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Asus Takes Another Stab at Revolutionizing Netbook Market

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on from the betting-on-the-design-team dept.

Perhaps most well known for their netbook innovations with the Eee PC, Asus is at it again with their latest rollout at CeBIT Germany. The "Waveface Light," a new concept laptop, can be used as a conventional laptop or converted to a tablet by removing the keyboard and opening it to a completely flat position. Sounds like either a stroke of genius or a "small widget broke and now it's worthless" design issue.

162 comments

  1. Indeed. by Pojut · · Score: 0

    This is definitely a good idea, but I think what should really be focused on is making netbooks more gaming friendly. Since (based on people I know and have talked to) netbooks tend to be used mostly while traveling or while watching TV, being able to game on them would instantly increase their appeal. I'm not talking about Crysis or anything here, but it would be nice to not be stuck with pre-2002 games due to low power CPUs (Intel Atom) and integrated graphics (Intel GMA). I know that nVidia has some stuff on the way that will help out a lot, but still...being able to play modern games with the graphics turned down on a netbook would be awesome.

    I just posted an article about the topic of gaming on netbooks earlier today. Read on if you are interested in the subject: http://livingwithanerd.com/gaming-on-a-netbook/ /end shameless self plug

    --
    Living With a Nerd
    1. Re:Indeed. by TheKidWho · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Umm, get a $399 ION netbook problem solved?

    2. Re:Indeed. by Pojut · · Score: 1

      The ION is a good step in the right direction, but (in my opinion) it is still a bit lacking. Don't get me wrong, it's a vast improvement on GMA, but it's still just one step. From what I've seen though, the ION 2 is going to be a big improvement. I haven't looked it up but are any of the ION 2-equipped netbooks available to purchase yet?

      --
      Living With a Nerd
    3. Re:Indeed. by qoncept · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Right now an engineer at Intel is slapping his forehead and saying, out loud, "Why didn't I think of that? We should have been trying to make faster chips that use less power all along!"

      --
      Whale
    4. Re:Indeed. by EdZ · · Score: 2, Insightful

      So, you don't actually want a netbook (a cheap, low powered laptop for surfing the web), you just want a regular small laptop? Buy a regular small laptop then.

    5. Re:Indeed. by Pojut · · Score: 1

      No, I want a laptop with a 9" or 10" screen that can play semi-modern games (Civilization IV being a good example) at lower to medium settings without running at 5 frames per second.

      What, in your opinion, defines something as a small laptop or a netbook? Can you point me to a 9" machine and say "that's a small laptop" and then a different 9" machine and say "that's a netbook"?

      --
      Living With a Nerd
    6. Re:Indeed. by RobertinXinyang · · Score: 1

      I think you are missing the point of netbooks. What you want would add to the quality of the internal parts (cost), would use more power (battery life), and would need a large screen (Size).

      What I, and the netbook users I know, are looking for, and using, is something that will have the battery life to make it through several classes (battery life) and is reasonably cheap (cost), light, and doesn't take up much space on the desk (size). I think you would be better served by a regular, or power user oriented, computer or laptop.

    7. Re:Indeed. by Dishevel · · Score: 2, Insightful

      The problem is that net books can game. They can play old low powered games. New games are by nature designed to push limits on desktops. Netbooks by nature are not going to be able to run these games. Some laptops may be able to run some of the newest stuff at lower resolutions and with some eye candy turned down. Netbooks are minimalist by nature. Move on.

      --
      Why is it so hard to only have politicians for a few years, then have them go away?
    8. Re:Indeed. by Pojut · · Score: 1

      Not really...I have a relatively up to date desktop gaming machine, I'm just looking for something small to leave next to my couch so when we stream netflix/watch hockey or boxing I can still play modern games. Like I said, I'm not looking to play Crysis at max, nor am I expecting to play something at crazy high resolution at 16x AA...I just want to be able to play something like Civ 4 at medium settings...the nVidia ION is close to providing what I want (and in my price range), and the ION 2 looks like it's going to be even better.

      I don't really want a full-size or even a small (14") laptop...I'm looking for a small machine (10", 11" absolute max) that I can easily see over and use for some light gaming. Hell, my Mini 9 can play things like Deus Ex and even Guild Wars (Guild Wars requires just about everything be pushed all the way down, but it is quite playable)...again, considering the ION, it can't cost that much more to make this happen. Who knows, there are already likely netbooks out there that can do what I want...I just haven't looked in the past year since I got my Mini 9 because I'm not going to buy one for another 6 months or so.

      --
      Living With a Nerd
    9. Re:Indeed. by Pojut · · Score: 1

      Like I said, I'm not looking to play something like Bioshock 2 or Modern Warfare 2 on there...I just want something like Civ 4 on Medium settings to run at a playable pace. I know netbooks aren't designed for heavy gaming, but being able to play a game of Civ IV or logging on to WoW and keep things playable and not-ugly would be nice...at least, if for no other reason other than travel and as a cheap "guest" machine at a LAN.

      --
      Living With a Nerd
    10. Re:Indeed. by rishistar · · Score: 1

      Alienware do a nice looking netbook. That should be able to game!

      --
      Professor Karmadillo Songs of Science
    11. Re:Indeed. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You're missing the point of netbooks. Obligatory car analogy; do you buy a motorcycle (because it's portable) and then bemoan the fact that you can't carry four people on it? No, you get a damn car. Similarly, you don't buy a tiny netbook with a 1.6ghz low powered single core, 1gb of ram and integrated video, and then absurdly expect that it would or should be capable of gaming. Want portable gaming? Buy an alienware. That other poster was right, you're an absolute twit for thinking Intel simply didn't think to make their chips more powerful whilst still drawing the same power.

      For the record, as far as I'm concerned, the netbook/laptop distinction is that netbooks have an Atom or ARM CPU (or AMD's offering, once they release it) and are no more than 11 inches. If a clamshell-style portable computer doesn't meet both of those conditions, it's a laptop.

    12. Re:Indeed. by Pojut · · Score: 1

      You're talking about the M11x, yeah? It does look awesome and certainly has far more performance than I'm looking for, but I can't justify spending that much money on such a small system...~$800 would be a great "full-size" laptop :/ I know that's sort of like throwing your post back at you, sorry about that...

      --
      Living With a Nerd
    13. Re:Indeed. by Pojut · · Score: 1

      You're missing the point of netbooks. Obligatory car analogy; do you buy a motorcycle (because it's portable) and then bemoan the fact that you can't carry four people on it?

      Of course not.

      No, you get a damn car. Similarly, you don't buy a tiny netbook with a 1.6ghz low powered single core, 1gb of ram and integrated video, and then absurdly expect that it would or should be capable of gaming. Want portable gaming? Buy an alienware.

