Ask Slashdot: Instead of a Laptop, a Tiny Computer and Projector?

rover42 writes "I travel a lot, usually on a tight budget and often on airlines with tight luggage weight restrictions and high fees for going over, so traveling light is very important to me. So is connecting to the net when traveling, which creates a conflict. I do not trust machines in Internet cafes and my laptop adds significant weight & bulk to my luggage. I could buy a small netbook or a MacBook Air, but is there another choice? There are quite a few tiny computers available, Raspberry Pi and the like. Alone, they don't solve my problem because you need a screen and that is at least as heavy as a laptop. However, there are also quite a few tiny projectors. Would a tiny computer plus a tiny projector do the trick? Which ones? All I need for software is some open source Unix (any *BSD or Linux distro should be fine, or even Minix), a browser and an editor. I don't need large storage or a fast CPU. Has anyone done something like this? Does anyone have a recommendation for either the computer or the projector?"

Comments

This is a terrible idea

[Anonymous Coward]

A computer is more than a cpu and a screen. It's also a keyboard, and mouse. Do you plan to cart those around? If you want a projector, just buy the Air or other ultrabook, and buy a projector.

Re:This is a terrible idea

[im_thatoneguy]

This. I can hardly imagine how terrible it would be.

1) Projectors don't work in daylight so you won't be able to see your screen.
2) Projectors need a nice flat white surface... good luck finding one.
3) Keyboards and Mice are huge and unwieldy.
4) What do you use to power it? I've made home-made auxiliary batteries and they're messy ugly and a PITA.

Just buy a cheap ultrabook or netbook.

Re:This is a terrible idea

[Anonymous Coward]

No, the issue is that while this is possible to do, it's a terrible idea. If we do get projection touch control stuff, and we do get better projectors, then this may be workable. But today? No, it's not, and he's just asking for a difficult time to trying to manage it. He'd be lugging around 4 pieces of equipment minimum that he'd need to connect together, just to avoid a super lightweight and small laptop? Really?

Re:This is a terrible idea

[DocJohn]

It's an example of a person over-thinking the problem, considering the multiple solutions already available --

- Netbook or Air
- Tablet or iPad
- Smartphone
- Small and light laptop

Seriously, once you add in all the miscellaneous nonsense you'll need to deal with in getting such a homebrew solution to work, it just isn't worth it. Because, after all, isn't your time worth something? Great, take your hourly rate and times it by how much you're spending researching homebrew solutions and then actually getting something to work to your satisfaction.

Any business traveler who doesn't know how to pack light should instead invest in some time learning how to pack light. I carry a netbook and carry-on internationally and it's never been a problem, weight-wise or otherwise.

Re:This is a terrible idea

[icebraining]

take your hourly rate and times it by how much you're spending researching homebrew solutions and then actually getting something to work to your satisfaction.

Where do you people work where you can decide for yourselves that you'll just spend a couple more hours working and charge for it? Most people have a fixed salary, possible with overtime if it's needed, but that's it. Their hours outside of their fixed working time are probably worth a pittance.

Now, I fully understand that paying money to save time makes perfect sense, but that's because I value my leisure, not because it makes economical sense.

Re:This is a terrible idea

[vivian]

Instead of a projector, i'd suggest a head mounted display.

these guys http://www.siliconmicrodisplay.com/st1080-features.html have finally answered my question of 3 years ago:
http://hardware.slashdot.org/story/09/05/19/1734244/where-are-the-high-res-head-mounted-displays
and come up with a wearable display that is lightweight, uses 7 watts, and most importantly is apparently true 1600x1080p x 2 (ie stereo view) in a package that only looks slightly dorky instead of the full face brick / helmet thing that had been the only option before that for this kind of resolution.
with 10% transparency option, you can still see through it enough to see that virtual keyboard and your surroundings.
With adjustable inter pupil distance (IPD) you can set it up so it's right for your eye spacing, thus eliminating one of the major problems with earlier displays that made them hard to wear (ie. migrane inducing) for any length of time.
Apparent screen size is equivalent to 100 inch screen at 10 feet, with a 45 degree field of view.

