see having reference material open on one screen and typing to a document in the other.

      --

      --

      As a matter of fact, I am a lawyer. But I play an actor on TV.

    5. Re:Remember when.... by carlos_benj · · Score: 1

      Some of my points still stand.

      Actually, you seem to have formed an opinion based on gut reaction and are formulating weak points to bolster your conclusion.

      Connectors: That argument would also apply to laptops (unless yours is permanently fixed in the open position).

      Cracked Screen: How does this not apply to laptops seeing they use the same technology in this area?

      Holding expensive, breakable world atlas: Again, the size appears to be that of a standard laptop. The only difference is orientation. In fact, holding it like a book would certainly lessen the chances that you'd drop the silly thing - two hands grasping the sides as opposed to two hands resting on the keyboard.

      I honestly can't see in your arguments anything that would justify your conclusion. Think about what you're saying and then compare that to the devices you currently don't have problems with (laptops specifically - discounting those that use power resources too quickly if you like).

      --

      --

      As a matter of fact, I am a lawyer. But I play an actor on TV.

    6. Re:Remember when.... by hachiman · · Score: 1

      I beg to differ on some of your counterpoints.

      Connectors: That may well be the case. I stand corrected, even though I have had this happen to my laptop

      Cracked screen: Again, true. However, with this laptop, you have two screens and no keyboard. If something gets trapped in the middle, there will be little or no give (as would be found in a normal laptop with the keys providing some suspension). I think this would lead to a higher than average incidence of screen crack/damage.

      Holding: If you are going to be holding it with two hands the whole time, how are you going to write on it. If you assume that the weight is the same as a normal laptop, then when you have to write something, all the weight will have to be taken by the hand that doesn't write. Since laptops are heavy(ish) I think it would be easy to drop one. Also, one handed operation would put a fair bit of strain on the hinge, again, it's a point of failure that you would not normally find on a laptop.

      Are these reasons any better?

      --
      Teamwork is essential. It gives the enemy someone else to shoot at
    7. Re:Remember when.... by carlos_benj · · Score: 1

      Are these reasons any better?

      Well, the only one you seem to be left with is the awkwardness in holding (I think if someone is going to close their screens or laptop with something bulky and hard between them they'll eventually crack either one).

      As for shifting weight distribution when you go to write, I think the attitude of the device would change at that point and would be laid flat on the lap or a table rather than being held upright like a book. Think about how you do these things with notepads and pen. It would be just as awkward to hold your notepad aloft on one edge and write with the other hand. That's why nobody does it. It may also be possible to fold one screen under, hold the device in the crook of your arm and write if you are standing. Have you ever tried to type on a laptop while standing? Now THAT's awkward!

      --

      --

      As a matter of fact, I am a lawyer. But I play an actor on TV.

    8. Re:Remember when.... by hachiman · · Score: 1

      Judging from the photo on the site, I'd say it was unlikely that you could fold the top screen underneath the bottom one. Notice how the guts of the laptop are contained under the lower screen. You'd have to have a very large hinged joint to do that and then you would be putting a lot more stress on that joint, not to mention leaving the top screen wide open for damage.

      Second point. How many books would you normally carry around that weigh as much as a laptop? (Note: WinNT resource books don't qualify, but they are pretty much the same size and weight as a laptop. It's just tahat a laptop is more useful, even when it runs out of battery)

      --
      Teamwork is essential. It gives the enemy someone else to shoot at
    9. Re:Remember when.... by carlos_benj · · Score: 1

      I had to go back and look, but I see what you mean. Scratch that scenario. Heck, it was a bonus anyway.

      It's not that an individual book weighs as much as a laptop. You can carry a small library electronically. Some for technical reference, some for pleasure reading.

      It's just tahat a laptop is more useful, even when it runs out of battery

      Huh? You lost me there. Do you use your laptop for winter sledding when the battery dies?

      --

      --

      As a matter of fact, I am a lawyer. But I play an actor on TV.

    10. Re:Remember when.... by fatgraham · · Score: 1

      obviously he's someone with just dilbert and life in hell "comic books". (and maybe "the complete works of shakespere and monty python")

  5. I want one... I think by vagnerr · · Score: 1

    Very nice, cute but how practical is it realy?
    It would be nice for the novelty factor but one think that springs to mind is all the weight is "in one screen". And comming from command line, I like my keyboard :-)

    --
    -- Vagnerr - (www.vagnerr.com) Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity.
  6. Early promotions by Mattygfunk · · Score: 3, Interesting
    It isn't due out until the 4th quarter 2002. Why would their marketing department allow this out now? Their concept is new(ish). Why give potential compeditors a break by announcing it now. If I was them I'd announce with a month or two tops before I even acknowledged I had a product like this.


    Watch out for the cheap rip-off with a similiar design released soon (before this one is???).

    1. Re:Early promotions by flipflapflopflup · · Score: 1
      If they announce it now they look like they thought of it first. If they wait 6 months someone else will announce one and they'll lose their marketing lead, which is what impresses most people.

      Having said that, some people are impressed when a product is *released*, not when the press release comes out.

    2. Re:Early promotions by zoombat · · Score: 1
      It isn't due out until the 4th quarter 2002. Why would their marketing department allow this out now? Their concept is new(ish). Why give potential compeditors a break by announcing it now. If I was them I'd announce with a month or two tops before I even acknowledged I had a product like this.

      It's VERY expensive to take a concept (even a good one) through to market, including publicity and everything. They probably need more money to make it a reality. The only way they can get more money is by publicizing what they CAN do if you invest in them...

      My guess is that if they hadn't publicized now, they wouldn't be able to EVER release it due to finacial constraints.. so allowing the competition time to develop one is better than having no product at all.

    3. Re:Early promotions by Isaac-Lew · · Score: 1

      From reading the release, I assume they hold patents for dual-screen laptop technology (no idea if the patents are valid or not).

    4. Re:Early promotions by Sophacles · · Score: 1

      It will probably cost alot of money. They want us to start saving now.

      Or these types of things have always been shaky to say the least, so maybe they want to start the hype early. That way by the time CNN hears about it, your 2 month lead time is about right. Also if they get interest going, say on this geek site, anyone who does a search for it will find that geeks are already buzzing about it, and it must be cool.

      Its a marketing tactic I'd use.

      --
      To live till you die is to live long enough. -Lao Tzu, Tao Te Ching
    5. Re:Early promotions by SEWilco · · Score: 1
      4th quarter is only about 6 months from now. That is not a long time in manufacturing and transport time.

      A competitor could see that idea today, create an engineering drawing in less than a week...then order standard parts and rearrange an assembly area while waiting for the custom plastic and metal parts. If all goes well and parts have been ordered at priority rates...it's going to take a month before manufacturing begins. Then you've got less than 5 months to make enough stock, and if you're not shipping by air you allow some time for transport also.

      A more reasonable schedule requires creation of a prototype, rather than having a production mold cut from the first engineering drawing. With the prototype you check clearances, measure stresses, and ensure the design can be manufactured easily (ie, avoid requiring one person hold an LCD panel while another connects short cables, then tucks cables around support posts while closing the case). The prototype time is measured in weeks -- at least two weeks.

      Of course, if you don't have suitable circuitry you'll also get to design PC boards and get those manufactured. It's just a bit unlikely that you already have circuitry for a dual-headed laptop.

  7. oh puhleaze by gnudutch · · Score: 5, Insightful

    >The 2-VU operates in the Microsoft Windows 2000 and XP® environments and features the Adobe Acrobat Reader®. This strategy avoids the problems of a propriety, closed environment while maintaining the file integrity offered through these state-of-the-art digital rights management platforms.

    Win2k and Acrobat. Could this thing be any MORE proprietary and closed???