      I'm not upset that older netbooks can't do it, I just want a little more focus placed on it in the future. Look at the performance difference between an original EEE PC and the netbooks that are out on the market now...the difference is huge, with only a couple of years seperating them. I'm simply looking for enough of a performance bump so that I can do simple gaming without having to take a full-size laptop with me. Again, we aren't talking about Crysis with full AA here...we're talking about something like Civ IV being playable on medium. Do you think it's ludicrous to want my $400-500 modern machine to be able to run a game that is nearly 5 years old at HALF of what that game is capable of displaying?

      That other poster was right, you're an absolute twit for thinking Intel simply didn't think to make their chips more powerful whilst still drawing the same power.

      Again, I never said they didn't do it...I said they should do it in the future now that technology has caught up to the size. Thanks for the insult though, I appreciate it.

      For the record, as far as I'm concerned, the netbook/laptop distinction is that netbooks have an Atom or ARM CPU (or AMD's offering, once they release it) and are no more than 11 inches. If a clamshell-style portable computer doesn't meet both of those conditions, it's a laptop.

      So once the ION 2 systems become widely available...would you still consider that a netbook, despite their ability to (supposedly) play modern games?

      --
      Living With a Nerd
    14. Re:Indeed. by h4rr4r · · Score: 1

      Small, Fast, Cheap, pick two.

      You want all three, that is just not a realistic option.

    15. Re:Indeed. by Pojut · · Score: 1

      Small, somewhat cheap, and slightly fast.

      See? Cut two of them down, and suddenly all three are possible.

      --
      Living With a Nerd
    16. Re:Indeed. by Dare+nMc · · Score: 1

      For me, the ideal device would be about a 17" light weight touch screen tablet PC, that can stand alone as a netbook; but then become more a dumb display/hard disk at my desk. That way you could have a nice useable display you carry around that functions, but have a fast Processor/keyboard/memory you slap on, and plug it in to game with.

      Basically a dedicated GB Ethernet port connecting my "desktop Processor" to this device.
      I don't game, but I go out and gather data from a bunch of machines, quickly look that the data is real, maybe tweak a few things if needed, then go back to my desk and crunch data for 2 hours (because my laptop is somewhat slow) But not worth the hassle of transferring Gigs of data to a PC for this. Also all these apps are expensive licenses, so I must have them available to travel, but want them on a faster CPU to crunch.

      Similar, I lug my Laptop home every night to provide emergency tech support, and VPN for off hours meetings, lug it in to meeting rooms to take notes... I need all my data from daily use, but a 1 Ghz atom would provide the functioning I need when away from the desk, but a 2.2Ghz core Duo doesn't cut it at my desk.

    17. Re:Indeed. by EchaniDrgn · · Score: 1

      Or you could get the software developers to design their software better?

      I play World of Warcraft on my Netbook all the time. Not too bad when you're running dailies that include mostly flights back and forth.

    18. Re:Indeed. by Pojut · · Score: 1

      Yeah...Blizzard (like Valve) is good about keeping the minimum requirements on their games low, but making the visuals scale quite well. The difference in visuals with World of Warcraft turned all the way down and turned all the way up is HUGE, , but all the way down requires very little computing power while all the way up still doesn't require anything unreasonable.

      Out of curiosity, what netbook are you running it on and what are the specs?

      --
      Living With a Nerd
    19. Re:Indeed. by mcmonkey · · Score: 2, Funny

      Wow. There's a gamer who really loves Civ IV.

    20. Re:Indeed. by Pojut · · Score: 1

      I keep using it as an example because the gameplay is perfectly suited for something like a netbook...travel, or parked on a couch watching TV.

      But yeah...I do love Civ IV :-)

      --
      Living With a Nerd
    21. Re:Indeed. by david_thornley · · Score: 1

      Except that, since you don't seem to be able to find what you want, it is apparently impossible to have all three. We all understand what you want, and I suspect a lot of us think it would be cool. I personally would like one of them. I'd also like Centauri's car from "The Last Starfighter" (the one that is useful for highway, aerial, space, and hyperspace driving), but I can't get one of them either.

      --
      "When you have eliminated the unacceptable, whatever is left, however improbable, must be the truthiness" - Holmes
    22. Re:Indeed. by lowrydr310 · · Score: 1
      A good NES/Genesis/SNES emulator and a gamepad is all you need. Heck, even with a small SSD you could still store every ROM ever made for all of those systems!

      Were any good games ever made beyond those systems?

    23. Re:Indeed. by Pojut · · Score: 1

      I dunno man, the ION 2 stuff looks like it's going to be exactly what I'm looking for. Here's to hoping.

      Oh, and screw Centauri's car...I'd be happy with his super-snazzy suit.

      --
      Living With a Nerd
    24. Re:Indeed. by izomiac · · Score: 1

      Basically, for that you need an Intel 4500 MHD (much more powerful than prior GMAs) or something from ATI or nVidia and a decent CPU. Plenty of laptops have these, but anything smaller than 11.1" uses different types of hardware, and there have to be sacrifices. Gamers usually prefer large desktop replacement laptops, which are on the opposite end of the spectrum from netbooks.

      That said, consider getting a portable gaming console with real gaming controls and games optimized for it. PC games are designed to maximize the hardware of much larger devices. Obviously smaller devices are going to lag behind by several years.

    25. Re:Indeed. by MaskedSlacker · · Score: 1

      Go away, and stop ruining products I actually want with irrelevant bullshit I don't need and refuse to pay for.

    26. Re:Indeed. by MaskedSlacker · · Score: 1

      Everyone else here can see you're a moron. Why can't you?

    27. Re:Indeed. by hclewk · · Score: 2, Funny

      Net books are designed to be just powerful enough to surf the inter net . If you make them more powerful, they are no longer netbooks. What you are asking for is akin to wanting to meet a 5' 6" midget.

    28. Re:Indeed. by Pojut · · Score: 1

      As I asked another poster further down in the conversation, if that is the case, would you consider something using the new ION 2 hardware to be a regular laptop then? Despite having the form factor and battery life of a netbook?

      --
      Living With a Nerd
    29. Re:Indeed. by hclewk · · Score: 1

      A small, efficient laptop is not a netbook. A small, efficient, low-priced, low-power laptop is a netbook. Now, low-power is a relative term, so it will gradually increase with time, but by the time you can easily play Civ 4 on any netbook, you will want to play Civ 5 on your netbook because Civ 4 is too old.

    30. Re:Indeed. by Ungrounded+Lightning · · Score: 1

      I thought early thinkpads did this, too. Not just to be a flat display surface, but so they could have the light source removed and sit as a "foil" on an overhead projector - in the days before video projectors were common in conference rooms.

      Don't recall if this was before or after powerpoint.

