Asus W5Fe SideShow laptop hands-on

We heard about the official announcement just a couple of hours ago, but we already got our hands on that new Asus W5Fe laptop that features SideShow. The first thing we went in for was (obviously) the SideShow auxiliary display, and we are happy to report it's a lot lower profile than we thought it'd be. That said, we've seen Sideshow units embedded into laptop lids without any raised plastics whatsoever, so any humpbacked growths are kind of unacceptable. It's light, but not quite as light as we'd have hoped for a 12-inch laptop -- it's certainly got some bulk -- but it's a solid feeling machine that will go nicely with your Vista install and the SideShow's a nice bonus. The jury may be out on what kinds of apps this particular install has going for it (it only had widgets for a media player, stripped down email reader, and battery gauge), but that'll undoubtedly change with time.

Asus W5Fe SideShow laptop hands-on

[Mike Jenkins @ Jan 7th 2007 12:33AM]

Looks great to me, I'll be getting a laptop as a graduation gift and I'm definitely getting one that runs Vista, if I can one with some sort of Sideshow display on it. Besides Sideshow how well does that laptop run Vista? As I understand it there's only 1 GB of RAM and it has integrated graphics, probably not the most optimal graphics solution for Aero.

[Rick @ Jan 7th 2007 1:08AM]

Now we can see when the computer crashes without opening it. Progress.

[joe @ Jan 7th 2007 1:17AM]

Maybe I'm slow but how is a small screen on the outside of a laptop very useful? If you're in a position to hold the laptop to read email wouldn't you rather just use it normally? I must be missing something...

[AndrewNeo @ Jan 7th 2007 1:23AM]

I hope they release a program that lets you use a Windows Mobile device as a SideShow viewer.

[riggs @ Jan 7th 2007 1:24AM]

common sense for starters...

[Jeff.a.Hogue @ Jan 7th 2007 2:04AM]

Obviously the future of this technology doesn't stay in stuff like this, but rather removable media players like the one that was on Engadget a few days ago, or just extenral devices that use sideshow via bluetooth and such.

[imageburn13 @ Jan 7th 2007 2:14AM]

This is a pointless waste. This really serves no purpose other than saying "we got a screen on the front!" For what? for a tiny media player? wow thats amazing. Just open the laptop. sheesh.

[Golgo @ Jan 7th 2007 9:25AM]

People (including me) didn't see the point of an external display on clam-shell cell phones either, when it was introduced a few years back. Now, who would buy one without it?

[riggs @ Jan 7th 2007 3:11AM]

it is actually for more than that, but i guess youre one of the type of people who just look at the picture and read the headlines.

[Michael @ Jan 7th 2007 8:39AM]

So does it have it's own Wi-Fi? What good is a widg... gadget that can't get online? It must have some connectivity.

Otherwise it's like a 1gig iPod video. That's the size of a laptop.

And if that hideous lump is required on the case, count me out.

[Michael @ Jan 7th 2007 8:40AM]

nm, must've glossed over that humpbacked bit.

[Zadillo @ Jan 7th 2007 10:05AM]

The external display on a clamshell phone has a fairly obvious use (i.e. lets you see who is calling without opening the phone and/or answering the call). What would the equivalent obvious use be for an external display on the outside of a laptop?

[3rdsun @ Jan 7th 2007 11:16AM]

Maybe to see who is skyping ypu without opening the laptop, or start ur media player.
Btw Apple plans to announce a MacBook with Sideshow dispaly, no really..