    1. Re:oh puhleaze by lblack · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Nope.

      The general public has caught on to all this brouhaha about how proprietary, closed environments are bad for business. They can even see how that might be so. Unfortuately, they still have no idea what it means.

      In the last six months, there's been a definite upswing in the inclusion of sentences like the one you quoted in marketing literature. Most of the time, it's a complete misnomer.

      "Our new workstation comes pre-loaded with Windows XP, Microsoft Office and the Adobe Suite, allowing you to create documents in industry-standard formats and avoid being locked into a proprietary model." Uh, what?

      It's sort of like when "portability" was a big thing, and you saw references to it in the literature for virtually every product, even those that were designed to run on very specific hardware/software setups.

      This is what happens when capitalism takes it up the ass from marketing. It stops being a battle of the better products and becomes a battle of the better brands.

      And there is so much market-space that nobody can really claim to be an authority on everything they will buy. You and I might know something about computers, but I know virtually nothing about refrigerators (I recently bought one and was amazed at the amount of research I had to do!). Sometimes, people just don't have the time or inclination to research a purpose. The marketers target those people with nebulous claims that fall roughly in line with what they've been reading in the Business and IT sections of their newspapers (always the most whorish sections, of course).

      Bleh.

      l

    2. Re:oh puhleaze by kruczkowski · · Score: 2

      Come to think of it your right,
      for example:
      My work PC is Windows 2000,
      At home I have WinME,
      both have word and acrobat...

      --
      hmm... for fun I enjoy launching DDoS attacks against 127.87.42.5
    3. Re:oh puhleaze by Chris+Canfield · · Score: 1

      >The 2-VU operates in the Microsoft Windows 2000 and XP® environments and features the Adobe Acrobat Reader®. This strategy avoids the problems of a propriety, closed environment while maintaining the file integrity offered through these state-of-the-art digital rights management platforms.

      Win2K and Acrobat. Could this thing have any LESS file integrity???

      Seriously, though, why has America (and indeed, the world) become complacent with companies that outright lie to us? Estari inc has proven through this obviously falsified information release that they cannot and should not be trusted about anything wrt this tablet. Why do people who should know better turn around and put things like this in their store? Are they surprised when the battery life doesn't live up to expectations, or when customers return the thing because the HD head crashed?

      While I'm generally opposed to increased governmental regulation, I'm not opposed to the consumer protection agencies doing their job. The class-action suit against HP for stating the their DVD+RW would eventually be firmware upgraded to support DVD+R, a claim that they knew at the time to be impossible, is a step in the right direction. However, what about the time Microsoft got away with claiming that MSN was blocking non-IE browsers because they "didn't adequately support CSS," a claim that was an outright lie (IE's CSS support is notoriously bad, surpassed only by Lynx). Or for that matter Energizer claiming that your shiny new PDA will explode and spray acid if you use non-energizer batteries. *

      Quite frankly I think we're all a little sick of the lies passing as hype passing as truth around the technology industry. Without delving into too much indlugent prose, there are more broken promises in IT than in a Los Vegas drive-through chapel. If you claim 9 hours of battery life, your battery should last for roughly 9 hours... period. If you claim "excellent, 99.9% uptime" you should be required by law to have A: independent studies to back up that time frame claim and B: comparative studies that show that 99.9% uptime (a figure claimed for windows NT 4) is actually a good figure (it's not.. 99.999 is good). Anything less than that is false advertising and should be prosecuted as such.

      And of course, no business should trust any person or group who repeatedly fails to live up to their promises.

      -Chris

      *There is a phenomenon whereby if one battery in a group is discharged the remainder of the group will force current through it, and thereby force the battery to take on an inverted current. This is bad and can cause the battery to overheat and vent to prevent meltdown (vent hydrogen in the case of NIMH). It's a bad idea to mix batteries. However, saying that off-brand batteries will explode is simply alarmist capitalism.

      ** It is very difficult to write a column about industry lies without degrading into an out-and-out Microsoft expository. For sake of venting without exploding, here are some of the lies that were expunged from the original draft of this article for sake of a balanced posting. DR Dos doesn't run windows as well as MS Dos. Per-Processor licences are a benifit to consumers. Dual-booting would destroy the industry. If you work with any open-source software you must make all of your software open-source. Windows 95 is a complete 32 bit operating system that doesn't need DOS. The author of The Microsoft File: The Secret Case Against Bill Gates has admitted to "making up many scenes in the book." The next version of NT will utilize 64-bit addressing. After having purchased Konami and Capcom and secured 6 titles from Square, and hand-checked each and every unit for defects, the X-box will launch with 100 titles... There are of course more, but I see a dead stallion across the street that could use some tenderizing.

      --
      This Sig is a mnemonic device designed to allow you to recognize this author in the future.
  8. How about battery life? by diatonic · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I would think that since the display is typically the biggest load on the battery of a portable device (laptop/handheld/etc.) that they will have to work really hard to get a decent amount of time with those big bright displays lit up. If you were using it as an e-book reader you would need the battery to last longer than a few hours.

  9. Cool idea but... by nochops · · Score: 2, Interesting

    That's a pretty cool idea but when I look at that picture, I can't help but wonder why they're trying to emulate a pad of paper. For about $1, you could get yourself a nice real pad of paper and a real pencil.

    I didn't read the whole article, bit I bet this thing is gonna cost some serious bucks. Why not make it look like something sleek and techno-sexy, instead of a cheap little paper binder.

    Why try to emulate pencil and paper when we already have real pencil and real paper for much less money, that work much better than any fancy laptop. Why not exploit all the technology that goes into things like this and make them truly useful. Let the pencil and paper be it's own pencil and paper. These two simple items have a use.

    --
    "A terrorist is someone who has a bomb but doesn't have an air force." -William Blum
    1. Re:Cool idea but... by carlos_benj · · Score: 1

      Why try to emulate pencil and paper when we already have real pencil and real paper for much less money, that work much better than any fancy laptop.

      I think you get that impression from the ring-binder graphics that do make it look like a 3-ring portfolio. Given that though, your argument applies to any laptop. Here are just a few problems with your analogy:

      I must get to a fax machine to send my paper.
      I store my paper in a bulky file cabinet.
      It's easier to type in a moving vehicle than it is to write.

      On the other hand, if you're stuck in the john you can't wipe with a laptop.... well, you can, but I don't want to go into that here.

      --

      --

      As a matter of fact, I am a lawyer. But I play an actor on TV.

  10. I don't get it by CaffeineAddict2001 · · Score: 1

    Why didn't they just make an extra large screen and virtually partition the "screens"??? That would be more useful I think.

    1. Re:I don't get it by NETHED · · Score: 1

      It would not fold (easily that is, heck i can fold my LCD down, the unfolding part is tricky).

      --
      --sig fault--
    2. Re:I don't get it by Salsaman · · Score: 2

      Erm yeah...I can already do this on my laptop: ctrl-X 2 in emacs.

  11. Small market at best, is it usable? by JoshMKiV · · Score: 1

    I can't see why I would use this over a normal notebook. And for those that would use such a device, isn't portability, weight, and ergonomics key features? I would love to see their thoughts on potential markets.

  12. The dark side of the eBook by groupthink · · Score: 5, Insightful
    This is why eBooks coupled with insane legislation like the DMCA are such a threat. Once a digital book is comfortably readable, the textbook industry will move to eBooks, keeping the students, who are required to purchase them, from exercising the rights we have become used to.

    The concept of no longer owning the book, is introduced. For a price, you get access to the text for a period of time. Still want access to it after a year? Gotta pay.

    Such concepts as selling the book back to the bookstore when you're finished with the class, or selling it to another student, will become things of the past.

    Sure this is a great device, but with the textbook industry drooling over the students as a captive audience, the ramifications of such a device are worth considering.

    1. Re:The dark side of the eBook by CaffeineAddict2001 · · Score: 1

      Let them do it.