      --
      Bantam Dominique roosters crow a four-note song. Once you've heard it as "Happy BIRTHday" you can't NOT hear it that way
    31. Re:Indeed. by LordVader717 · · Score: 1

      Don't draw conclusions from buzzword names. If 'netbooks' were solely about surfing the web, they wouldn't be sold with XP and be using X86 processors and have large amounts of memory. Netbooks are Laptops which can do 99% of what people want to do, just without being huge.

      Personally, I think anything bigger than 10 inches is clumsy to be carrying around all day. I can get everything I need to get done on a 9'' netbook.

    32. Re:Indeed. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yeah and I guess notebooks are just for taking notes too.

    33. Re:Indeed. by LordVader717 · · Score: 1

      You're missing the point of netbooks. Obligatory car analogy; do you buy a motorcycle (because it's portable) and then bemoan the fact that you can't carry four people on it?

      Better car analogy: Despite common conceptions, an SUV isn't the best choice if you want space, you're better off with something like a Minivan.
      To the point, there is no reason why a Laptop with reasonable gaming power should have to be huge. That's the whole point about the recent investment in mobile graphics chips. If we can use them to make 3D Desktops why shouldn't we use them for games.

    34. Re:Indeed. by kf6auf · · Score: 1

      Get a netbook with an ULV Core 2 Solo. It'll run circles around even your dual-core Atom and not use too much more power. The downside is that I think it only comes in 11.6" 'netbooks' but maybe soon it'll come in 10" netbooks.

    35. Re:Indeed. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You think that sounds stupid, but that is what the "windows 7 was my idea" commercials are about. MS never thought of making windows not crash.

    36. Re:Indeed. by DirtyCanuck · · Score: 1

      I just read your article.

      I can't believe you would overlook something as blatant and currently on sale as the MX11 ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OBrCWdxVNPQ )

      And yes, it plays Crysis.

      Alienware’s MX11 is a gaming laptop squeezed into a 11inch netbook chassis.
        Core 2 Duo processor
        1GB Nvidia 335M graphics card
        6 1/2 hours of battery life (battery mode)
        1366 x 768 pixel display
        2 hours of gaming mode
        Gaming mode can be toggled on/off, switch from gaming mode to casual mode without restarting
        Video out via DisplayPort, HDMI, and VGA, SIM slot
        3D mark scores in 6-7k range
        50FPS Crysis, 30FPS Call of Duty on High Settings

    37. Re:Indeed. by stenWolf · · Score: 1

      get a notebook (not net , note) with the new intel core i7 640M (U or L - http://ark.intel.com/Compare.aspx?ids=43563,47700,). The U model at 18W TDP gives the atom chips a run for their money (well, not really in same category, but much better performance/wattage than anything before mobile nehalem came along). Lenovo has the x201s, but I'd take a look at the fujitsu P770 series - http://store.shopfujitsu.com/fpc/Ecommerce/buildseriesbean.do?series=P770. Not really in the netbooks price range, and not featuring ION (which is a true shame) but more than adequate from power consumption versus performance standpoint. If you want a portable gaming platform, either alienware or one of the eurocom models ( http://www.eurocom.com/ ) might suit you better.

    38. Re:Indeed. by Hognoxious · · Score: 1

      Your fundamental limit is the screen. There's little point in having the latest and greatest graphics card feeding a 9" LCD.

      Or the number of people who would buy such a device is so small it wouldn't be commercially viable.

      --
      Confucius say, "Find worm in apple - bad. Find half a worm - worse."
    39. Re:Indeed. by Hognoxious · · Score: 1

      Performance costs.

      Miniaturization costs.

      If you want performance and miniaturization, that'll cost lots. Most likely more than the sum of the individual features.

      So even if it were technically possible to do what you want, it would be so expensive that nobody would buy it.

      --
      Confucius say, "Find worm in apple - bad. Find half a worm - worse."
    40. Re:Indeed. by Hognoxious · · Score: 1

      What color pony would you like?

      --
      Confucius say, "Find worm in apple - bad. Find half a worm - worse."
    41. Re:Indeed. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Because he's a moron. If he wasn't a moron he'd be able to see that he's a moron. Except if he wasn't a moron, he wouldn't be.

    42. Re:Indeed. by LordVader717 · · Score: 1

      Or the number of people who would buy such a device is so small it wouldn't be commercially viable.

      Possibly, but that's a very rash and generalized comment. Both screen size or even screen resolution are no limit for games or fun. Even devices like the iPhone or PSP always like to push the borders.
      This is an old and tired argument BTW. Like the people shouting "FullHD is too much", "FullHD is too much for screens smaller than 40''" or "60fps in enough for anyone" or "SNES graphics are enough for any handheld".
      Technology will continue to progress and people will continue to buy it.

    43. Re:Indeed. by h4rm0ny · · Score: 1


      This is going to sound like I'm being facetious, but I'm actually not. Try playing nethack when you travel. The hardware requirements are *a lot* lower and it'll drag you in just as Civ IV would. Yes, it's taking an approach of giving up and doing something else, but the end result - having fun playing a game on your available hardware - will be the same.

      --

      Aide-toi, le Ciel t'aidera - Jeanne D'Arc.
    44. Re:Indeed. by Pojut · · Score: 1

      I'm actually playing through Aarcanum on it (Haven't played Arcanum in years!), and Deus Ex runs great on there as well.

      --
      Living With a Nerd
    45. Re:Indeed. by Hognoxious · · Score: 1

      Possibly

      If I'm wrong then where are they all?

      but that's a very rash and generalized comment.

      One that reflects the observed facts.

      Both screen size or even screen resolution are no limit for games or fun. Even devices like the iPhone or PSP always like to push the borders.

      What's that got to do with anything? Do any games on those need the capabilities of a high-end graphics card?

      This is an old and tired argument BTW.

      No, it's a perfectly valid one - that a system is only as good as its weakest link. What use is something that can't be seen?

      It's like playing a thousand dollar amplifier through twenty buck speakers.

      --
      Confucius say, "Find worm in apple - bad. Find half a worm - worse."
    46. Re:Indeed. by LordVader717 · · Score: 1

      If I'm wrong then where are they all?

      You drew a fallacious conclusion. Just because it hasn't been tried doesn't mean there would be no market. The entire netbook boom is proof that this is a flawed assumption.

      One that reflects the observed facts.

      Not in the slightest.

      What's that got to do with anything? Do any games on those need the capabilities of a high-end graphics card?

      Um, yes. They use some of the latest in graphics architecture.
      If you mean a 200 Watt PCI-e card with active cooling, then no, that's ridiculous.

      No, it's a perfectly valid one - that a system is only as good as its weakest link.

      Another tired saying. A small screen is not a "weak link" and hardware is still a far way from the screen being the weakest link.

