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

[AngryDeuce]

Not to mention that, when traveling, you'd most often be in places where this is totally and completely impractical. You can't break this crap out at the airport (well, you technically could, but most airports I go through are pretty bright places and besides, what a pain in the ass compared to opening a freaking laptop), so you're effectively cutting yourself off from the net anytime you're not parked in a hotel room. Seems like more than I'd be willing to sacrifice even if it did free up some space.

My little ASUS netbook weighs like 3 pounds or something and is the size of a thin hardcover book. If that's considered a lot of space then I'd hate to see what you're wearing when you travel.

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

[Indras]

How about a projected keyboard? Already exists: http://www.thinkgeek.com/gadgets/cellphone/e722/

Re:This is a terrible idea

[Intrepid imaginaut]

Yep, touchscreen phones and tablets are largely commuter toys, I needs me a keyboard to get any work done.

Re:This is a terrible idea

[Sancho]

I've used one of those. They're slightly worse than a smartphone soft keyboard. I'd have to be really trying to travel light to even consider one of those.

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

[Zadaz]

What about power? I have spent the last 15 years traveling with my work, working out of cafes, coffee shops, bars, planes, trains, and automobiles, beaches, and basements. I am incredibly conscious of size and weight because I cary my laptop everywhere, every day. If I'm outside my laptop is on my shoulder or back. 3 punds is the breakpoint. Less than 3 pounds and you can carry it everywhere all day and not notice you've got it. Above that it becomes a problem.

But really, by far the most valuable thing to have in a portable computer is a long-lasting built-in power supply.

There will never be an outlet when you need one. I guarantee it. And with a portable computer you must have an outlet to do anything at all. Even if you did cobble together a battery for a portable computer it wouldn't be nearly as efficient as a laptop because laptops are made to run efficiently. And you'll need to carry the cord. More mass. Before "ultraportables" and the Air I would carry Sony X-series and spring for the extra-life battery. It increased the weight 50% and volume by 25%, but gave me 8-9 hours of tether-free power (vs 2) which saved my job on more than one occasion. I don't get quite that with the Air at this point, but 5+ hours is easy. I usually leave the charger at home/office/hotel room, which saves more space in my bag.

Projectors also require a flat, light colored, vertical surface to project on. This is much less available than you might think.

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

[Anonymous Coward]

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

Re:You'll regret it

[frostilicus2]

But an Apple genius might.

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

[frostilicus2]

Difficult to say. If you've got AppleCare, it should be easy (and fast) to get a replacement or recover your data. I think my point was that a Raspberry Pi will break (I've got one and it and it's associated peripherals don't exactly fill me with confidence: mine gets upset if I try to use both a mouse and an ethernet connection and likes to reboot randomly). A MacBook air, on the other hand, is a very well engineered machine: all solid state storage, aluminum unibody case and LED backlight (more reliable than CCFL) should mean that it'll run for many, many years without fault. My plastic cased MacBook is six years old has put up with all kinds of abuse but still runs like new. From what I hear, this isn't the exception to the rule.

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.

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?

Your problem SOLVED.... Eee PC

[dryriver]

Get one of these ------ http://usa.asus.com/Eee/Eee_PC/Eee_PC_1001PX_Seashell/#overview ------- its cheap, light (1300 grams), 9 hour battery life. I have one that I use to write a 400 page book when I'm on the go. Its very usable. As for your Raspberry + Project idea... It will give you nothing but problems, problems, problems... ----

PicoProjector+Pi+CubeLaser=Fun Hobby solution

[duckgod]

You aren't going to come close to the ergomonics of a laptop so lets assume you are thinking hobby solution. I have long wanted to combine a Cube Laser Virtual Keyboard, Pico Projector, Raspberry pi like computer to make some sort of laser cube of awesomeness. So do it and post about that because I would like to see results without spending the $600 myself.

A 7" Tablet is a better solution

[frank249]

I used to lug a laptop on business trips but now I can get by with just my Blackberry and Playbook. The Playbook has HDMI out so I can use a big screen TV at the other end to show my presentations and videos using my blackberry as a remote. The Playbook fits in my inside jacket pocket so it is ideal for these kind of trips.

Galaxy Nexus + Dock + BT Key/Mouse

[Anonymous Coward]

I use Galaxy Nexus for such stuff. GN has pretty large screen for on the go, but when i get at home, GN dock + Bluetooth Keyboard + mouse + 24" monitor gives me decent working environment.

you can carry all (except monitor) anywhere where you go and then use dock with hotel room TV (if it has hdmi port).

I'm happy with my Galaxy Nexus :)

Alex

This made me make a slashdot account

[trdtaylor]

You seem to be a perfect fit for any android phone that supports a mini-HDMI connection or one of those new-fangled MHL connection. The Samsung Galaxy s3 does this, has a quadcore 1.4Ghz ARM, a gig of ram. You can wireless connect a keyboard and mouse to the bluetooth if you want. Data will go on the 3g/4g connection, which will perfectly accompany you if you have an unlimited verizon plan still.

Re:This made me make a slashdot account

[lessthan]

Plus, why a projector? They sell video glasses for any phone, at a couple of different transparencies. Seems like that would be more effective than a projector.

Re:This made me make a slashdot account

[JWSmythe]

    Sony Glasstron have been around for years. There are several other manufacturers making their own versions of them. I had the first version, which had a fixed visor. As I recall, newer versions of it had removable visors so you could see through them. There were also hacks for the original ones, where people removed the visor (or parts of it), so you could see through them.

    The original wouldn't work with a phone, but I believe others did use Bluetooth.

Glasses?

[PPH]

Forget the projector. Does anyone make glasses with a suitable HUD?

I Googled and found Vuzix. These appear to be designed mainly for video use, so the resolution might not be great. But if you are going to be projecting an image on any old surface, how much worse can these be?

Re:Zenbook.

[Indras]

Get the Asus Zenbook ... Aluminum's the worst material to use in a laptop, anyway.

Um, what? Quoted from the Asus Zenbook website:

There are several advantages to the finely crafted aluminum used in ASUS ZENBOOK construction. In addition to its gorgeous appearance, aluminum offers a lighter Ultrabook that’s easier to carry, while retaining strength and durability. To accomplish a sleek and smooth metallic look, ASUS developed new mounting methods that reduce screw usage by 12%, taking inspiration from hand-crafted luxury wrist watches.

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.