      People will crack their technology and upload books by the truckload to Anonymous P2P Networks.

      Also, If books have their own underground scene, people might start reading them again =)

    2. Re:The dark side of the eBook by Copperhead · · Score: 1
      While you and I might think this is a bad thing, I know most students will love this. Of course, these are the students who sell back every textbook for an insanely low amount of money, simply because they know they'll never need a book on macroeconomics in their life.

      Now, they'll be able to pay an (initially) cheaper price for a book they won't have to have the inconveniance of when they're done with it. Sheer Bliss! More time at the bar! And who would ever read a college textbook for any reason?

      --
      Your reality is lies and balderdash and I'm delighted to say that I have no grasp of it whatsoever. - Baron Munchausen
    3. Re:The dark side of the eBook by hagardtroll · · Score: 1

      I'm not sure you are making sense. You complain about not "Owning" a book, yet when you are done with it you sell it back. So in reality you are only renting it.

      If you pay full price for it and keep it, the book depreciates on your shelf until the data in it is out of date and worthless.

      With E-Books, you pay for it the time you use it. Presumably at a much cheaper price than what you would pay for the dead tree version. When it gets updated, then you pay to use the newer version. I think this applies to most college textbooks particularly ones involving technology.

      Now, the complete unabridged works of shakespeare on the other hand -- just buy the dead tree version and put it in a prominent place on your bookshelf to tell the world how cultured you are.

    4. Re:The dark side of the eBook by cowens · · Score: 1

      What makes you think it will be cheaper? Textbook manufacturers have a captive audience; they don't need to compete on price.

    5. Re:The dark side of the eBook by goodEvans · · Score: 1

      I posted this to another story a week or so ago, but since I live in Ireland, most stories go up overnight, and the thread was well dead by the time I got there. But anyway:

      How about periodicals?

      You walk past the newspaper stand and your bluetooth enabled reader downloads the latest editions of the Wall St Journal, Maxim and Sports Illustrated. Then when you sit down in the bog, you get a message that you have 3 new publications waiting to be read. You couldn't be buggered with the WSJ at all today, so you delete it. Sports just ain't your bag on the bog baby, so you ignore that and leave it for later. But Maxim is the mag for the man having a shite, so you open and start reading that.

      Next time you pass any newsstand, the reader tells their server that you downloaded 3 periodicals from the corner of 1st and 5th, discarded the WSJ, read Maxim and haven't decided on Sports Illustrated yet, so you get charged for Maxim, with the profit going to the original newsstand. That way, newsstands don't go out of business, and magazines publishers get to control the distribution and payment.

    6. Re:The dark side of the eBook by CynicTheHedgehog · · Score: 2

      Paperbacks and to some extent mass-produced hardcover fiction are affordable because they sell in high volumes. Textbook publishers usually only sell a fixed volume to a fixed number of students at a fixed number of schools for a fixed duration. They also do not have the benefit of marketing (Barnes and Noble displays). Thus, in order to cover their initial costs (research, printing, etc), they have to sell at a higher price. Since eBooks don't incur printing costs, it doesn't matter how many sell, and competition will drive the prices lower.

      For instance, suppose an author submits 2 chapters of an unfinished textbook to a publisher. Suppose the publisher cuts him a check for $100 thousand and the eventual printing costs will be $10 per book. If they sell 10,000 books, that's $200,000 they have to come up with, on top of salaries and miscellaneous expenditures (electricity, etc). That's > $20 per book to meet costs.

      Compare that to say, Wheel of Time, which costs less per book to print (and ship!) than an everage textbook, and sells in much higher quantities. $100,000 plus, lets say 250,000 copies at $5 apiece, equals $1,350,000. Divide by 250,000 and you get a little over $5.40 apiece to cover costs.

      With eBooks, production costs are $.25 apiece, and there will be a gazillion competing authors. Upfront payments to authors will probably dwindle and there is virtuall no production cost, so you can expect the price of "texts" to drop dramatically.

      Personally, I'm very interested in this device. It makes a lot more sense than having 2 bookshelves of books I only read occasionally.

    7. Re:The dark side of the eBook by HiThere · · Score: 2

      Interesting suggestion. But the flavor of the laws that have been passed recently gives me no faith in its possibility. And even then ... what if you just never again carry the same computer past the same newstand?

      There are many ways of balancing things out here, but the important-to-me part is that the rights of the affected individuals be respected. This doesn't seem to weigh significantly with the legislators, however. Sometimes I feel that they weigh it in a negative direction (i.e., they create laws that intentionally interfere with the rights of the individuals with little or no benefit to anyone being derived therefrom).

      --

      I think we've pushed this "anyone can grow up to be president" thing too far.
    8. Re:The dark side of the eBook by espilce · · Score: 1

      You complain about not "Owning" a book, yet when you are done with it you sell it back. So in reality you are only renting it.
      The point is that a book doesn't disappear after your done with the class, and you are in no way obligated to return it. If I buy a textbook, I have BOUGHT it. I can keep it as long as the paper holds up. And I find myself keeping my textbooks more and more as I find ones that I like. It's pretty handy to have a book that you can just pick up and thumb through when your bored or have a question on the subject.
      And Information is NEVER deprecated and NEVER worthless. If it has meaning now, it may still be useful in the future. If eBooks become the staple of college literature, with every copy disappearing each year, who's to know when Big Brother decides to do some "editing." It sure makes it a lot easier when all of the evidence destroys itself automatically, rather than having to chang all of the previous literature.

      ...We are at war with Afghanistan. We have always been at war with Iraq^H^H^H^H Afghanistan.

      --
      :q!
    9. Re:The dark side of the eBook by rainwalker · · Score: 1

      You make some good points, but I still want to know why I just spent $190 for a P Chem textbook; granted, it is a fairly thick book, but except for a few page number changes and a few different questions at the end of the chapters, it is exactly the same as the last edition from 5 years ago. I don't see how this is anything other than a blatent grab for more money by the printers (and the bookstore.....who buys books back for 20% of their list price, and sells the used books for 80% of the list price).

    10. Re:The dark side of the eBook by colmore · · Score: 2

      Last year I went up in the attick and found my grandfathers old textbooks, the "depiciated" information made for wonderful entertainment. And the pages were covered in 60 year old doodles (ADD must run in the family)

      My grandkids will never go into my attick and find my old e-books, digital photos, and MP3s. Digital formats have convenience, but the accidental permanencs of old media makes them wonderful.

      In short: you can have my books when you pry them from my cold, dead fingers.

      --
      In Capitalist America, bank robs you!
  13. Game Support by Alien54 · · Score: 2
    Wouldn't mind seeing the possibilities of this with the appropriate version of Quake, or something.

    Although airport security might be sceptical.

    --
    "It is a greater offense to steal men's labor, than their clothes"
  14. NIfty, but... by seanmeister · · Score: 2

    ...what would be really cool would be a dual-screen system with a two-sided display. Think sales presentation, with sale guy on one side, and client on the other. No more elbow bumping and reaching over shoulders, etc. I've lost track of how many of our sales reps have asked me about this...

    1. Re:NIfty, but... by Peyna · · Score: 2

      They have these nifty things called projectors that can "project" an image on a wall in any direction you choose.

      --
      What?
    2. Re:NIfty, but... by seanmeister · · Score: 2

      Sure, but that's not always practical.

    3. Re:NIfty, but... by Peyna · · Score: 3, Funny

      I know, I just wanted to be a jackass. Ones that would make it practical are expensive too.

      --
      What?
    4. Re:NIfty, but... by GoRK · · Score: 3, Informative

      Have them carry a little 14-15" LCD monitor with them. There are some that are very thin and have detachable stands. ViewSonic and Sony both have some new ones that are only about 1-2" thick and the casing is not much bigger than the screen on either side. In any case, it's probably just about as big as a laptop and could be carried in a similar bag for a presentation. Not bad compared to the cost of a projector that small.

