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3D Linux Laptop Available
Anonymous Writer writes "EmperorLinux is distributing the Sharp Actius RD3D autostereo laptop with Linux pre-installed, dubbing it the 'Molecule'. Almost all the hardware features can be utilised under Linux; the autostereo 3D display (most importantly), CD-RW/DVD-RW combo drive, Ethernet port, audio hardware, PC Card slot, 4 USB 2.0 ports, FireWire port, Sony Memory Stick slot, Compact Flash slot, SD slot, and internal floppy dive. The only built-in feature unsupported is the internal 56 Kbps modem, however a supported 56 kbps PC Card modem is available as well as a WiFi PC Card."
3-D displays first hand? Care to give a quick honest review?
The Technonaut
Yeah but... does it run Linux? Oh wait...
So who's going to be the first to the market with a 3D-Enhanced porn site?
you know, seeing integrated wifi that works with linux would be a real plus on a laptop like this. Especially if it were a non-centrino wifi card built in.
I have a Gateway 450SX non-centrino, and it runs linux really well. Everything works perfectly (except for the 56K modem, of course), but sadly I don't have internal wireless. My external WaveLAN card works great under any distro though. Rock stable laptop, not terribly expensive and everything runs great under any distro (I've tried Fedora Core 1, Gentoo and Debian).
Since $3,000+ is a bit outside my range (my range being closer my $35 PII Linux box), I naturally checked out the Emperor Linux Jobs Page to see if I could suppliment my income. What a blast from the pre-bust past, mixed with a bit of post-bust reality:
...
Work at EmperorLinux: the most fun you can have with
EmperorLinux is not actively hiring.
However, we are always on the lookout for fun and knowledgeable people who like things Linux. If you like to:
ride your bike to work,
hike in the mountains,
recompile your kernel weekly,
drink Mountain Dew with extra sugar,
play in the dirt with your hands,
make fun and informative web pages,
use the "taste test" when debugging circuits,
run with scissors barefoot in the rain,
or anything similarly off-center,
send us an interesting mail telling us why you think we would like you.
I've done nearly all of those things, if you can substitute "hand-code Z80 machine code" for "recompile your kernel". But I think I'll stick with my boring but very stable job coding VB in the tax accounting business. I'll have time to lick random circuitry when I retire.
Stressed? Me? Of course not. Stress is what a rubber band feels before it breaks, silly.
My laptop is 2D. I hate the way it's so flat. It's horrible to type on because the keys have no travel. It's easy to bend and tear by accident. Sometimes it's really hard to see because when you look at it edge on it has no thickness. It disappears in piles of paper. A 3D laptop would be much better!
Doesn't it make you feel good to know that our freedoms are protected by politicans, lawyers and journalists.
Especially when you consider that it's $2999 w/o Linux.
Reviews with a twist! http://www.sardonicbastard.com
You're right...(from the parts listing):
-- 15.0" Active XGA TFT runs X@1024x768x24bpp w/ NVIDIA GeForce4 graphics.
Hmmm.
Do we get free 3D glasses?
No mention of Linux pre-installed on the Sharp website.
Under "Recommended Accessories" they have a Logitech wheel mouse for $50. Insanity, considering the same mouse can be bought at any computer store for like $20CDN.
You may want to check the link, the screen allows actual stereo images without glasses.
Unless you're waiting for that holographic display...Free Mac Mini Yeah, it's
Almost all the hardware features can be utilised under Linux
I bet the zealots have no problem overlooking the word "almost", but I'd expect to utilize all of the hardware features of a $3600 laptop.
What doesn't work in linux?
I don't need no instructions to know how to rock!!!!
Gives a whole new meaning to "pop-up" doesn't it?
This space for rent. Call 1-800-STEAK4U
Sony Memory Stick slot
This would be a good reason *NOT* to buy it.
It says 3D because it gives the perception of a 3D display. And yes, you can display 3D images on a flat LCD. It works by using "channels" which divert light to the other side at an angle so your eye percieves it as a different image.
... and if looked at on the other the picture is different yet? Giving you the appearance it was moving if you twitched it? Same concept? Only the light is emitted from the left and hitting the right side. The light emitted from the right is hitting your left side.
You remember those 3D things you got when you were a kid? where you look at it from one side it has an image
Both of your eyes recieve two different images and they are done in sync giving the impression of 3D so you can see depth.
Notice the 256MB Lexar USB keychain drive; For $120.00. Same item is selling for under $50 on Newegg. Yeah, EmperorLinux seems like the kind of site I'd like to do business with. I wonder if they ever sold toilet seats to the Pentagon.
worst sig ever. . .
At $3600, it will be something of a luxury laptop and a gizmo, considering the number of Linux users who are in disciplines that deal with 3D imaging. Except, perhaps, game and movie designers I think. Most molecular imaging people that I know use SUN, SGI or HP hardware still. I don't think that stuff like RasMol or Cn3D (for protein structure viewing) currently supports it. Knowing the Linux community, it pobably soon will be. Then, this machine can potentially be a great tool for scientists. You can go and view all of your proteins in 3D which will help immensely with the interpretation of mutations for instance, while avoiding the need for proprietary hardware and OSes. Then we can break free of friggin' MS. You won't believe how many times I cannot fill out a grant application because it's a .exe.. A vital app such as 3d molecular imaging should be a good place to start.