      What use is something that can't be seen?

      If you can't see a nine-inch screen I think you should get your eyes checked out.

      It's like playing a thousand dollar amplifier through twenty buck speakers.

      A strange analogy, but that's probably about the parts cost for standard speakers. Audiophiles who spend tens of grand on a speaker will probably disagree, but a thousand-dollar amplifier isn't exactly high-end either.

    47. Re:Indeed. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Why are you so fucking annoying with this man? really, your "needs" are not really needs for anyone in the industry you're just a troll, if you're watching a movie why would you be playing stuff at the same time anyway? Do you also flush constantly the toiled while you are bathing? WTF! I bet you can even get this mythical device and week after You just will toss it under the cum filled socks in your basement. What a jerk, you're a clear example of an Unwarranted Self-Important person, a precious little snowflake.

    48. Re:Indeed. by Calinous · · Score: 1

      I've heard that nearing the end of large worlds, gaming is CPU-bound (at least during end-of-turn events). So, you might want to look for a small CULV (Core Ultra Low Voltage) laptop...
      http://www.anandtech.com/mobile/showdoc.aspx?i=3735
            Typically you'll have 11" displays with 768 lines on a CULV, and probably 1024by600 on a typical netbook. However, you'll pay more for a CULV, the CULV is bigger and has (usually) a lower battery life.

    49. Re:Indeed. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Audiophiles who spend tens of grand on a speaker will probably disagree

      With what? That it makes no sense all to put a good (it may not be high end to the oxygen free crowd, but a grand will buy you a decent amp) into cheapo speakers?

    50. Re:Indeed. by ckaminski · · Score: 1

      My ideal device is an iPod touch like device that I can use on the go, and fit in my pocket. Then when I need to go data collecting, or need more road-power, I dock it into a tablet or laptop and transfer my apps seamlessly. Then when I get back to the home office, I plug it into my desktop, and get those same apps, seamlessly, without ever having to migrate data.

      That's my ideal device.

      It's not impossible - it may be impractical - but that's what I want. I'm sick of dealing with all of my computers being different builds of my perfect working environment, with my data scattered all over hell and gone.

  2. You can't really revolutionise the netbook market by CdBee · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Anything sufficiently different to be radical (in either a good or bad way) won't be considered a netbook.

    --
    I have been a user for about 10 years. This ends Feb 2014. The site's been ruined. I'm off. Dice, FU
  3. Interesting... by wernercd · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Thing looks remarkable. If it works as advertised, the main thing I'd want to know is what operating system runs on it?

    1. Re:Interesting... by sammyF70 · · Score: 4, Insightful

      First it will run with a completely user-unfriendly Linux distribution (Linpus, I'm looking at you!), then people will complain about it, Asus will increase the specs and the price massively and will only sell the Win7 edition. The few who bought the original edition will tell everybody that they tried Linux and that it's complete crap without trying some *real* distro, and websites around the world will laud the new win7 edition as much better, and a proof that Linux is not fit for the desktop. Apple will then show off their new product (the iBalls) which will have less feature than anything else, will be so locked it won't be of any use whatsoever, but will have shiny glossy metal, and everyone will announce the death of the Wave Light Devices.

      been there, done that

      --
      "DRM is like the Ford Pinto: it's a smooth ride, right up the point at which it explodes and ruins your day."-C.Doctorow
    2. Re:Interesting... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It would be funny, if it wasn't so true...

    3. Re:Interesting... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      ...but will have shiny glossy metal,...

      Read in Homer Simpson voice...

      Oooo! Shiney glossy metal! I'll TAKE IT!

    4. Re:Interesting... by PopeRatzo · · Score: 1

      First it will run with a completely user-unfriendly Linux distribution

      My daughter's EEEpc runs Ubuntu just fine.

      --
      You are welcome on my lawn.
    5. Re:Interesting... by sammyF70 · · Score: 1

      yeah, but did it have Ubuntu on it by default? (As a sidenote, I'm running Mint on my AA1 and very happy with it. The "original" distro was Linpus, which is one of the most aptly named distros I know of. The whole association with sickness and disease is very fitting.)

      --
      "DRM is like the Ford Pinto: it's a smooth ride, right up the point at which it explodes and ruins your day."-C.Doctorow
    6. Re:Interesting... by Nemyst · · Score: 4, Informative

      The original EEE PC ran Xandros, which was arguably a very bad decision...

    7. Re:Interesting... by element-o.p. · · Score: 1

      but did it have Ubuntu on it by default?

      My Mini9 did. Granted, it was a slightly modified version of Ubuntu (a few packages were missing from the package manager), but it worked well enough that it was several months before I decided to install the full-blown version of 9.10. Even then, I doubt that any users that don't already have a favorite Linux distro would miss the things (openSSH server, for one) that lead me to install the full version of Ubuntu.

      --
      MCSE? No, sir...I don't do Windows. Yes, I am an idealist. What's your point?
    8. Re:Interesting... by evilviper · · Score: 1

      and websites around the world will laud the new win7 edition as much better, and a proof that Linux is not fit for the desktop.

      The media, tech-oriented or otherwise, does not report that Windows is more user-friendly than Linux because they tried it and didn't like it... Oh no. They would happily report the exact opposite if some nice compelling, fluff-filled press release said it was so.

      Marketing and advertising exists to bend people into believing the narrative you want them to believe. If you're a huge company, and you have to sell a newer, more expensive product, you'll latch onto any changed detail you can and try to mold it into a compelling reason for people to look at your product again, or even re-buy one.

      Make no mistake, the company could be discontinuing the most amazing flying car, and replacing it with a Pinto, and they'd have the press gushing that their new car uses half as much gas, and is much more easier to drive (than flying) and their customers kept reporting that they missed getting stuck in traffic, and requested that "feature" once again...

      --
      Slashdot gets worse every day... Pipedot: News for nerds, without the corporate slant
    9. Re:Interesting... by Beardo+the+Bearded · · Score: 1

      Pfft, my netbook is a P2 366 Thinkpad running Mint.

      --

      ---
      ECHELON is a government program to find words like bomb, jihad, plutonium, assassinate, and anarchy.
    10. Re:Interesting... by Wordplay · · Score: 1

      It was worse than that. It wasn't so much that it ran Xandros as that it ran a hacked-together Eee variant of Xandros. The Eee package repository was rarely updated, and you could never be sure that something you got from the Xandros or Debian repos wouldn't have some library conflict that'd totally hose your box. 80+% of stuff was safe, but things that touched X11 or KDE/Gnome libraries were fraught with danger.

      if it'd been standard Xandros plus a couple of drivers or something, it would've been much better.

    11. Re:Interesting... by PReDiToR · · Score: 1

      T22 (ThinkPad P3/900) running Arch here.