      ~GoRK

  15. Re:They have to be kidding . . . by 3.5+stripes · · Score: 1

    You mention proper type setting, but forgot the most important part, resolution, a monitor still cannot compete with paper for simple legibility. When was the last time you read a book online, or even off your hard drive. It ain't happening. Eye strain is just one of the many reasons, you just can't cram the same amount of text in the same area.

    --


    He tried to kill me with a forklift!
  16. 30,000 years of consumer testing! by 23skiddoo · · Score: 1

    This format for printed publications is widely accepted, based on a study of 30 centuries of graphic design and consumer testing.... Wow! With that kind of thorough research, it's sure to succeed!

    --

    [ insert your own witty .sig here ]

    1. Re:30,000 years of consumer testing! by Copperhead · · Score: 1

      Isn't 30 centuries closer to 3000 years?

      --
      Your reality is lies and balderdash and I'm delighted to say that I have no grasp of it whatsoever. - Baron Munchausen
    2. Re:30,000 years of consumer testing! by 23skiddoo · · Score: 1

      stupid brain! wake up!

      --

      [ insert your own witty .sig here ]

  17. Practicality by LaserBeams · · Score: 1

    It really seems like a good idea on paper, but I don't think these things are going to become commonplace until the software gets better. What do we always drool over? The hardware, of course. (Unless it has Linux support, which is just an added bonus - think Sharp Zaurus)

    Defenestrate Windows, and it could be a much better product :)

    --
    Karma: \Kar"ma\, n. [Skr.] (Buddhism) One's acts considered as fixing one's lot in the future existence.
  18. Cute, yes. Practical? by Clovert+Agent · · Score: 4, Insightful

    It looks funky, but I'm not convinced it'll play in the form factors they're planning.

    Mainly, it's the notebook (ironically enough) form factor that I'm not sure about. Some vertical markets might love it - those that need real computing and portable computing but struggle with the average handheld. Healthcare, education...that sort of thing.

    But for the rest of us? Dunno about you, but I just don't work like that. I'm used to scrolling through long documents. I like being able to have wide windows for some tasks (mainly spreadsheets).

    In its handheld/subnotebook model, now that could work. My feeling is that would suit the type of use you'd expect - holding a gadget like a book is pretty natural for some tasks.

    I'm particularly dubious of the exec's claim that the book format is "proven to be better" for comprehension. That's because people are used to it. Same way that people who type on a standard keyboard struggle to use a Dvorak layout, but that doesn't mean the former is better. And that, to me, sums up a lot of their arguments in favour of the thing.

    But hey. Maybe I'll recant when I've had the chance to play with one at a tradeshow and get hooked :)

  19. Missing? by carlos_benj · · Score: 1

    Does it have a keyboard? Not mentioned in the article. I'd think with the PDA market spawning numerous foldable keyboards and folks learning to thumb-type on the smaller adjunct keyboards that this would be a feature they need to keep. Most of us can still type far faster than we can write (especially when you consider having to correct what handwriting recognition couldn't get right).

    --

    --

    As a matter of fact, I am a lawyer. But I play an actor on TV.

  20. Size? by Copperhead · · Score: 1

    Never thought I'd hear myself say this, but isn't that monitor a bit big? I'd think something closer to 10' to 12' would be more convenient.

    --
    Your reality is lies and balderdash and I'm delighted to say that I have no grasp of it whatsoever. - Baron Munchausen
    1. Re:Size? by PTBarnum · · Score: 1

      I'd love to have a notebook with a 10' to 12' screen. Sure, it would be difficult to carry around, but imagine what Quake would be like if you could stand between the screens.

      Oh, wait, you probably meant 10" to 12".

  21. Shame... by GC · · Score: 2

    it doesn't have a keyboard... so you have to carry that around as well...

    probably also has a heavy external PSU...

    1. Re:Shame... by Pat__ · · Score: 1

      Why not have a virtual keyboard on one of the touch screen when you need to use it :-)
      Imagine the cool factor :-)

      You could type what ever you need on it and use the other screen as a display. Could be pretty nifty ... Then flip it upside down and have your screen converted to keyboard and keyboard to screen ... yea whatever ...

      even though it much be a real pain to do any decent amount of typing on it!

    2. Re:Shame... by zoombat · · Score: 1
      it doesn't have a keyboard... so you have to carry that around as well...

      Note that it DOES have a USB Keyboard port:

      http://www.dualscreen.com/specs.cfm

      I think that's very smart... they might be right in saying the future of mobile computing is keyboard-less, but that's a hard sell to make to those of us that are so used to using them.

      The early PDA people thought the same way.. they said that a stylus was all you needed... or maybe an onscreen keyboard, but those fold-up portable keyboards are VERY popular for folks that actually need to do substantial amounts of work on their PDA.

      But yes, you do need to carry the keyboard around too, unless it somehow attaches to the system.

      probably also has a heavy external PSU...

      According to the spec sheet, it's got a "Lithium Ion battery for 2 Hours+ usage between charges". Granted two hours is pretty dang short compared to most laptops, but what do you expect for dual 15" screens (even if the shape makes them smaller than regular 15" screens)?

    3. Re:Shame... by carlos_benj · · Score: 1

      ... they might be right in saying the future of mobile computing is keyboard-less, but that's a hard sell to make to those of us that are so used to using them.

      Exactly. Have you ever tried writing to your PDA (or even on a pad of paper) in a moving vehicle? Reminds me of the commercial with someone applying lipstick and when they hit a pothole getting a red racing stripe from lip to eyelid. Typing is so much more convenient and for those of us who touch-type much faster as well (even when the vehicle isn't moving). I spend at least 3 hours a day in a vanpool and have given up writing to my visor.

      --

      --

      As a matter of fact, I am a lawyer. But I play an actor on TV.

  22. e-book? by e-ville · · Score: 1

    whats the difference between this and the ebook?

    1. Re:e-book? by e-ville · · Score: 1

      is he available for rent? cause im longing for a hole.

  23. Respect! by Big+Dogs+Cock · · Score: 1

    How many of the 1000 were FPs though?

    PS Inaccuracy in your sig. Right now, it doesn't.

    --
    "Under the iron bridge, we fist" - The Smiths, Still Ill
  24. Silly put^H^H^Hatent alert!!! by Querty · · Score: 1

    Estari partners hold patents for the dual-screen laptop

    Oh please! Geez that must be truly worth a patent, I don't think anyone has thought of this before...

    Thankfully this is such a crap idea, that it doesn't matter much in the big line of things...

    1. Re:Silly put^H^H^Hatent alert!!! by renehollan · · Score: 2
      Oh please! Geez that must be truly worth a patent, I don't think anyone has thought of this before...

      I had thought of the idea for a "Portable Electronic Book", with much the same design in mind -- this around 1980-1985. My idea was to have books on CD (having just gotten a portable CD player, and noticing how small it was), in a foldable unit, with one or two LCD display elements (monochrome, lousy resolution at the time, etc.)

      I actually tried to raise some $$$ to get the project off the ground, but there was no interest.

      I'm sure I was not the only one with this idea.

      --
      You could've hired me.
  25. Price by kruczkowski · · Score: 2

    Being that the LCD is the most expensive part in a laptop, I wonder how much this will cost?

    --
    hmm... for fun I enjoy launching DDoS attacks against 127.87.42.5
  26. Unenforcable patent by MouseR · · Score: 5, Informative

    This thing has already been dreamed up by Apple more than 10 years ago.

    See their Knowlege Navigator QuickTime movie.

    1. Re:Unenforcable patent by n-baxley · · Score: 1

      Was that Bill Nye talking on the laptop thingy?

