Intel Prototypes World's Thinnest Laptop

aalobode sends us to an article up at BusinessWeek about Intel's design for a new, ultra-thin laptop — almost as thin as a Razr — designed as a fashion accessory. Intel hopes to get the high end of the laptop market growing faster, and so they are particularly targeting female consumers with the new model. It's unlikely that all of the advanced features in this prototype will make it into products, and if they did the resulting laptops would command a daunting price. One feature we can hope makes the cut is built-in cellular Internet access. From the article: "The result, code-named Intel mobile Metro notebook, is less than 0.7 inches thick — about one-quarter of an inch thicker than Motorola's iconic cell phone, making it the world's thinnest notebook. And at 2.25 pounds, it's also one of the lightest small-sized portable computers. Other features include always-on Internet connectivity via various wireless technologies."

Comments

Photos

[Bananatree3]

photos of the new laptop

Re:Photos

[Fx.Dr]

Setting a tiny notebook against a tiny Asian woman kind of negates the 'WOW factor' of such a slim notebook. I would have suggested having Ving Rhames hold it, but that's just me.

Re:Photos

[Anonymous Coward]

Yeah, doesn't really capture the scale. I bought one of these, but I set it down at the wrong angle and now I can't find it...

Re:Photos

[MrNonchalant]

And more pictures.

Re:Photos

[19thNervousBreakdown]

They're making a big mistake if they market it too hard toward women.

You really don't have to try that hard, chicks love laptops, and if it's thin, light, and looks decent, they'll snap them up by the dozen. The problem is, there's plenty of dudes out there that won't be able to handle that it's marketed toward women--never mind the 2 1/4lb weight, built-in bluetooth + wi-max + 802.11 + EVDO, and 14-hour battery life--if you buy it, you're gay.

Of course, the only thing they'd have to change is make another cover for it that looks like a wallet instead of a purse and not mention that it's "for women" (what, does it latch on the right or something? keyboard designed for a longer index finger? breast rests?) and they could sell to everyone. Then again, I imagine it'll end up like the Mustang.

finally !

[Anonymous Coward]

something with less girth than me ! I no longer feel inadequate.

14 HOURS!

[AKAImBatman]

Being super slim is a nice feature in of itself, but then I saw this (emphasis mine):

Using flash memory in place of the standard hard-disk drive, Ziba and Intel have managed to make this laptop just 0.7 inches thick. The use of flash resulted in a side benefit: the laptop consumes less power and offers up to 14 hours of battery life. At 2.25 pounds, it's also among the lightest notebooks around.

WOW. Can you imagine having a laptop with 14 hours of battery life? You could pretty much work on it all day, then charge it while you're sleeping at night. Assuming, of course, that the figures aren't overinflated estimations. Still...

One thing I'm disappointed by is the lack of any sort of specs. (Or am I just blind?) What kind of processor, how much memory, how much flash disk, and what kind of graphics card this thing has are all factors that would figure into purchasing this or not. For my own needs, I think the size of the flashdisk would be the biggest factor.

I'm not so keen on the purse idea. While it might appeal to some women, I have a suspicion that it would be at risk of theft at all times. Better to use a more nondescript bag than a fancy cover with an external screen that shouts, "Steal me! I'm expensive!"

Re:14 HOURS!

[Achromatic1978]

my dumbass would break it in half in a day.

That's a horrible way to refer to your wife.

Re:14 HOURS!

[Mockylock]

True, but you don't know my wife.

...and of course

[JustNiz]

they'll release a new model soon that will cost $200 more just because its pink.

Re:...and of course

[Timesprout]

I am not paying $200 more just because it's pink, now OTOH if they put ponies on it..

Neat

[tsa]

That is a beautiful laptop. And apart from the Macs, there aren't many beautiful laptops out there IMO. If I were Intel I would lose the screen on the outside. Though it raises the WOW factor a whole lot, it's not practical when traveling, especially if you carry the laptop around like it's a purse as shown on the first picture.

Re:Neat

[ptbarnett]

If I were Intel I would lose the screen on the outside.

If you were to RTFA, you'd discover that the screen on the outside isn't actually on the laptop. It's on the folio case that wraps around the laptop.

The case also functions as the battery charger, although the contact is wireless.

Strange parallel universe

[j00r0m4nc3r]

Anyone else here remember when it was social suicide to even admit you knew how to turn on a computer, let alone use one? Now they come in pink, with armstraps. Somewhere along the line I have slipped into a strange parallel universe. If anyone from my homeworld can read this, please send help.

Re:Strange parallel universe

[MrNaz]

My kinsman! I fear our homeworld has been destroyed. We are the last of our kind. Fear not however, as our ability to resist wedgies gives us super strength, the ability to fly, X-ray vision and assorted other super powers while on this planet. We should wear red underpants on the outside of our clothes to indicate to all the fact that we are impervious to wedgies.

Re:Strange parallel universe

[j00r0m4nc3r]

We should wear red underpants on the outside of our clothes

Huh? Is there any other way to wear them?

Re:Strange parallel universe

[MrNaz]

Not for us, my interstellar superpowered friend.

Re:Strange parallel universe

[Garabito]

If anyone from my homeworld can read this, please send help

Are you sure you want to go back there?

For the ladies?

[robbkidd]

I'll get tarted up if it means I can have one.

Re:For the ladies?

[PatrickThomson]

I want a tiny laptop to compensate for my gigantic penis.

Ergonomics

[suv4x4]

Intel's design for a new, ultra-thin laptop -- almost as thin as a Razr

And just like like the Razr, the keyboard is flat. And just UNlike the Razr, you'll want to type a lot on this thing, and the flat keyboard will make it a very bad experience.

I hope the other benefits of the technology (flash drive, 14 hours online battery life), carry on to "thicker" laptops.

Big deal

[rindeee]

A couple of years ago I had a Sharp Actius MM20 that was .62" thick vs. the .7" of Intel's latest. Granted there's more to Intel's prototype than small size, the 'ultra-thin'ness was the focus of this sub. And for the record, the RAZR V3 is .54" thick.

FYI: Magnesium case

[ciaohound]

"Champagne-colored" or not, the use of magnesium is encouraging. The thinness is worthless if it's not sturdy enough to withstand being sat on, stepped on, jammed in a bag or purse, or even just twisted in your hands. I have never bought myself a laptop, because the real road warriors require sturdier case materials than I care to spend, but I worked with a lot of old GRiD laptops and, man, they could withstand rough handling. Not dropping -- mag will shatter -- but just about anything else users could dish out.

Ultra Metro Man

[simpl3x]

The details look suspiciously mac like, and I would much rather have a tough shell than a screen on the outside so that I can carry it without a sleeve. I'm jitter enough thanks to my Blackberry!

One day I'm hoping for that Powerbook 2400 replacement...

Re:Ultra Metro Man

[s.bots]

From TFA:

Ziba hopes to see the computer sold with a special protective folio that, at first glance, looks like a fashionable cover for a personal diary. The folio, which clings to the laptop with embedded magnets, is equipped with contacts that connect the laptop to an external digital screen. The screen is on the case. You can still get a "manly" tough ass case or build your own out of the skulls of your foes.

Cue: Seinfeld

[GillBates0]

It's not a purse, it's European!