      But we are geeks. Lots of people (my wife included) are still using the OS that came with their netbooks (we have an EEE 4G each, mine has Arch on it, hers is still that AWFUL Xandros mess).

      But for those people who wanted to change it but couldn't, the device is probably still resting in a drawer somewhere.

      --

      Do not meddle in the affairs of geeks for they are subtle and quick to anger
    12. Re:Interesting... by indi0144 · · Score: 1

      How it's Mint on old Thinkpads?? I have Mandriva on my A21 and it's pretty good but I'd like to get back to APT. Did you stripped down something from Mint? especial NetInstall? Lite version?

    13. Re:Interesting... by Beardo+the+Bearded · · Score: 1

      Aw, nuts. I brainfarted. It's running Puppy. (Which is the same distro as my kids' computer.)

      --

      ---
      ECHELON is a government program to find words like bomb, jihad, plutonium, assassinate, and anarchy.
    14. Re:Interesting... by bill_mcgonigle · · Score: 1

      yeah. And over time a factory clean install would fill up the disk trying to run updates to get current. Only 2GB or so on those. UNR to the rescue.

      --
      My God, it's Full of Source!
      OUTSIDE_IP=$(dig +short my.ip @outsideip.net)
  4. Just remove the pc! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Insightful

    The "Waveface Light," a new concept laptop can be used as a conventional laptop or converted to a tablet by removing the pc and opening it to a completely flat position.

    run that by me again

    1. Re:Just remove the pc! by TheKidWho · · Score: 1

      I think they meant removing the keyboard.

    2. Re:Just remove the pc! by Haxamanish · · Score: 4, Informative

      TFA reads: remove the keyboard.
      From the pictures it even seems the screen can be rolled up when the keyboard has been removed.

    3. Re:Just remove the pc! by Chad+Birch · · Score: 1

      Only the first two pictures are relevant to the Waveface Light, which is the netbook that opens into a tablet. The next two are for the Waveface Ultra, some sort of flexible phone.

      But yes, it should be "by removing the keyboard", not "by removing the PC". What does that even mean?

      --
      Sturgeon was an optimist.
    4. Re:Just remove the pc! by martas · · Score: 1

      lol, trust me, if it could be rolled up like that, you'd already seen geeks partying in the streets by now... that tech is still several years away, though i am looking forward to having a "tablet" that looks like a floppy sheet of [clear] plastic with some ding-dong at the end that'll do the computing and all. i think it'll happen within the next 10-15 years.

      --
      weinersmith
  5. Re:You can't really revolutionise (well..) by padrepio · · Score: 1

    In response I can see Apple introducing: the iSheet....

  6. Always Innovating by FlyingBishop · · Score: 2, Interesting

    So they've ripped off the Always Innovating Tablet and are calling it their idea?

    And somehow I don't think the Always Innovating tablet was the first.

    1. Re:Always Innovating by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Tablet laptops have been around since like 2003:
      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compaq_TC1000

      I had one of those several years ago. You could remove the keyboard and play Simcity 4 with the digitizer pen. The handwriting recognition was killer for taking notes, something resistive and capacitive screens can't do since they're both finger-activated.

    2. Re:Always Innovating by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Except that Asus's doesn't look like a piece of shit?

    3. Re:Always Innovating by b0bby · · Score: 1

      No, because the big difference is that the keyboard on this thing was sitting on top of the continuation of the screen, so when you remove it your screen real estate just doubled. Of course, it's a design concept anyway, and until affordable flexible displays are available it will remain so.

    4. Re:Always Innovating by natehoy · · Score: 1

      Umm, did you look at the pictures of this new "tablet/netbook"? Always Innovating has a nice-looking detachable screen, agreed, but the WaveFace is something... completely different.

      The screen covers both the top and bottom halves of the clamshell, and it's one continuous flexible screen. If you want to use it as a tablet, you lay it out flat then lift out the keyboard, resulting in a tablet that's more than double the size of Always Innovating's offering (which is, after all, just a netbook you can unplug the screen from).

      The WaveFace, on the downside, looks like it'll be incredibly fragile, and there's not as much room for storage, battery, and, well, you know, useful bits. But it is extraordinarily different.

      Their other item is a flexible long-narrow screen that is like a stretched-out iPhone, but it can be wrapped around your wrist to use like a watch, or rolled out flat to use like an iPod Touch, or folded in half to use like a phone. Again, looks fragile to the point of silly, but Asus certainly can't be accused of being boring.

      --
      "This post contains words, known to the State of California to cause thought. Wash brain thoroughly after reading."
    5. Re:Always Innovating by TheKidWho · · Score: 1

      I don't think your looking hard enough, it's quite a bit different then that "always innovating" tablet.

    6. Re:Always Innovating by Nemyst · · Score: 1

      Oh give me a break. That looks like a ThinkPad from 1995. That Waveface project has a detachable keyboard that covers a flexible touchscreen panel. You can roll it up if you want! From the tech demos, it also seems much larger than 8.9".

    7. Re:Always Innovating by Mr.+DOS · · Score: 1

      AFAIK, the Compaq TC1000 (followed by the HP Compaq TC1100) was the first.

    8. Re:Always Innovating by Idbar · · Score: 1

      I would gladly clarify this for you, but the link provided in TFA, is a big mess, and I have no clue what belongs to what. There are some interesting concepts on the pictures though. But really, I didn't understand, they even have some pictures of their tablet T91 I think.

    9. Re:Always Innovating by Nukenin · · Score: 1

      So they've ripped off the Always Innovating Tablet and are calling it their idea?

      No. Read the article or just look at the pretty pictures.

    10. Re:Always Innovating by dotancohen · · Score: 1

      Thanks, I never heard of that device! I just tried to order one ($400 is reasonable for the model with keyboard) however they have _every_single_ country on their list except Israel. They even have the Palestinian Territories listed, so logistics is not the issue. Too bad, I would have really liked one.

      --
      It is dangerous to be right when the government is wrong.
    11. Re:Always Innovating by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      LOL suck it up, jew

    12. Re:Always Innovating by ckaminski · · Score: 1

      That's what makes the iPad a non-starter for me. No pen input.

    13. Re:Always Innovating by dotancohen · · Score: 1

      MOD PARENT UP.
      I had not considered sucking it up, but now that I'm sucking I feel so much better about myself. Thanks!

      --
      It is dangerous to be right when the government is wrong.
  7. Re:You can't really revolutionise (well..) by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    In response I can see Apple introducing: the iSheet....

    Casper would claim prior art.

    . . . not that that ever stopped Apple or the USPTO before.

  8. Re:You can't really revolutionise (well..) by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Just think about the wonderful puns we'll get from that product.