      --

      THIS SPACE FOR RENT
    2. Re:Unenforcable patent by hendridm · · Score: 1

      Very neat, but would I be asked to upgrade to the Pro version every time I opened it? Perhaps I'd only be allowed to use one finger at a time and wait 30 minutes while my message manager (*cough* Outlook) loaded another OS (*cough* OS 9). I bet it would come in some cool psychadellic colors though.

      This Flamebait brought to you by the letters F and U.

  27. Power and simplicity? by PhilHibbs · · Score: 5, Funny
    From www.dualscreen.com:
    the 2-VU combines the power of a computer with the simplicity of a book
    So it doesn't need batteries, then, and boots instantly? Cool!
  28. Re:They have to be kidding . . . by 3.5+stripes · · Score: 1

    You just said it though, can't read for as long.. I think the design isn't that bad, tall narrow columns of text are much easier for me to process than wide short ones.. again, this is my personal preference, I find it much easier to follow a "thread" or train of thought in a narrative (I'm reaching for words here) when I can scan up and down instead of left and right. But the big limitation for me is the resolution, I'll read my books on paper, play my games and work on the computer.

    --


    He tried to kill me with a forklift!
  29. Re:They have to be kidding . . . by Maran · · Score: 1

    Actually, I used to read a lot of stuff off my laptop's hard drive, and that only went up to 800x600 on a rather small display. Lying on my bed, reading fanfiction was a briliant way to while away a few hours.

    Now that I haven't got a laptop any more, I'm printing stuff again, which is a bit of a waste of paper and toner. It's a real shame - I have broadband now. Combine that and wireless networking, and that would be my perfect bed-time reading solution. Maybe that's a market for these devices.

    Maran

  30. computer clothes by csguy314 · · Score: 1

    On that same website there's another page about mp3 players being sewn into shirts or jackets. They also mention some interesting medical uses.
    As for the 2-VU, it looks pretty interesting. And I think a touch screen is rather forward thinking. But I don't like the fact that there's no keyboard anywhere on it. Just because I can type faster than I can write. And my writing is really messy :)

    --
    This is left as an exercise for the reader.
  31. Gaming... by ScriptGuru · · Score: 1

    Someone is going to have to at some point rig this thing up to play networked doom with itself.

    --
    Yet another signature that refers to itself. The irony and humor is dead.
  32. This sound good but... by GdoL · · Score: 1

    could it be cheaper if wasn't built on XP? Could they saved a lot of programmers time and money if produced it with LINUX or other free/open software? Is there a reson for this to be sold with proprietary software? I really liked the think, very similar to a notepad, but xp on that? why?

    --

    ------I can please only one person per day. Today is not your day. Tomorrow isn't looking good either.------
  33. Great for college by Jacer · · Score: 1

    ....i can see all the campus book stores switching to ebooks already......i won't have much use for one, seeing as it's going to cost both arms and one leg.....

    --
    --fetch daddy's blue fright wig, i must be handsome when i release my rage
  34. Portability == fits in my pocket by yerricde · · Score: 1

    It's sort of like when "portability" was a big thing, and you saw references to it in the literature for virtually every product, even those that were designed to run on very specific hardware/software setups.

    Game Boy Advance games run on very specific hardware (16.8 MHz ARM7TDMI processor with custom sound and graphics chips) and software (GBA BIOS). The runtime environment feels like PC DOS (that is, minimal with direct hardware access). Yet GBA software is still called "portable" because the layman's conception of portability is not "runs on several different brands of CPUs" but closer to "fits in my pocket".

    --
    Will I retire or break 10K?
  35. keyboard? by e-ville · · Score: 1

    is it possible to use one of the lcds as a touch screen? that would be a phat box, no key board or mouse. just displays.

  36. Here's a potential market: by jc42 · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I've been involved with people doing music online. This is "music" in the sense of something that you put on a music stand and read, not "music" as in something that you put in a player and listen to.

    One major barrier to use is getting the screen sitting on the music stand. Your typical big screen is hardly portable. Your typical laptop opens up in a way that just doesn't physically work on a music stand. This device opens sideways and lies flat, giving it a lot of potential.

    Remaining questions: Can I get it with wireless IP access? If not, forget it. Setting up an Internet connection for N of them at a gig would typically take far longer than the gig itself takes. And if wireless access is via the usual phone-company route with per-minute connection charges, forget it. The cost of N phone connections would typically be more than you make at the gig. Unless it's a true "always on" IP setup, it's not usable.

    Also, what happens when someone bumps the music stand and the gadget hits the floor? Do I buy a new one?

    Also, forget Windows. If you want quality sheet music on a screen, you want a Mac or linux. Windows only supports commercial music packages with proprietary file formats. If I can't exchange the music files with other musicians, I won't even look at it.

    There have in fact been experiments with using computers to display sheet music. One of the things that kills the idea is when the musicians discover that they can't write on the music. This is a total showstopper. In particular, no orchestra or band musician would consider using music if they couldn't write their own notes and comments on it. The article implies some sort of handwritten input ability. How good is it? Can I write on the displayed text itself? If not, forget it.

    So we still have a way to go before it's usable. But this gadget shows some slight promise to solving some of the physical problems of current hardware.

    --
    Those who do study history are doomed to stand helplessly by while everyone else repeats it.
    1. Re:Here's a potential market: by carlos_benj · · Score: 1

      Also, what happens when someone bumps the music stand and the gadget hits the floor? Do I buy a new one?

      I wouldn't use one of those cheap flimsy music stands. Maybe a good adjustable stand (so that you can tilt the stand back enough to keep accidental bumpage followed by dropage to a minimum.

      At least you wouldn't have to worry about the slightes breeze turning your pages or causing them to flutter to the floor.

      --

      --

      As a matter of fact, I am a lawyer. But I play an actor on TV.

    2. Re:Here's a potential market: by NeoSkandranon · · Score: 1

      Man I wouldn't have touched one of those things when i was in band in school...one bathroom break and it woulda been gone faster than hot coffee at halftime....

      Neat idea though, especially for a musician that goes through a *lot* of music...tho as far as the drop test and writability, i think plain ol paper reigns supreme...NTM the fact that if you forget this thing, ALL Your music is gone

      --
      If you can't see the value in jet powered ants you should turn in your nerd card. - Dunbal (464142)
    3. Re:Here's a potential market: by al_d · · Score: 1

      Also, what happens when someone bumps the music stand and the gadget hits the floor? Do I buy a new one?

      For a pianist at least, this wouldn't be a problem.

      One huge potential benefit of computer sheet music that you didn't mention could be in page turning; perhaps a footswitch or something to flip pages. Should be much less distracting than worrying if your page turner is going to lose concentration...

      Can I get it with wireless IP access? If not, forget it.

      This seems like a useful feature, but not essential; why couldn't the sheet music be quickly distributed on CD/memory card/etc. before the gig?

    4. Re:Here's a potential market: by Anml4ixoye · · Score: 2

      The article states that it comes with a tripod adapter. Probably be better off using that then a music stand.

      --
      Random Musings
    5. Re:Here's a potential market: by jc42 · · Score: 2

      Omigod - I just reached karma 50! Gaaak! I've been far too serious and responsible lately. What'll all my friends think? I hope it's not too easy to find out who's really behind a /. id ...

      I promise I won't do it again, really!

      (Actually, I suspect this problem is easy to fix. I've noticed that when I write things that I think are funny, and forget the smiley, they get modded down. Oh yeah, before I forget:-)

      --
      Those who do study history are doomed to stand helplessly by while everyone else repeats it.
    6. Re:Here's a potential market: by jc42 · · Score: 2

      > why couldn't the sheet music be quickly distributed on CD/memory card/etc. before the gig?

      Well, in an orchestra or band, this would work pretty well, other than the klutziness of fussing with CDs. But I mostly play at "folk" events. The main motive is handling the frequent question "Hey, can you play ...?" All too often, the response to that is "Does anyone remember how it goes?"

