Intel's Montavello 1 (and other laptop sideshow acts)

Just when you thought there weren't any further ways to craft a laptop form factor after the desktop replacement, widescreen, ultraportable, detachable screen, detachable tablet screen, tablet convertible, tablet, and ultramobile, then Intel goes and shows off the long necked Montavello 1 at IDF this week (and a whole lotta other devices, too). Yeah, it's of limited utility and massive novelty, but you know how we love this stuff, so head over to news.com and check out their gallery of lappy oddities.

[Johann @ Mar 9th 2006 10:25AM]

Wonderful! I was thinking of writing all the notebook manufacturers telling them about this idea. It's a pain in the neck, literally, to be typing away with your head drooped down for a long time.

[solomon's voip world @ Mar 9th 2006 10:32AM]

Definitely amazing. Its a desktop and Laptop combined, to be used as desktop in the office and laptop on the move. A creative design i would say.

[blore40 @ Mar 9th 2006 10:44AM]

If its got a sturdy telescoping neck, I will take it. So called regular laptops are ergonomically inadequate. You have to hunch and look down.

[Robert Preseau @ Mar 9th 2006 10:49AM]

That actually isn't so bad. Move the keyboard out towards the front of the case and assume everyone will be using a BT mouse and I think they've got a winner.

[Rewind @ Mar 9th 2006 10:50AM]

That is awesome! When I am typing on my laptop, I have to take a ten minute break every hour because of my neck hurting. This will be a hit.

[Dan Cullen @ Mar 9th 2006 10:51AM]

I don't think it's of limited usability, looks a great idea!

[sockatume @ Mar 9th 2006 10:55AM]

This is a pretty good idea. I used a laptop as a desktop replacement for ages, and ergonomically it's Very Bad. While your face is still going to be pretty close to that LCD if you use the built-in keyboard, it's an improvement.

[Dan @ Mar 9th 2006 11:05AM]

Is it me or is that first port on the side an HDMI port?

[willyjsimmons @ Mar 9th 2006 11:08AM]

If you follow the link to the pics, this device is NOT meant to be mobile. Follow the 'Read' link and check out the rest of the pics. Some neat stuff.

[no3rdw @ Mar 9th 2006 11:23AM]

Not to be nitpicky, but remember that 'sideshow' also refers to the new feature of Windows Vista that will display information an a 2nd screen on the outside of your laptop.

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsvista/features/foreveryone/sideshow.mspx

I was excited to see the title of this post, thinking it was about that. Still, these freakish laptops are cool too :D

[Captain Lumpy Dog @ Mar 9th 2006 12:34PM]

Again, not meaning to pick nits here, but this concept is very similar to one of the original tablet PCs, the Vadem Clio. I was in love with that device when it was still around, but the power you got for the money was atrocious. Nice to see companies are starting to pick up the slack.

[Scott Kreutz @ Mar 9th 2006 12:49PM]

I got to say it will be nice not to have to look down at a laptop screen but that design doesn't look stable enough for a 17" screen. Also when you close the laptop it looks like that bar would be on top making the laptop look funny

[Johnny @ Mar 9th 2006 1:20PM]

Willyj - The link says that "Intel set up airplane seats at IDF to demonstrate how the telescopic arm makes it easier to view the screen in a tight space." Where does it say that the unit isn't meant to be mobile? Airplane seats imply "mobility" to me. And I have to agree with some of the earlier commenters -- that looks like it could be pretty useful in certain situations (including, as Intel demonstrates, in coach class).

[helio9000 @ Mar 9th 2006 1:52PM]

I'd say that since they showed this thing with airplane seats to demo how it works in tight spaces that it IS meant to be mobile.

[Brian @ Mar 9th 2006 1:59PM]

willyjsimmons wrote:

"If you follow the link to the pics, this device is NOT meant to be mobile. Follow the 'Read' link and check out the rest of the pics. Some neat stuff."

Willy, I don't know what link your referring to, but the aforementioned "Read" link goes to a CNET photo gallery showing the same picture, citing:

"Montevallo 1. Intel set up airplane seats at IDF to demonstrate how the telescopic arm makes it easier to view the screen in a tight space."

...which is EXACTLY what I was thinking when I first saw it (and, erm, would make it a mobile solution). Frankly, I get a wee bit nervous when working all scrunched-up-like on a plane, worrying that if the person in front of me reclines, irreparable damage will be done to my PowerBook. Being able to position the screen away from dangerously hooking into the seat-tray recess would go a long way in putting my mind at ease.

[Nick @ Mar 9th 2006 2:38PM]

Somewhere in my filing cabinet is an old drawing I did of a floating screen laptop that looks identical to this. I knew I should have patented it. Oh well, I guess I don't really need millions of dollars.

[carl @ Mar 9th 2006 3:12PM]

I'd love a notebook like this. The screen should also swivel 90 degrees so that you can view tall things (web pages, documents, etc.) more easily.

[Rickard J @ Mar 9th 2006 3:34PM]

So, it's kind of like a ThinkPad Transnote without the "paper"? That's some inventing right there.

http://www.pencomputing.com/frames/textblock_transnote.html

[bryan @ Mar 9th 2006 4:05PM]

i think this is the perfect hinge for a convertible tablet, but i'm almost sure i saw this as patented by samsung, maybe its some kind of joint thing with intel.

[willyjsimmons @ Mar 9th 2006 5:12PM]

Ignore what I said.

That's what I get for posting while reading something else at the same time!!!

Yuk Yuk Yuk.

[Greg @ Mar 9th 2006 5:27PM]

Great idea, I've been trying to battle this on my 12" G4 Powerbook, neck and eye strain are now serious considerations when I look at laptop form factors.

[Dicson @ Mar 9th 2006 6:45PM]

That's an iMac G4 cousin. Just it was hidden to keep the secret relation of Apple's OSX and Intel (already know, but sacrilege a year ago).

[dungan @ Mar 10th 2006 9:24AM]

Compaq had a series of prototypes back in the late 90s that were VERY similar to this. Of course, we all know what happened to Compaq. But I'm surprised that HP, being "leaders of innovation" never re-investigated the concepts in this era of desktop replacement machines.
Anyway, here's a link to one of the designs. Like the Montavello, it shares a striking resemblance to the previous iMac (perhaps why it's posted on an apple-related site).
http://www.theapplecollection.com/design/pcproto/CompacDesign2.html
There are two other designs available on this site. Just change the URL to CompacDesign1 and CompacDesign3 to check them out.