  9. Re:You can't really revolutionise (well..) by bobdotorg · · Score: 1

    In response I can see Apple introducing: the iSheet....

    Or possibly the EeePad.

    --
    __ Someday, but not this morning, I'll finally learn to use the preview button.
  10. Operating system by mederbil · · Score: 0

    I think what would revolutionize the netbook the most is a better OS. Nothing too bulky like Windows, too simple like Xandros or too complicated for entry users like Eebuntu. A clean and useful Linux operating system that comes pre-installed would be revolutionary for netbooks.

    1. Re:Operating system by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      What would be revolutionary about installing an OS on netbooks that no one wants?

    2. Re:Operating system by Pojut · · Score: 1

      It's a shame that, even after being stripped down with vLite, Windows 7 is still so huge. It runs REALLY REALLY smoothly on netbooks (even lower powered ones), but the amount of storage space it commands is just too much.

      --
      Living With a Nerd
    3. Re:Operating system by nxtw · · Score: 1

      Nothing too bulky like Windows, too simple like Xandros or too complicated for entry users like Eebuntu.

      Windows XP is lightweight compared to a modern Gnome or KDE system.

    4. Re:Operating system by nxtw · · Score: 1

      Storage isn't a problem when netbooks come with 2.5" SATA disks.

    5. Re:Operating system by h4rr4r · · Score: 1

      Then they are not decent netbooks. If it has a moving part I do not want it. Nothing is as durable cheaply nor as battery efficient as a netbook with no moving parts.

    6. Re:Operating system by h4rr4r · · Score: 1

      LXDE solves that problem.

    7. Re:Operating system by Pojut · · Score: 1

      Nowadays sure, but those of us with older ones (like a Dell Mini 9) are a bit limited in our storage options. I'm not paying 1/3rd of what I paid for the machine just to upgrade the storage space to a reasonable level, know what I mean?

      I know that purchasing any netbook at this point would make this problem moot, but there are still netbooks out there that are fully functional with a lot of life left in them where storage is an expensive commodity. Being a Mini 9 owner is where my perspective comes from...it would be nice to get something newer, but my money is needed elsewhere at the moment -_-;;

      --
      Living With a Nerd
    8. Re:Operating system by nxtw · · Score: 1

      Then they are not decent netbooks. If it has a moving part I do not want it. Nothing is as durable cheaply nor as battery efficient as a netbook with no moving parts.

      Your preferences differ from the millions who purchase netbooks with fans and hard disks.

    9. Re:Operating system by mrclisdue · · Score: 2, Funny

      I believe this has been attempted many times in the past, but when the users fire up their netbooks a few times only to find that everything still *just works*, and that there's no malware, there are no viruses, no unpatched or delay-patched exploits, they freak and ask for their *windows* back.

      Being users finally "in control" of their systems only speeds up their return to lemminghood.

      The revolution happened long ago - it's the self-professed Windows experts who've become immovable.

      cheers,

    10. Re:Operating system by Pojut · · Score: 1

      I agree with the parent poster...I LOVE that my netbook has no moving parts and runs silently.

      --
      Living With a Nerd
    11. Re:Operating system by element-o.p. · · Score: 1

      No thanks. I'll stick with Ubuntu on my Mini-9 and SSD drive. I have more storage than I need, no moving parts, a battery that lasts for-frigging-ever and no heads to impact the platters if I drop the netbook while it's on.

      --
      MCSE? No, sir...I don't do Windows. Yes, I am an idealist. What's your point?
    12. Re:Operating system by element-o.p. · · Score: 1

      There are millions who don't know the difference, other than price. If my wife saw two identical-looking machines, one with an SSD drive, the other with a 2.5" SATA drive, she wouldn't even consider the difference in durability or battery life. She would complain about both things later, but at purchase time, she would go with the less expensive option (BTDT).

      --
      MCSE? No, sir...I don't do Windows. Yes, I am an idealist. What's your point?
    13. Re:Operating system by element-o.p. · · Score: 1

      How much storage does yours have? My Mini-9 came with 32G of storage, of which I am currently using 52%, even after copying a bunch of crap to it. 'Course, I don't play the games you've mentioned above...

      --
      MCSE? No, sir...I don't do Windows. Yes, I am an idealist. What's your point?
    14. Re:Operating system by h4rr4r · · Score: 1

      Those are the folks that don't know any better. They often buy garbage.

    15. Re:Operating system by h4rr4r · · Score: 1

      I have one of those, buy a freaking SDHC card.

    16. Re:Operating system by element-o.p. · · Score: 1

      BlackBox is really lightweight. It's what I run on my dinosaur 700MHz Celeron desktop at home (yeah, I pretty much always use a laptop or netbook any more). OTOH, I wouldn't give it to someone who's never used Linux before.

      --
      MCSE? No, sir...I don't do Windows. Yes, I am an idealist. What's your point?
    17. Re:Operating system by Pojut · · Score: 1

      I have an 8 gig Class 6 SDHC in there currently, and it's been great.

      My SSD, however, is also an 8 gig. The cost of upgrading the SSD is about equal to upgrading to a larger SDHC. And before you ask, it was a gift, which is why I didn't get it with more internal storage in the first place.

      --
      Living With a Nerd
    18. Re:Operating system by DragonWriter · · Score: 1

      There are millions who don't know the difference, other than price.

      And plenty of us that do. Personally, all other things being equal, I'd prefer an SSD on a netbook, but all other things aren't equal.

      IMO, though, a netbook is more defined by having a clamshell form factor, being ultraportable (a combination of screen size of about 12" or less, being thinner than most laptops, and low weight) and having battery life for 6+ hours of continuous operation than by the particular technology used to acheive those goals.

    19. Re:Operating system by Pojut · · Score: 1

      It came with the 8 gig SSD -_-;; It was a gift though...so..you know...free is good :-)

      I don't need the increased storage for the games (I have an 8 gig Class 6 SDHC in there, which holds whatever I'm currently playing), I need the increased storage because there is only about a gig of free space even after cutting down Windows 7 with vLite. Even just a 16 gig SSD would be more than enough, I just haven't done it.

      --
      Living With a Nerd
    20. Re:Operating system by Enderandrew · · Score: 1

      Windows XP with no apps is a little lightweight compared to KDE bundled with countless KDE apps in total disc space.

      --
      http://blindscribblings.com - Tasty pop-culture in conceptual fashion.
    21. Re:Operating system by nxtw · · Score: 1

      There are millions who don't know the difference,

      I'm aware of the difference, and I chose a much bigger and faster hard disk.

    22. Re:Operating system by toastar · · Score: 1

      Then they are not decent netbooks. If it has a moving part I do not want it. Nothing is as durable cheaply nor as battery efficient as a netbook with no moving parts.