      Right now, I have a semi-solution. I have one of those cute Kyocera smartphones, which comes with a real web browser. I can do a quick web search for a title, and play it through the phone's tiny speaker. Not hi-fi, but it impresses people no end. And in many cases, I've been able to find tunes quickly when someone asks. This gives me no end of geek points.

      But this is basically a toy. Its screen is far too small to work on a music stand. A practical music-stand computer would be more like the bigger gadget being discussed here.

      In any case, wireless IP connectivity would be far superior to CDs. No mess, no used CDs to dispose of, no picking up last evening's CD by mistake. And you can do real-time changes in the program when you have a good reason to. It gives you access to everything that's online, after all.

      If you can find it.

      --
      Those who do study history are doomed to stand helplessly by while everyone else repeats it.
  37. Still an eye killer by lumpenprole · · Score: 2


    I don't think this kind of thing is going to get popular until e-paper becomes an affordable reality. Really, what's the advantage over say, a notebook? Besides the geek factor, that is.

    --
    Disclaimer: MINAA (Mummy! I'm Not An Animal!)
  38. Maybe we should start a new company.... by bloggins02 · · Score: 2, Funny

    We could call it "Slashdot Vapor Extermination, Inc." Everyday, we would take a different piece of cool-sounding vaporware that gets reported on Slashdot's front page, and then produce it before the original company puts out the press release saying they've had "implementation difficulties" (they weren't smart enough to figure it out) or "that was a concept never destined for production" (we just wanted to tease you so you'd read our press releases).

    So, what will it be? A multi-processor quantum teleported dual monitor touchscreen e-ink notebook with a fuel cell running Duke Nukem Forever anyone?

    1. Re:Maybe we should start a new company.... by user32.ExitWindowsEx · · Score: 1

      What you say is possible within a few years, except for the Duke Nukem Forever part........

      --
      "Evil will always triumph because good is dumb." -- Dark Helmet
  39. Re:They have to be kidding . . . by mypalmike · · Score: 1

    "The castle of Aaaaahh? Perhaps he was dictating."

    I have a feeling the CEO was dictating this quote to someone. He probably paused in the middle of the word for so long, the secretary had no choice but to add a hyphen.

    He also apparently mispronounced "proprietary" by saying "propriety". Unless, of course, he was trying to say that the use of Windows avoids the problems associated with a "politeness" operating environment.

    -_-_-

    --
    There are 0x40000000 types of people: those who understand 32-bit IEEE 754 floating point, and those who don't.
  40. Hi! We have no idea what we're talking about! by crazyeddie · · Score: 2, Insightful
    The 2-VU operates in the Microsoft Windows 2000 and XP® environments and features the Adobe Acrobat Reader®. This strategy avoids the problems of a propriety, closed environment...

    Ummmmm.... How much more closed and proprietary do you get? Not to mention that the writer was unable to deduce that even though his spell-checker told him that "propriety" is spelled correctly, it isn't the right word. Sheesh.

  41. Monopoly drives up prices by yerricde · · Score: 2

    If you pay full price for it and keep it, the book depreciates on your shelf until the data in it is out of date and worthless.

    As you mentioned, a literature textbook does not depreciate. Neither does a history textbook nor a Newtonian mechanics textbook (for Physics I).

    With E-Books, you pay for it the time you use it. Presumably at a much cheaper price than what you would pay for the dead tree version.

    Except in practice, monopolistic effects ensure that you won't see your "much cheaper price" for electronic textbook rental once dead-tree textbooks are driven off the market. There is an inelastic demand for textbook rental, and basic microeconomic theory predicts that inelastic demand + no significant competition = high prices for students.

    I'm also afraid that you'll also see EULAs on such electronic textbooks: "You may not use a Braille terminal to read this book." "You may not allow more than one person to read this book." "You may not read this book off campus." Richard Stallman explains it better than I can.

    --
    Will I retire or break 10K?
    1. Re:Monopoly drives up prices by gorilla · · Score: 2

      Even a book where the actual information does go out of date still has value. The building code of 1975 isn't useful to tell me how to build a house today, but it does tell me how a house build then will have been built.

    2. Re:Monopoly drives up prices by carlos_benj · · Score: 1

      Except in practice, monopolistic effects ensure that you won't see your "much cheaper price" for electronic textbook rental once dead-tree textbooks are driven off the market.

      That leads to another point mentioned earlier in the thread - that of selling the books back. It's not the selling of the book back because you own it issue that's important, it's the ability of others to buy a used textbook at a significantly reduced price that is key. This practice creates the only competition in the textbook market now.

      --

      --

      As a matter of fact, I am a lawyer. But I play an actor on TV.

  42. Ergonomic disaster you right hand nazis!! by gelfling · · Score: 2

    What's the point - it looks almost unusuable.

  43. Stealth marketing research? by TheConfusedOne · · Score: 4, Funny

    My favorite quote from the article: "This format for printed publications is widely accepted, based on a study of 30 centuries of graphic design and consumer testing." Wow, those Pheonecians were really ahead of the curve. Graphic design and consumer testing? Do you recall anyone surveying you after you read a book? Also, you'd think a 3,000 year old marketing program could produce results a little earlier then Q3 2002. Someone better fire the exec who started the program. Of course, they might have to dig him up first...

    --
    --- I wish I could hear the soundtrack to my life. That way I'd know when to duck.
  44. Virtual Keyboard by g.a.g · · Score: 1

    Well, you always could try to use it in the classical laptop way, with one screen being used as a virtual keyboard / mouse pad combo. Shouldn't be too hard to implement this?

    --
    Hurricane Application Group, Dept of Meteorology Control, Ministry of Proactive Defense
  45. AnyKey! by Atzanteol · · Score: 2, Funny

    From the specs: "AnyKey - External User-Assignable "ENTER" Key" Finally, we will be able to hit the AnyKey!

    --
    "Ignorance more frequently begets confidence than does knowledge"

    - Charles Darwin
  46. Jesus, it's Jesus! by infinite9 · · Score: 2

    said Estari CEO Dr. Crist

    The competition should just give up now. They have the savior working for them! Jeez, talk about name recognition.

    --
    Disconnect your television. Do your own research. Draw your own conclusions. They're probably lying. Don't be a sheep.
  47. Wierd.. Three Rings by CLorox · · Score: 2, Funny

    Anyone notice it has pictures of three rings on each lcd? Just in case a confused reader isn't confused as to the functionality of this device.

  48. Laptop? by n-baxley · · Score: 2, Troll

    I'd hardly call this a laptop. There's no keyboard, and no mention of an alternative input method! This is just a portable monitor.

    --

    THIS SPACE FOR RENT
    1. Re:Laptop? by bethel · · Score: 2, Informative

      It is a laptop, it's got a CPU and memory and screen, and it takes USB keyboard. More specs: http://www.dualscreen.com/specs.cfm

    2. Re:Laptop? by n-baxley · · Score: 2

      Sounds more like a small footprint iMac. I don't think that I'd be able to work with this thing on my lap with a keyboard attached. I certainly see it as a portable somthing, and I guess now-a-days portable == laptop, but it is certainly not a replacment for your typical laptop.

      --

      THIS SPACE FOR RENT
  49. Re:They have to be kidding . . . by 3.5+stripes · · Score: 1

    Uh, because they're trying to replace paper with em:) It's based on a book, why only go halfway?

    --


    He tried to kill me with a forklift!
  50. Corporate jargon/lies? by daveman_1 · · Score: 1
    "...This strategy avoids the problems of a propriety, closed environment while maintaining the file integrity offered through these state-of-the-art digital rights management platforms."

    I suppose what is meant here is "Non-proprietary, in the sense that we didn't write the software, and oh, by-the-way-adobe, don't sue us for anything. We like you. Really!".