----- One learns to itch where one can scratch.
. . . is explained here.
I too go why 3D for that much money, but then again look at the benefits to the Linux community.
--Linux has been getting mainstream press thanks to SCO, and all the Window viruses; people have heard of it.
--Now you're in come public place with your nice ~$4000 laptop and someone sees the cool 3D effect (hopefully non-porn related).
"Cool, I wish my laptop could do that" (even though the person doesn't know why they wish their lappy could do it) "What version of Windows is that?"
"It's not Windows, it's Linux"
It may just be a small attention getter, but a lot of small attention getters can add up to a big boost of Linux awareness among the [general] public.
"Look Lois, the two symbols of the Republican Party: an elephant, and a fat white guy who is threatened by change."
2D, 3D, man that's so yesterday?
My laptop (supplemented with my flux capacitor powered N-Vidia card) has 4 dimensions. Thanks to this wonderful feature I can see it Crashing while it's booting up.
The Neo-Bohemian Techno-Socialist
I wish people would quit throwing that word around until we have a true 3D display.
Absolutely. I can't wait to have a laptop that can project an animated 3D holographic shark that jumps out whenever I view a movie trailer.
Vintage computer adverts: http://www.vintageadbrowser.com/computers-and-software-ads
I read about this technology when it was launched in Japan, but I have concerns about the viewing angle that allows to watch the screen in real 3D. In fact this technology is based on the same as the small cards made of plastic and paper, that allow you to see a kind of animated 3D caracters. And here, even with explanations on sharp site, I would say that there should be some problems when you are not exactly in front of your screen... If someone has got an answer about this accuracy. Moreover, this technology is not used for professional 3D computer visualization.
Keep in mind that Emperor Linux purchases name-brand laptops with windows and removes the windows. You're paying for windows you're not using . For a list of companies that sell linux laptops and do not do this check here. -- Bob
1^2=1; (-1)^2=1; 1^2=(-1)^2; 1=-1; 1=0.
No mention of Linux pre-installed on the Sharp website.
That, and it's $600 cheaper with XP instaled. So much for the Microsoft tax.
Viv
Gmail invites for ip
I'm really hoping that autostereo displays will catch on, not just for gaming, but for natural appearance 3D photography.
Once you've seen how nice a 3D photo can appear (the best way is to view Realist 3D Slides on a polarized screen), you'll never want to go pack to "flat" photography again.
Best Buy can have you arrested
I'd have to take a substitution on the circuit licking myself.
I've sent suspected-bad UARTs to their fiery deaths with the aid of a tough little punch board and a variable power supply...
Did you know you can actually cause a small jet of flames to shoot out of the center of a heat-induced crack in a UART chip? It's most impressive, if only for 1.5 seconds.
And I'm sure you know that all UARTs go to heaven. For ours, heaven was the gpysum ceiling tiles in the lab. They punch down nicely, and they'll stay there for years if your professors are short and rarely look straight up.
.sigs are for post^Hers.
Everything in a laptop is a tradeoff game. Want fancier graphics/more powerful CPU/wireless/faster hard drive? You're gonna pay for it in weight and power consumption. Want to lighten the machine a bit? You're gonna pay for that in display size and power consumption. This thing essentially has two video displays crammed on top of each other to provide the 3D effect, which really kills the battery life. But if the display is the most important aspect to you, you're probably going to toss it on a desk and plug it into the wall.
Yes it's a niche product, but not every piece of hardware can be good for every possible situation. If you want something with excellent battery life and is very lightweight, the Sharp MM20 or IBM X series are both good. The Dell X300 is pretty nice too.
I think my neck would start to hurt after more than 10 minutes of game play from trying to hold still.
"With sufficient thrust, pigs fly just fine. However, this is not necessarily a good idea...."
RFC 1925
what about Quake?
I'm still waiting for a review of someone who's actually used one of these.
So, what linux software do we have that will take advantage of this? Are there Mesa or Glide extensions?
I'd love to try one of these but, if none of my apps use it then whats the point?
----- If communism is a system where the government owns business, what do you call a system where business owns govern
Point is ... the screen gives you the perception of depth. If the screen can fool your brain into thinking that there is an image in the foreground and others farther in the distance ... than the IMAGE is 3D no matter how you slice it and by difinition. It doesnt matter if you can't stick your hand though there and touch the background image. They never said 3D virtuality ... its 3D imagery .. and by that definition it is 3D.
Almost all the hardware features can be utilised under Linux;
I love linux. I do. But I hate reading about a linux company putting out a linux machine with the sentence "Almost all the hardware features can be utilised under Linux;" What's with the "almost"? Why can't ALL of the hardware features be "utilised" under linux. C'mon this isn't BeOS we're talking about.
