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It's a Laptop - It's a Desktop
pcman cuts and pastes: "Amidst the hollowed halls and exhibition floor of the Jacob Javits Center here, one beacon of innovation shone brightly at the TechXNY trade show. At a time when even the show's keynote speakers failed to generate headlines, IBM showed off the might of its design savoir-faire akin to the European assault on the Big Three automakers by German designers and engineer."
...as a constant laptop user, I'm not sure I like the concept of having the thing able to break into pieces by design.
It's a laptop that can be configured into a more comfortable usable position once you get to the hotel your staying at on your business trips. I don't know about you, but @ 6'3" I don't particularly like hunching over a laptop everytime I'm not at my office to work at my desktop.
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I take no responsibility for any spelling mistakes in the above post.
Just because the screen is propped up a bit and the keyboard detached, it's still a notebook, with a cramped keyboard, missing mouse, practically unupgradable interior.
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I'm not so much sure I'd call IBM innovators here. These concepts have been around for a long time before IBM
For example, the Atari laptop which looked in the same form factor as current ones. IBM Stole that design and produced its first thinkpad. Soon after, Apple stole the design again and produced the first Powerbook
Odd who gets the credit isn't it? It's Apple.
the detachable keyboard is kind of neat, but if I want to turn a notebook into a desktop, I'll attach a VGA monitor and use a seperate bluetooth keyboard and mouse. I'm sorry, but origami or no, Apple has IBM beat hands down in the elegant engineering dept.
harmonious design
Just because you can detach the keyboard doesn't mean it magically becomes a desktop computer. You still can't do things like slap in a Radeon 9800 Pro, the keyboard is still small, you still have to plug in a mouse, etc.
Truth is that more and more, people are buying laptops instead of desktops. Just about every computer (desktop or laptop) on the market today is capable of efficiently performing every task the average user asks of it. So, I think for most people it comes down to price and versatility. And, while laptops are more expensive, they have been dropping in price significantly and there is no question that they are easily more versatile.
IBM et al are just taking the laptop to the next level by allowing it to (somewhat, at least) "transform" into a desktop system. I think it makes a lot of sense...
i'd think the target market would be people who don't move it much around (hence, have a real mouse attached and have it in the desktop position most of the time) and don't usually need to haul it anywhere, but when yhey would have to (like once per month or even less often) they can take that computer with them.
of course, the advantage over just having a laptop that you attach to a normal screen(and plug stuff into) isn't much. i guess in a case where a worker has to work one month at place a and then another month at place b and then returning to a for a month.. it could be useful/handy/comfortable to no t have the need for seperate screens and keyboards at both a and b to achive the non laptop feeling.
world was created 5 seconds before this post as it is.
As tech savy users, you and I are willing to put up with the compromises of a laptop - screen and keyboard at a fixed distance, screen at a fixed height, etc. We understand how they are engineered and why those limitations exist. Yes, IBMs design adds a bit of complexity to a laptop, which isn't good. Or is it?
A non-techie usually isn't willing to accept the limitations of a laptop - witness the amount of docking stations and extra perepherals bought by people who want a full size keyboard and an adjustable screen. I have seen very, very few docking stations that were reliable and inexpensive. Nothing like adding cost and complexity in the name of convenience, eh?
This is an elegant way of simplifying the design for those who don't want to be limited by current laptop design. IMHO, simpler == better. I like what they've done - add a proper tilt to the keyboard, a USB keypad and there's really nothing else you need to have your PC and take it with you, too. Note that USB devices are intended to be hot-plugged - Linux and Windows (most flavours of it anyway) handle USB changes with elan.
Now, I just need the $BLING$ to acquire one...
Soko
"Depression is merely anger without enthusiasm." - Anonymous
...they'd be shipping these now instead of showing prototypes like a bunch of cowards.
mbbac
When I saw the headline for the article, this atrocity came to mind immediately.
Thank goodness it's actually a great idea - a computer that I can take on the road and actually enjoy using. looks a little larger than a traditional notebook, though.
-- $G
During years a stereo was a big piece of electronics stacked up in a rack with each device in a separate enclosure. The entire thing was big and expensive, but powerful and upgradeable. The same thing smaller was available too, but more expensive and difficult to upgrade due to the non-standard form factor.