    --
    Russian Russian Russian RussianDollSig DollSig DollSig DollSig
  51. Handy.. by new_breed · · Score: 2, Funny

    ..if your name is Zaphod Beetlebrox

  52. many books dont depreciate... by gimpboy · · Score: 2

    for the basics in most subject, things havent changed much in a while:
    take math for example-
    there haven't been many advances in algebra, calculus, trig, numerical methods, etc that would make it into most undergraduate classes.

    i'm a chemical engineer, and most of the work in fluid mechanics, thermo, and chemical transport havent changed in almost 50 years. what some would consider the ``bible'' of transport phenomena was first written by bird, stewar, and lightfoot in 1960... the second edition cameout last year.

    sure there have been changes in more advanced topics, but the nature of science and math have changed very little lately. i frequently goto used book stores and get old schuams outlines on different mathematical subjects because they still apply today.

    what does suck is the following:
    i have th 5th edition of a book. the class is being taught with the 7th edition. the content in the books is _not_ very different, but the arrangement has changed. so when the prof says read pages 434 to 482, you have to talk to some other person in the class to find the corresponding pages in your book. i sometimes wonder if the publishers move things arround and changed the questions at the end of the chapter to force students to purchase new books.

    --
    -- john
    1. Re:many books dont depreciate... by Sophacles · · Score: 1

      In a word, yes.

      There is a whole bunch of yelling about this every year at the University of Illinois at textbook purchase time, because so many of the professors here require a different new edition of the text book every semester. The only thing that changes are the problems after each chapter, and some of the irrelevant photographs are changed or recaptioned. and a page nubmer shift or two to make it confusing.

      --
      To live till you die is to live long enough. -Lao Tzu, Tao Te Ching
  53. selling books back. by gimpboy · · Score: 2

    on the rare occasion that i dont keep a book, i give the books to people, rather than sell them back. i give it to them on the condition that they too will give the book to someone else if they dont keep it. i really dont want to help the bookstore rape some other person a little bit less than me.

    --
    -- john
  54. Re:They have to be kidding . . . by kalidasa · · Score: 1, Interesting

    See above. The codex form is basically a way of using both sides of a sheet of paper conveniently, while also keeping the "book" convenient to hold. Using both sides is an economic thing. You don't have that problem with an electronic display. And so the comprimise between size and economy is out of balance: a two-monitor computer-book is actually more expensive, as well as being harder to use, than a single-monitor book. This reminds me of the incunabula, many of which were typeset to look like real (handwritten) manuscripts: you see, people thought of printed books as cheap and hard to read . . .

  55. Similar Idea by PinheadJ · · Score: 1
    I submitted a similar design idea awhile ago to a website for Apple concept ideas. Difference being I'd continue to use the laptop in it's normal orientation, but using the bottom screen as a software keyboard, musical keyboard, etc.

    http://www.theapplecollection.com/design/macdesign / mages/dual_screen_g4big.jpg

    1. Re:Similar Idea by PinheadJ · · Score: 1

      Oops, messed up my URL, sorry, i'm new at this... http://www.theapplecollection.com/design/macdesign / 4DualLCD.html

  56. newspeak by mocktor · · Score: 1

    "The 2-VU operates in the Microsoft Windows 2000 and XP® environments and features the Adobe Acrobat Reader®. This strategy avoids the problems of a propriety, closed environment while maintaining the file integrity offered through these state-of-the-art digital rights management platforms."

    This must be some other, new definition of proprietary... one that you can use to mean anything you want. Can you do this with all words?

  57. I don't think that's what they meant by MemeRot · · Score: 2

    I think they're referring to the e-book readers, which are so proprietary they're locked to a specific piece of hardware reading a specific file format. The point being that on their pc tablet thingy you could open doc files, acrobat files, text files, html files, xml files - many formats. It's true that acrobat is a proprietary format. But if you're looking for a common format to read print formatted layout, what else are you going to find it in? Yes it has annoying and horrible drm crap built into it, but it also looks a lot more like print than a web page or a text file. And you will find a lot of content already out there that is in acrobat format, so anything that truly wanted to be a book-like reader would need to be able to read those files. And since the monitors are in portrait mode, one acrobat formatted page should fit exactly on one screen, making the experience fairly similar to a book. Because the one thing I hate above all else in acrobat is the freaking scrolling where you have to give up the hand grabbing the paper icon and go click on the scroll bar because it doesn't recognize that you want to go to the next page. Take out that annoyance and I really wouldn't mind using acrobat to read print formatted material, proprietary warts and all.

    1. Re:I don't think that's what they meant by yummyporkproducts · · Score: 1

      Acrobat isn't a format, it's a piece of proprietary software. PDF is the format, and it's open. Anyone can write software that creates PDF files. Ghostscript, most Macromedia products, and others do this already.

    2. Re:I don't think that's what they meant by Myxorg · · Score: 1
      Because the one thing I hate above all else in acrobat is the freaking scrolling where you have to give up the hand grabbing the paper icon and go click on the scroll bar because it doesn't recognize that you want to go to the next page


      FYI in adobe acrobat on windows, goto edit->preferences select display set default page layout to continuous. Next time you open a pdf it will behave as you desire. I hate the damn default behavior too, and I always set it to continuous.
  58. Looks like a /. editor wrote this article by shrikel · · Score: 1
    Look at all the typos. ;)


    My favorite line: "This format for printed publications is widely accepted, based on a study of 30 centuries of graphic design and consumer testing." Wow! They've been testing this format since 1000 B.C.!! Where they managed to get folks that old for their surveys is beyond me.


    Do you think the ancient Egyptian scribes really considered themselves "graphic designers?"

    --
    Any sufficiently simple magic can be passed off as mere advanced technology.
  59. I can already view two documents side-by-side by blackwizard · · Score: 2

    ... at 1400x1050 mode on my laptop, I can nicely put two word processors side by side. Useful when doing long software engineering documents and you have to trace requirements back through who knows how many documents. Not that this doesn't look like a cool toy. =)

  60. your right. by jon_c · · Score: 2

    from the PR:

    will bring to market the patented dual-screen laptop in the fourth quarter of 2002. Estari's 2-VU(TM) product line will include an eBook, handheld, laptop and portable desktop models.

    Which implies that it's the eBook model, the dual head laptop probably looks like something else, however you are making the corrrect assumption from another misleading /. headline.

    -Jon

    --
    this is my sig.
  61. Best feature by GoRK · · Score: 3, Insightful

    The best feature of this puppy nobody is mentioning - screw-in tripod mount! Why in the hell someone didn't do this sooner is beyond me. You can carry a small tripod for your laptop and forego a work surface anywhere you either dont have one or need more room. A lot of these newer machines get so toasty you don't want to *actually* set them on your lap anyway -- sweat up your legs, and re-press your pants (if you are wearing the sort of pants that get pressed anyway)..

    As far as I'm concerned, this design sucks with no integrated keyboard, and its requiring the user to hold the screens up to view them at any kind of angle is a total failure -- the thing is going to be HEAVY and HOT. Holding it in your hands for long enough to actually *READ* the eBook you've got on it is going to pain a lot of people.

    ~GoRK

  62. Most important feature by stefanb · · Score: 1
    The AnyKey - External User-Assignable "ENTER" Key .

    Now, is this entire thing just a joke?

  63. Oh, cwatset! by yerricde · · Score: 1

    there haven't been many advances in algebra

    Right now, there's an active field of research in discrete algebra focusing on mathematical constructs called "cwatsets." Cwatsets are not a Welsh obscenity but rather a slight generalization of group theory that has applications in statistics.

    calculus

    Calculus, especially in the 3xx and 4xx levels where it is called "real analysis", is still an active field of research.

    that would make it into most undergraduate classes.