      Your preferences differ from the millions who purchase netbooks with fans and hard disks.

      Also Lots of people like watching DVD's on the go.

    23. Re:Operating system by h4rr4r · · Score: 1

      Your OS is too big, try another.

    24. Re:Operating system by h4rr4r · · Score: 1

      As do I and via the magic of x264 you can store an entire DVD in less than 1GB of harddrive space.

    25. Re:Operating system by element-o.p. · · Score: 1

      Free is indeed good :)

      --
      MCSE? No, sir...I don't do Windows. Yes, I am an idealist. What's your point?
    26. Re:Operating system by element-o.p. · · Score: 1

      Point taken. I'm the last one to say one size fits all, and I suspect that most of the people on /. are savvy enough to weigh the pros and cons of SSD vs. 2.5" SATA drive. I was just arguing that a lot of technical decisions are made by non-technical people solely on the basis of cost, without considering what that additional cost is buying.

      --
      MCSE? No, sir...I don't do Windows. Yes, I am an idealist. What's your point?
    27. Re:Operating system by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      e17 is better in my opinion, but you're right. The flexibility of gnu/linux allows it to run on just about any device. My experience is that KDE 3.5.x is still more lightweight than XP, and 4.x is only marginally larger in resources consumed after nepomuk and krunner are killed and without widgets running.

  11. OLPC in Uruguay by aBaldrich · · Score: 1

    They already use a tablet-laptop (image) and every child in every school has one.
    Yeah, old news, is so exciting.

    --
    In soviet russia the government regulates the companies.
    1. Re:OLPC in Uruguay by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Too spick; didn't read.

  12. Full Size by Entropy98 · · Score: 1

    I think they'd sell a lot more if they made these full size.

    Theres no reason you can't put an atom chip in a laptop with a 14 inch screen and a real keyboard.

    I suspect the only reason this isn't happening is because Intel would be cannibalizing their "real" laptop sales.

  13. Innovating doesnt mean what we think it does by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I saw this with the Lenovo U1 and thought this was the only way I would buy a tablet.
    I also saw on Liliputing aroudnd the same time, an asian sub 200$ version, block and ugly but definitely the same tablet/netbook combo.

    So 'new concept', 'innnovating' is basically Slashdottese for "our editors dont bother to do research".

    Nice to know that things never change around here.

    BTW, 'Shown above is the Waveface Light, a concept laptop design' means its a concept or vapourware.

    The U1 is out this spring.

    Light is this years new 'open' it seems
    Skylight is the U1 and Waveface Light is the ASUS one.

    Dont get me wrong, a convertible tablet slash netbook (or laptop like the U1) is the way to go but innovative?
    No.

  14. It is flexible. Bendable to be precise. by denzacar · · Score: 3, Informative

    See the videos below:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oTmzBsx6p_I

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ceHb98Ri4BE

    --
    Mit der Dummheit kämpfen Götter selbst vergebens
    1. Re:It is flexible. Bendable to be precise. by textstring · · Score: 1

      I know this is all vaporware design shit but part of that first video for the future-watch says it has gesture control. This is totally cool. If you had a smart watch that covered the lower wrist couldn't you use sensors to read tendons? I might actually wear a watch if I could type on it like an old school chord-board.

    2. Re:It is flexible. Bendable to be precise. by CopaceticOpus · · Score: 1

      Bendable screens will be excellent if they come to market, because they will allow for a trifold display. It wouldn't actually fold on the ends, but it would make two tight bends. This will finally give a screen that is very portable but not tiny.

      The other possibility is a roll-out display.

  15. iSheet by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Don't worry we can clean that up with an iPad.

  16. A step in the right direction, but... by Whuffo · · Score: 1

    I'm waiting for the "convertible" laptop / netbook that has the electronics package behind the screen and all that's in the keyboard part is the keyboard and maybe an optical drive or two. With the two pieces together it'd be just like what we have now - or you could detach the screen and use it as a fully featured tablet. Best of both worlds - but there's some engineering to do before this can become a real product.

    1. Re:A step in the right direction, but... by lkcl · · Score: 1

      http://alwaysinnovating.com/ touchbook. removable keyboard has an extra battery, just to make the $100 pricetag for that extra bit worthwhile.

    2. Re:A step in the right direction, but... by itsme1234 · · Score: 1

      We already had it:
      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HP_Compaq_TC1100
      Keep in mind we're talking about 5+ years ago - people are still using them. With bluetooth&wifi&Pentium-M&1024x768 it was a decent netbook well before first official netbook. However there WAS something wrong with it: probably the price was around (above?) $2000.

    3. Re:A step in the right direction, but... by Whuffo · · Score: 1

      Did you ever try to use one of those? We tried using them at a previous employer and got nothing but complaints from the people evaluating them. The battery life was miserable (90 minutes if you're lucky) and the flimsy casing started shedding flaps and doors as soon as you unpacked it. But the biggest problems was that they were a little too heavy and quite difficult to hold and use while walking around - leading to frequent drops to the floor which was murder on hard drives and screens. Even if they would have been more durable that short run time on battery prevented them from being used for the purpose they were intended for. Batteries usually lasted an hour and the charger took four hours to recharge it. So for an eight hour shift you'd need a bunch of battery packs and standalone chargers to support each one.

      The price was reasonable for the time; back then a good laptop cost that much or more. I think the biggest flaw in their design was that they tried to minimize the size and weight by using extra-thin plastic for the casings. A hand-held tablet needs to be somewhat rugged and those were very, very fragile. If you used it as a fancy laptop then it'd hold up OK - in the field the life expectancy was measured in single-digit days.

  17. What is the Price Point? by Attila+Dimedici · · Score: 1

    My question is what is the price point for this machine?

    --
    The truth is that all men having power ought to be mistrusted. James Madison
    1. Re:What is the Price Point? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      My question is what is the price point for this machine?

      The price of this concept machine in concept dollars is whatever you choose to imagine it to be. Why are people talking about this thing as if it's real enough to have a price?

  18. !new by lkcl · · Score: 2, Informative

    it's an innovative "new" concept, that has been shipping for several months, in the form of the http://alwaysinnovating.com/ touchbook

    1. Re:!new by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The innovation is that Asus's version doesn't look like a piece of shit.

    2. Re:!new by tirerim · · Score: 1

      The innovation is that in this case, the screen is twice the size, but half of it is covered by the keyboard when it's attached. The screen itself is flexible -- you fold the entire thing in half, with no hinge.

    3. Re:!new by dotancohen · · Score: 1

      Thanks, I never heard of that device! I just tried to order one ($400 is reasonable for the model with keyboard) however they have _every_single_ country on their list except Israel. They even have the Palestinian Territories listed, so logistics is not the issue. Too bad, I would have really liked one. I'm still lugging my 3 year old Dell Inspiron around, waiting for the perfect replacement...

