Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Early Look At Acer's Iconia Dual Touchscreen Device

Posted by Soulskill on from the inconvenience-of-a-table-with-the-weight-of-a-laptop dept.

iONiUM sends in news of an early glimpse at Acer's upcoming Iconia laptop, on which they've replaced the keyboard area with a second 14" display that accepts multi-touch input. "The upright display acts as the primary display, while the display that remains parallel with the surface generally serves as a navigation panel, alternatively displaying a roomy on-screen keyboard, a touch-wheel and other on-screen touch controls, or even an extension of what's displayed on the primary display. The latter option effectively provides a dual-monitor mobile device for presentations or studying complex spreadsheets across both monitors, or viewing one document in one monitor, and another on the second monitor. The two monitors make the Iconia a hefty device — at 6.1 pounds it's unlikely to be the device you throw in your bag for your commute." Engadget has some pictures and a video of the device.

6 of 68 comments (clear)

  1. Well... by Tobenisstinky · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Great, like the iPad but with the awkwardness of a laptop.

    --
    wha'? where am i?
    1. Re:Well... by grahamlord86 · · Score: 4, Insightful

      I'm not so sure... The problem with Tablets and touchscreen phones is that while you have the freedom of having a custom input (virtual keyboard, handwriting recognition, virtual gamepad...), the input interface and your hands get in the way of what's on the screen.

      Most smart phones loose the best part of half the display as soon as the virtual keyboard is visible.

      The twin-touchscreens allow you to have the freedom of custom input that can change to be anything you want, but even if you cover the lower screen with a full size keyboard (which might be the first virtual keyboard not to suck), you still have a completely clear upper screen to look at.

    2. Re:Well... by dfghjk · · Score: 3, Insightful

      By sarcastically repeating the inane criticism offered in the article? How is 6.1 pounds heavy? It's lighter than a Macbook Pro 17 despite considerably more screen. It's only 1/2 pound heavier than a MBP 15 despite nearly double the screen space. 6 pounds has never been heavy for a notebook.

  2. Re:They've instantly alienated two groups... by BigDXLT · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Yup. Smartphone and Ipad users are being trained to type on touch screens so this will naturally be aimed at them. Can't stand typing anything on touchscreens myself, I needs me some tactile feedback, but there's another generation of kids who never watched Star Trek TNG that are going to be able to actually use smooth glass panels for input.

    I almost envy them.

    Almost.

  3. keyboard bumps on the touchscreen by aclarke · · Score: 3, Insightful

    On a touchscreen like this that can be used for a keyboard, I wonder if they considered putting bumps on the glass panel where the F and J key go. It seems to me that that might help touch typing quite a bit on a touch keyboard, while not being terribly annoying when used for other purposes.

    --

    www.clarke.ca
  4. Re:They've instantly alienated two groups... by Haeleth · · Score: 3, Funny

    Yes, Star Trek had an awesome user interface. It's called "plot". You push whatever you feel like, and the computer automatically does whatever the script says should happen next. Sadly I don't think even Apple has quite that level of control over its users' lives yet. ;)