    I agree that 1xx-level and 2xx-level material don't change much from year to year, except perhaps in CS where the school changes the language for Introduction to Programming every other year to match market demands. Perhaps I just go to a good school, where many of the mathematical topics covered in most colleges' graduate programs are covered in the senior year.

    --
    Will I retire or break 10K?
    1. Re:Oh, cwatset! by gimpboy · · Score: 2

      when i say most undergraduate classes i am refering to the onese taken at the freshman and sophmore levels. these are the classes where people take required math classes for other majors. the topics covered in these classes have not changed much, and probably wont. these are the classes with the largest numbers, and account for the bulk of book sales.

      it's not uncommon for professors to discuss evolving topics at the junior or seinor level. new books are not necessary for this. my profs would hand out research papers, discuss them, and sometimes have us implement algorithms. again the numbers in classes decrease each year, and so do the total number of textbook sales in upperlevel classes.

      --
      -- john
  64. you know what this would be really useful for? by vicious_sloth · · Score: 2, Insightful

    I dont know about anyone else, but im sure one of these weighs alot less then 2 or three textbooks. if it is as readable as they say it is, and you can take notes, i would definitly opt to take one of these instead of the 5 textbooks i have to lug around from class to class... prodivded i can get the textbook on the laptop in the first place :) if i could, it would definitly save my spine.

    --
    Sun is Warm, Grass is Green
  65. Am I missing something... by endersdad · · Score: 1

    I already have the ability to view two narrow 'windows' on my screen right now and I don't even have to run XP.

    jason

  66. Not only that, but . . . by brokeninside · · Score: 1
    The form factor is that of the codex. The codex format is only about 20 centuries old.

    Prior to that everything was written on scrolls or tablets. And I must admit that the scroll form factor for paper is probably still the most ubiquitous world wide. Although I hear that in some countries they don't use paper . . .

  67. Useful for Zaphod Beeblebrox by asobala · · Score: 2, Funny

    Useful for the person named in reference A607727 of the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy....

  68. Re:It really looks like a book... by SEWilco · · Score: 1
    " ...I'm wondering if I can also kill flies with this, or put it under the shorter leg of my table!"

    You certainly can. I wouldn't, but you can go ahead and do what you want with yours.

  69. YES!!! by pornaholic · · Score: 1

    Finally! I get to look at 2x time porn on my laptop! It's about time! I've been waiting for this glorious day for SO long!

    --Pornaholic

  70. The Reason MS Windows Is Needed by SEWilco · · Score: 1
    There is a very good reason why XP is needed: The company wants to run their proprietary Windows-only document handling software on it.

    Why they haven't put their document handling software on Linux is a different issue. Their engineering staff is certainly acquainted with Linux, as we can be sure several of them are already using it at home.

  71. Dumdedumdedum INSPECTOR GADGET! by wub · · Score: 1

    We're getting closer to Penny's computer book!

    I've kinda always wondered when that technology would come along.

  72. What kind of books do you consider "normal"? by BattyMan · · Score: 1

    Lessee... An 8.5 x 11" ("letter") sheet of paper works out to 13.9" diagonally. 15" diagonal is going to be right about the size of the looseleaf binder that that fits in. I'm usually carrying one of those around already, and the idea of getting 20G and two screens in that space is very interesting.

    _Electronically_, I'd expect it to be a dual-head laptop with tilted orientation. I'd _want_ a keyboard plug, once in a while, but handwriting recognition a la Palm would do much to eliminate the need.

    --
    Exceeding the recommended torque is not recommended.
    1. Re:What kind of books do you consider "normal"? by MoneyT · · Score: 2

      If this thing is supposed to be a fully capable laptop-type device (Harddrive, diskdrive, etc) this thing will wiegh in fairly heavy for a "book"

      --
      T Money
      World Domination with a plastic spoon since 1984
    2. Re:What kind of books do you consider "normal"? by BattyMan · · Score: 1

      That's OK.
      I'm thinking in terms of the backpack full of 2" books that I used to carry around in engineering school. This gyzmo would be the size of the looseleaf binder I also carried around, thinner than 1 book, weigh about as much as 2 books, and hold more data than a _busfull_ of backpacks!

      I like that. I think it's a good direction to go, especially as it should be far cheaper to publish textbooks electronically than as the short-run dead-tree publications they are now.

      --
      Exceeding the recommended torque is not recommended.
  73. They also claimed it would boot from a CD. by BattyMan · · Score: 1

    So really it needs:

    A keyboard plug.
    Handwriting recognition to /dev/kb when the keyboard isn't present
    a rather special xf86config file, but nothing the multihead guys shouldn't be able to come up with.

    Mfgr (mfkr?) claims it's made of off-the-shelf parts, implying that it couldn't be _too_ different electronically from a dual-head / LCD monitor rig. Porting WinBloze to it woulda co$t them a _lot_ if they'd done anythng really strange....

    --
    Exceeding the recommended torque is not recommended.
  74. Really, what's the advantage over say, a notebook by BattyMan · · Score: 1

    It holds 20G. Try _that_ with a looseleaf binder?

    --
    Exceeding the recommended torque is not recommended.
  75. Patented? by loply · · Score: 1

    "Uses the patented dual screen technology" Uhm, they patented having two screens on a laptop?

    --
    loply.com
  76. Until it runs *NIX by MoneyT · · Score: 2

    I'll just keep using my iBook thank you very much.

    --
    T Money
    World Domination with a plastic spoon since 1984
    1. Re:Until it runs *NIX by ironfroggy · · Score: 1

      Exactly what I was going to post. I'm sure someone(s) will get to work on getting Linux running on this. Maybe I'll give it a shot :-)

      --
      Question
      http://www.ironfroggy.com/
  77. Go right ahead! by MattGWU · · Score: 1

    >>Watch out for the cheap rip-off with a similiar design released soon (before this one is???).

    Sounds good to me...I'd like one of these, and there's no way this thing is priced with affordability in mind. Bring on the cheap ripoffs!

    --
    "These people look deep within my soul and assign me a number based on the order in which I joined" --Homer re:
  78. Now I can play Donkey Kong! by marko123 · · Score: 1

    Nuff said. A $4000 Game and Watch.

    --
    http://pcblues.com - Digits and Wood
  79. That's a new feature?!??!? by VPN3000 · · Score: 1

    "Users can page through two books at once, or take handwritten notes in a notebook on one screen while paging through a book on the other screen.' Sounds pretty cool!"

    Hey dude,

    Try raising your screen resolution to something higher than 640x480 so you won't have to run applications maximized (you know, when they take up the whole screen). Now that you can see the icons on your desktop, go ahead and open up another program. Ok, now either use alt-tab to switch between them or click it's name on that little bar at the bottom of your screen.

    See, no need to get excited about that over-priced, would have been trendy in 1998, doodle book. You can do all those things on your current PC! HOOYA!

    Victor

  80. high tech toy by OsamaBinLogin · · Score: 1

    It's for the wealthy who really really want it cuz it's cool. Sure it breaks soon. It'll be way overpriced. They got a patent, otherwise it would be a commodity in 2 years and the company goes belly up.

    They rake in the big bucks from the PHB's who say "where can i download it". Money comes in. After a few years it becomes affordable. After they've paid off their R&D and the VCs who risked the capital.

    Actually the economy is at a bad time to release a toy, but I wish them well.

    --
    Marketing-driven companies end up over-marketing their products. Engineering-driven companies end up over-engineering
  81. What's the big deal? by Fredflintston47 · · Score: 1

    Running two 15" LCD displays, it'll have a battery life of about 15 minutes.

    Can't you see a demo of it?

    salesman: Here's the new computer, pretty soon everyone will have one.

    customer: Wow!

    salesman: Oh, let me show you this new...uh... excuse me, gotta put it in the charger now.

    --
    Go, Springboard, Go!