Today most of the stereos are the compact, all-in-one variety. If you want something else you'll have to go to a high-end shop, the average discount store doesn't carry the expensive stuff anymore.
The same thing happens now to PC's too. I'll bet that in ten years 90% of the PC's sold are compact all-in-ones. Maybe you can detach the keyboard or the screen (like you can detach the speakers on some compact stereos) but it will be similar to todays laptops. If you need a bigger [CPU|memory|disk] you'll buy a new one and pass the old one to your [mother|son|buddy].
I like the second model shown, the detachable keyboard is nice and the base is short enough that you can place it in front (not on top).
Markus
OK the screen pops up a bit and it has a detachable keybard, but it's hardly a radical new departure.
What is it about computer an car designers which makes them so conservative? Even apple, who have a reputation as being inovative, really just produce things to the same tired designs, they just round off the corners and make them out of coloured plastic.
_O_
.|< The named which can be named is not the true named
You obviously don't own a laptop. I support a company who has a large percentage (70%) of users who work from home/ have laptops. While in the office, everyone has a desktop. The idea that the dock goes with you, and can be set up anywhere, is the ideal situation. No more craning/aching while on the road, but the ability to set up in small places as well (airplanes).
Almost nobody here has a laptop w/o a docking station/port replicator. the idea that it could be set up anywhere makes the office truly mobile.
PS IBM makes a GREAT laptop. Their X series, including the X31, are incredible.
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i guess in a case where a worker has to work one month at place a and then another month at place b and then returning to a for a month..
Or how about a business or technology consultant. Many times I'll be at a client site, doing real work on site, for weeks at a time, on my laptop. Anything to make this situation a little more comfortable for me, I'm for it...
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Actually, the big market for this would be people who move their laptops daily between work and home.
Plugging every thing every morning at work, unplugging it all at 5 and plugging it back in at home at 5:30, rinse and repeat five days a week is a pain in the butt, and buying two docking stations is an expensive solution.
Additionally, that laptop has to sit somewhere on your desk while you've got all that stuff plugged into it. Put it under a stand, and you limit access to the CD-ROM. Set it off to the side, and you're using up valuable desk space.
This design will be a big seller for companies that issue laptops to their employees. The slight additional cost of the laptop will be more than offset by not having to buy an external monitor for the employee to use when at work.
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Most geeks will only see this in terms of technical value.. I mean so many people here are saying "so what, it's not like they put made a dual CPU laptop" or "it's crap because I cant use my XYZ gfx card" are simply missing the point.
I'm not really a big fan of Apple stuff but it was the same with the iMac.. "oh, so what it's just a monitor and PC in one, been done before, etc etc" but it sold really well because like it or not the majority of people who use computers are not techies.
I like this idea too, because I've had to use a laptop for long periods and I can see how an arangement like this would be much more comfortable. It would also be useful when doing presentations, it looks like the viewing angle would be better.
In the past I would have agreed with you. Today USB (high speed) is fast enough and universial enough that you can buy a keyboard, mouse, and USB hub for both work and home, and all you plug in is the hub. Want to expand? USB has you covered, and suddenly you plug in the hub at work and also have your scanner, network (wireless would be better, but perhaps not secure enough) and cd burner. At home you plug in and also get your printer and two gamepads. Or whatever combonations you can come up with.
You still have to plug it into mains power of course, but that is a lot less connections, and a lot more versitile. I'd recomend a seperate monitor if you work in one spot often, but that may or may not be best for you. At most you have 3 connections, and the duplicated equpiment is cheap.
Because when you're working at a desk (and not on your lap), it's nice when the keyboard isn't 2 inches away from the screen.
That's what a docking station is for, isn't it?
I'm not a prophet or a stone-age man,
I'm just a mortal with potential of a super man.
Functionality aside, it's not a "desktop" unless I can choose to change the graphics adapter and have a few slots for additional cards.
"Curiosity killed the cat, but for a while I was a suspect."- Steven Wright
I used my thinkpad at work, home, travel, etc, and it would be neat to be able to put it on a desk when I'm at work (to get the typing angle comfortable, I usually have it on my lap when I am working with it). I'd buy one of these in a heartbeat.
Dude, I think I can see my house from here.