You'll have that sometimes...
For anyone who's buying from them, stay away from the accessories. Mice are universal, PS/2 or USB. Laptop hard drives are universal, and the only thing you might need to worry about is height (9.5mm or smaller?). Laptop memory may not be completely universal, but it's pretty easy to find compatible stuff. All or virtually all external USB storage devices are compatible with Linux.
I used up all my sick days, so I'm calling in dead.
First, I am confused. GI Joes came with two different varieties of flashy things that you might be referring to:
1) Polarized plastic with an two images drawn in alternating lines behind it, so that when tilted, animation is viewed. I believe the action figure Crystal Ball used one of these as a weapon. These are not 3d.
2) Actual holographs printed on the stickers that came with vehicles, etc. These are 3d, in the sense that you can, to a degree limited by perspective, see behind objects depicted in these holographs; there is actual depth.
I am reminded of the scene in The Little Prince where the character from outer space looks at a drawing of a box and states that it is a picture of a sheep. When the narrator corrects him, the alien says, "Well, there's a sheep sleeping in the box."
Probably mangled the quote, but you get the drift. Holograms allow you to see their contents from many perspectives within 3d space. And as long as that definitition is met, then they qualify as 3d.
Even if the viewing medium is 2d.
Correct it's not 3D.
If it was true 3D you could walk around the scene and view it from different sides, or at least change your angles.
Computer graphics people sometimes call this 2 1/2D.
It's also obvious from an information theory viewpoint. The information you need for this 2 1/2D image is only twice then need form simple 2D (one image for each eye). A true 3D representation would require much more information.
Sorry, but I would like to state my opinion: what the f**k? this is news? When I installed Mandrake 9.2 and later 10.0 on my 1 year old toshiba satellite, everything worked ok (3d graphics, firewire, but not the SD cardreader...) I dont really see the news in this article. But thats OK, but what really pisses me off is that anyone still uses the memory stick thingy. I dont ever want to have that proprietary shit be part of what I buy again. I have a Zaurus with SD card reader and CF card reader. Two nice standards, universally accepted. Then I have a Sony Clie with only a Memory stick reader. What the **** is that? what am I supposed to use the slot for? This is one of the most important issues I have against Sony, and one of the reasons I am switching to the new Zaurus 6000.
I think the Idea of a nice Linux notebook is cool, but could people please help me boycot the Memory stick thing. I want general standards, and the world has settled on SD and CF...
We don't HAVE to uninstall Windows. Customers who want to dual boot are more than welcome to. Customers who only want Linux can have that, but are advised that they will still have a Windows license. Simply put, at our volumes it is impossible to get machines from a big-name vendor without Windows. Hell, at most people's volumes this is impossible. Microsoft has very strong contracts with laptop suppliers.
But like I said, customers who want Linux only are advised they will still be paying for Windows because we have to. Almost none of them care, because they understand the situation.
bash in 3-D...NICE!
http://www.sampletheweb.com
Glasses may allow a bit more leeway in this respect, but if not using the happy headache-inducing shutters mentioned in another comment, the display method would need to be similar (i.e., two interlaced images at different angles), and you'd still need to carry around extra hardware. The RD3D is proabably the simplest way to get a 3D display to the average user.
Here is a spatial 3D display that isn't a flat screen.
I think everyone knows what it means. The 3RD dimension is depth. As long as your brain THINKS there is depth it is 3 dimentional. If it looks like a duck, quacks like a duck, waddles like a duck .. it is a duck. If you see depth (which is the 3rd dimension) you are seeing 3D.
... the 3rd diminsion is there.
The term 3D does not reference any type of technology or process therein. 3D is perceived vision. If I see depth
This isn't a laptop built for normal business or student customers. This is a laptop made for engineering and science applications where people have been used to dropping 10 or so grand 10 years ago for the same functionality in a workstation. For instance here is a nutty situation, crystal eyes pioneered LCD shutter glasses. OK, now you can buy good lcd shutter glasses for about $100 dollars, but if you want to buy crystal eyes its about $1000. Now the build quality of the crystal eyes are better, and the lcd shutter in them is larger, but this is definately not worth 10 times as much, they are just the standard that everybody buys.
It is not true 3d as there is no depth of field effect. Yes there is a 3d effect from the left right info, but your eyes are focused on the flat screen even when you are concentrating on a near or far object. This is the main cause of the sick feeling and headache that this type of display can cause, as the focus of your eyes is not corresponding to what you are actually looking at.
3D porn!
Immediately I had a few thoughts without RTFA. With an afterthought 3d algorithm the proportions won't be accurate. I could see real use for this with topology or for an avid gamer, but if the programs aren't able to pass spatial information for the screen why bother? I can appreciate a proof of technology and anything linux must be great..right, but this just seems a little too early.
I'm selling my old 2D laptop to buy a new 3D laptop.
Here's the pictures:
Front view, chassis closed:
_________________
Side view, chassis closed:
_________
Anyone interested?
\m/