It's still a bit pricey at $800, but definitely competitive with say, a big 3d tv and shutter glasses, and a lot easier on your neck to wear attached to your face.

Re:This is a terrible idea

[davester666]

First, what do you want to use the computer for?

If it's just surfing and email, why not just get an iPad instead of some cobbled-together contraption?

And you'll even be able to keep using it ON the plane.

You'll regret it

[frostilicus2]

It'll break, you won't be able to fix it, the ergonomics will be terrible, you'll get hassled in airport security. This is a recipe for you getting pissed. Just get a MacBook air: built to last, lightweight and usable.

Re:You'll regret it

[betterunixthanunix]

you won't be able to fix it

Just get a MacBook air

How can you make these two statements in a single post?

Re:You'll regret it

[Anne_Nonymous]

For traveling overseas, I use a crappy $299 netbook. It's about the size and weight of a hardback book and is not so expensive that I can't leave it in my hotel room when I'm out.

Re:You'll regret it

[macs4all]

And the most expensive option. And if it breaks, you won't be able to fix it. Definitely a good choice.

Please tell me WHAT computer you can fix yourself WHILE TRAVELING?

Idiot.

Just get an Air, and forget about the "fixing it" part; because it is highly unlikely to break anyway; whereas a cobbled-up bit, involving multiple cables and whatnot, assembled out of the cheapest-possible stuff, is just as likely TO break.

And as I said, both are unlikely to be fixed by YOU on the road; but at least with the Air, there is the possibility of having an Apple Store in the area, where it CAN be fixed.

Seriously, AC, look at ALL of the requirements; not just the ones that would apply in your Mom's basement.

Re:You'll regret it

[ifiwereasculptor]

That's a good comparison, because they have been made for similar uses, showcase equal performance and capabilities, cost about the same and are roughly the same size. If it's only durability you're concerned about, though, a huge brick of gold is a much better choice than either of them.

Here's a random thought: if you take the money you'd use to buy a MacBook ($1200) and deposit it on a savings account (0.8%), you'll be able to afford a new Pi every 2.6 months on interest alone, thus having pretty much infinitely replaceable Pis. It will be exactly one MacBook cheaper than buying a MacBook and if the Pis resist more than a few months, you can cluster them at will.

Re:You'll regret it

[Anonymous Coward]

A pi costs $1.60?

Just get a netbook

[redmid17]

It sounds more like this would be a hobby solution. The amount of effort you'll spend getting it to work as well as a netbook isn't going to be a good payout

Re:Just get a netbook

[metrometro]

It sounds more like this would be a hobby solution.

You do realize this was posted to Slashdot on a Sunday afternoon, right?

Re:Go further: do it on a phone?

[mehrotra.akash]

Does the Galaxy Beam qualify?

Re:Zenbook.

[macs4all]

Get the Asus Zenbook. Better specs than a Macbook Air, at the same price and with a bit better build quality, to boot. Otherwise, ThinkPad ultrabook. Aluminum's the worst material to use in a laptop, anyway.

Yeah, because the hard plastics that have been traditionally used are so much better. And you of course don't mention WHY Aluminum is the WORST (not just a bad, but the WORST) material to use in a laptop.

And I don't know what you call "better build quality". Unibody Apple laptops are pretty much universally accepted as having the best build quality in the industry.

And ASUS having better build quality that Apple?!? That's a laugh riot!

From what I can tell, it's a Macbook Air ripoff through and through, but with a shitty TN panel (except for the one that costs as much, or MORE THAN an Air), and a dodgy trackpad, for not a whole lot less than an Air, and in the case of the one with an IPS panel, MORE. And as far as build quality goes, ask anyone who has owned an Asus laptop. By the way, if not Aluminum, what exactly is the Zenbook made of? Asus seems to think it's made of... wait for it...

ALUMINUM Which they explicitly say was the best material out of the many that they tried.

But unlike Apple, who MILLS the case out of a SOLID BLOCK of aluminum (a quite time-consuming and expensive process compared with stamping a body out of SHEET aluminum like Asus does), the Zenbook uses only enough aluminum to make it LOOK like a Macbook; but without the structural integrity of a one-piece chassis.

Idiot. Try not to LIE so badly next time.