Razer Built a Laptop With Three Screens Because Why Not? (engadget.com)

At CES in Las Vegas today, Razer unveiled a prototype that could change the way we play. Behold: Project Valerie, the world's first laptop to incorporate three built-in monitors. From a report on Engadget: Each screen measures 17.3 inches with 4K resolution -- that's 12k total (11520 x 2160) viewing space. They slide out from the central lid chassis under their own power and autonomously position themselves to create a full 180-degree viewing area, powered by NVIDIA's Surround View technology, which enables programs to spread a single image across multiple monitors. All of the computer's wiring is internal so you won't have to worry about snagging power cords as the screens deploy. The Valerie also utilizes Razer's short-throw keyboard, an all-aluminum case and the computing prowess of the 17-inch Blade Pro. No word on pricing.

Comments

Why not?

[HornWumpus]

Why not?

3 minute battery life.

Why not? Dinky monitors.

[xxxJonBoyxxx]

I use two extra monitors with my top two laptops, but they are a lot larger than these because I use them when docked at work or home. I wouldn't want two dinky little laptop monitors strapped onto my laptop, not even for free.

180? Nah

[sbrown7792]

autonomously position themselves to create a full 180-degree viewing area

Judging by the pictures, where the hell are they getting the 180-degree viewing area from? Are we expected to use the thing with our faces 1mm away from the screen?

Because Weight

[Anonymous Coward]

Because Why Not?

Because weight, I imagine. How heavy is this thing?

Don't get me wrong. I hate this move to anorexic electronics as much as the next person, cutting off hours of battery life, upgradability and replaceability of parts, and very useful peripheral sockets in a desperate attempt to save a couple more grams of weight... but if this thing has three monitors it's got to weigh far more than can be comfortably carried by hand or used in a traditional notebook space. Imagine trying to use it on an airplane.

Speaking of which... what is the battery life of this thing? It better have an SSD, because otherwise I imagine 5% of its useable battery life would be used up in the computer bootup process alone.

Why not? (Part Deux) Airplanes.

[xxxJonBoyxxx]

Also, ever try to use a laptop in coach (i.e., "cattle car" or "steerage") on an airplane? There, having enough elbow room for a single small monitor (plus a keyboard + trackpad) is a challenge. I can't imagine what trying to roll out three monitors would be like.

But how often does it need to be repaired?

[Anonymous Coward]

Slide out under their own power? And that's going to last, what, six weeks before it gets stuck? The screen hinge is already a primary point of failure for laptops, let's double the weight load with flimsy motors and rails! Definitely another "more money than sense" moment in computer gaming.
And a normal keypad would be nice, too. People don't game with those anymore?

And why

[fyngyrz]

I don't game on PCs at all, and this totally caught my interest. three, 4k displays? If the CPU/GPU power and RAM and drives are there, all you'd need to carry around to make this a decent setup are a real keyboard and a mouse. I don't give the south end of a northbound rat if it isn't "thin". I don't really care if it's light or quiet, either.

After Apple's latest fiasco dumbing down their laptops, I'm not feeling all that resistant to going Windows, laptop-wise. My only Apple choice right now is a used machine off of EBay. Something that actually has ESC/F-keys and ports to connect to things. Something even further behind the CPU curve, sigh. Damn you, Apple.

[runs off to look at specs]