      --
      It is dangerous to be right when the government is wrong.
  19. eComStation... by lwriemen · · Score: 1

    ...if they'd ever release v2.

  20. Concept? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Does "concept" laptop mean one that doesn't exist, or is there more to it than that?

    1. Re:Concept? by h4rr4r · · Score: 1

      It's like a concept car, meaning it looks cool but is probably just a mockup. Plus like a concept car it will never make it into production most likely.

    2. Re:Concept? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      So like vaporware, but less substantial?

    3. Re:Concept? by _argonauta · · Score: 1

      I would assume that it being the CeBIT it is either a working prototype or a mock-up

      Image of the open laptop: http://bit.ly/bjURNV

    4. Re:Concept? by h4rr4r · · Score: 1

      Exactly.

    5. Re:Concept? by pushing-robot · · Score: 1

      Definitely a mock-up. ASUS has no idea when it might become a real product. You can hear it straight from them.

      --
      How can I believe you when you tell me what I don't want to hear?
  21. Lenovo has something similar... by Drethon · · Score: 2, Informative

    Though no screen under the keyboard (if I understood the ASUS article right). http://www.crunchgear.com/2010/01/04/lenovos-u1-is-a-netbook-with-removable-tablet/

  22. Design priming function by vikingpower · · Score: 1

    Any time a hardware maker let design come before function, wonderful things came out, that wrote history. Computers: look at Apple. Cars: look at Saab. Aircraft: look at the Concorde. Go Asus go !

    --
    Religous speak to God. Insane are spoken to by God. When all shut up, one can finally hear Shostakovich in peace
    1. Re:Design priming function by AP31R0N · · Score: 2, Insightful

      My sarcasmometer must be on the fritz. Did you mean this to be funny?

      --
      Utilizing the synergization of benchmark e-solutions to pre-workaround action items!
  23. Flexible by wonkavader · · Score: 1

    OK, a couple of things in the article and the youtube videos referenced in comments above imply (or directly state) that at least one of these objects has a flexible screen.

    Anybody seen anything flex here? In the video it's all static and under glass so that people can't touch it, and the photos are completely static of course.

    Are they touting a new tech or did I miss a big announcement of commonly available flexible displays?

    1. Re:Flexible by h4rr4r · · Score: 1

      It's a concept, the things they are showing are mockups. Do you think concept cars actually work?

    2. Re:Flexible by Nemyst · · Score: 1

      Unless they're utterly lying, you can see in one of the videos given by this poster a wrist-attached smartphone that's both shown on the wrist and deployed flat. I'm unsure whether they have the actual technology figured out or if this is still at the concept stage, but it is most likely that at the very least they plan on having a flexible and somehow "lockable" smartphone available some time in the future (I say lockable because it should stay attached to your wrist once there, so it might be possible to control the flexibility of the device so it becomes rigid when wrapped on your wrist).

      I do know that OLED screens are flexible; with properly designed components it may be possible to create such a device.

  24. concept by pbjones · · Score: 1

    don't you hate the phrase 'design concept', almost as much as people who believe that they will look like the production version, if they ever get to production.

    --
    There was an unknown error in the submission.
    1. Re:concept by 6Yankee · · Score: 1

      You should probably stay away from my work, then. There's a poster up in the coffee lounge with the heading - I kid you not - "CONCEPT MASTERPLAN VISION".

      It's been up for several years and, as far as I can tell, is no closer to reality. The architects' drawings are ooh shiny, though.

  25. Not impressed by this but by EnsilZah · · Score: 1

    I really don't see the point of detachable screen, detachable keyboard thing.
    The swivel lid tablet laptops seem to work fine if you just want the screen and If weight is the issue I wouldn't want to leave the keyboard at home and then regret it later.

    What did impress me was the DR-900 reader.
    I've been waiting for a paperback replacement for a while and this seems like it for me.
    The specs I found are 10,000 pages turns, 1024 x 768 resolution, 4GB internal storage plus an SD slot,PDF/TXT/ePUB/HTML.
    Now if they can only sell it for $200 or less.

    1. Re:Not impressed by this but by h4rr4r · · Score: 1

      10,000 pages turns for the battery or the life of the display?

      If that is display life then it sucks, battery not too bad.

  26. Re:You can't really revolutionise (well..) by treeves · · Score: 1

    No, iSheet you not.

    --
    ...the future crusty old bastards are already drinking the Kool-Aid.
  27. Re:You can't really revolutionise the netbook mark by rrohbeck · · Score: 1

    Right now I read and browse mostly on an eeePC 1005. If they made a slim, really low power netbook with an e-Ink display on the outside of the lid I'd buy one right away.
    Keep it closed and you have an e-Ink based reader. Open it and you have a full fledged netbook.

    --
    thegodmovie.com - watch it
  28. This is it! by tthomas48 · · Score: 1

    Too cool. I think this might be the kitchen computer I've been waiting for! If I could prop it up in lots of different configurations based on where I need to use it (hang it on the wall over the oven, make a ^ and prop it up next to my cooking, lay it flat on the counter).

    Then if I could roll it up and take it into the living room as universal remote...

  29. I'm more interested... by Lisandro · · Score: 1

    ...on ASUSsebook reader featured on the same page. Looks great, and if it's offered at a reasonable price (like most ASUS offerings are) it could well ignite the ebook market just as the Eee Pc did with the netbook one.

  30. hogu by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    http://alwaysinnovating.com/home/index.htm

    is it different than this?

  31. !!new by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    are you too lazy to even look at the pictures? The Asus device is nothing like the alwaysinnovating touchbook.

  32. Quality Control by Garrett+Fox · · Score: 1

    Before rolling out revolutionary new products, Asus should work on its product quality and service. I'm writing this on the replacement eeePC they sent me after around five months and four service trips for the lemon they sold me.

    --
    Revive the Constitution.
  33. Netbook = Buzzword by Oceanplexian · · Score: 1

    Anything sufficiently different to be radical (in either a good or bad way) won't be considered a netbook.

    I think everyone misses the point of a netbook (or the original purpose before it became mainstream). A netbook is supposed to be inexpensive, power efficient and portable.

    You can't make an expensive netbook with a lot of features and a bigger screen, it just becomes another laptop.

  34. What does "concept" mean? by migla · · Score: 1

    I have a concept too:

      How about a flexible, holographic resistive and capacitative 3d touchscreen on all sides of the netbook, that you can mould into exactly any shape you like. Wouldn't that be cool?

    In other words: What is a concept design worth? TFA doesn't say they have anything working, does it?

    --
    Some of my favourite people are from th US; Vonnegut, Chomsky, Bill Hicks.