Samsung's 12.1-inch OLED laptop concept makes us swoon

As much as we would loath typing on that touch-sensitive, rigid keyboard, we're definitely geek-smitten by this ultra-thin, AMOLED laptop concept from Samsung SDI -- Sammy's display division. 12.1-inches and 1,280 x 768 resolution with infinite contrast? We'll take two... just as soon as someone can explain the extra panel around back. With Samsung projecting 14- to 15.4-inch OLED laptops in 2009, this might come sooner than you think.

[Seanross @ May 16th 2008 3:04AM]

Your move apple?

[Rekoil @ May 16th 2008 11:33AM]

Is it? I'm not sure, this is only a concept ;)

Also, where is the touchpad?

[Brendan Sheehan @ May 16th 2008 5:50AM]

Are you referring to the Mac touch?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/83512992@N00/2381453879/

[Deputy Doffoos @ May 16th 2008 12:26PM]

You silly, the touchpad is the panel in the back!

[gabe @ May 16th 2008 3:06AM]

elementary engadget. The back panel supports the LCD screen from tipping back as the keyboard area has no critical mass.

[triforceOFcourage @ May 16th 2008 3:29AM]

It also doubles as a protective cover when closed. Since, again, the keyboard is very small.

[TheAxMan @ May 16th 2008 3:31AM]

That's exactly what I thought when I saw it.

But then again -- wouldn't it have been more compact to have a support extend out a bit from the base? Backwards that is, behind the screen -- sort of like the extended battery of a lenovo x61t..

[Mike10010100 @ May 16th 2008 6:22AM]

Yeah, that would be the right explanation. The EEE PC does the same thing too when you put it in your lap, it tips over onto the screen. I just don't understand why they don't put the heavier components into the bottom so that it doesn't tip over. It probably isn't a big deal, but i wouldn't like having a piece of plastic poking into me behind the screen.

[Kay @ May 16th 2008 11:48AM]

Why not place a counter-weight in the keyboard and do away with an irritating third panel? The third panel might look alright when on a level surface, but imagine trying to use that thing in your lap.

[Deputy Doffoos @ May 16th 2008 12:33PM]

Thinking a little more about it, this might not be a laptop at all but one of those All in One desktops PCs.
See, there is no touch pad, and the panel in the back might hold all the other components (as SSD, MB, RAM, IGP).

Just a thought.

[mcdizzle895 @ May 16th 2008 3:07AM]

yeah the keyboard would suck, although it looks really neat. As for the extra panel...what on earth would that be for? It almost looks like they forgot to snap it all together before snapping the photo.

[ethana2 @ May 16th 2008 3:58AM]

That keyboard would not suck. That keyboard would be awesome. Get a better keyboard layout.

...That keyboard would be an absolute pleasure for me to type on. I want it.

[Crazy Larry @ May 16th 2008 12:56PM]

Where's the mouse touchpad?

[loosely_coupled @ May 18th 2008 5:45AM]

FULL-SIZE TOUCH-SENSITIVE KEYBOARDS WILL NEVER BE USED, EVER!

IF YOU DON'T BELIEVE ME, TAKE A SECOND AND TRY TO TYPE ON YOUR DESK AS IF THE FLAT SURFACE WAS A GLASS TOUCHSCREEN. HOW'S THAT FEEL? IT WOULD BE NOT ONLY VERY PAINFUL IN ABOUT 30 SECONDS, BUT IT WOULD CAUSE ARTHRITIS BY THE END OF DAY ONE.

[J. @ May 16th 2008 3:07AM]

The part behind the screen seems like its necessary for balance... and one could assume when closed we would have the ultimate in future tech design... trapper keeper.

[LoofyGun @ May 16th 2008 3:16AM]

Why is she checking her pulse?

[TC @ May 16th 2008 3:24AM]

If someone gave me something like that, I would check my pulse too..

And I wouldn't mind chekcing hers too btw :-P

[Reader @ May 16th 2008 3:40AM]

Never heard of pulse-taking fetish...

[TC @ May 16th 2008 3:51AM]

@Reader

lol

[GPS @ May 16th 2008 4:49AM]

Well.. he probably doesn't enjoy dead people.

And thinking about it, neither do I

[Macha88 @ May 16th 2008 12:49PM]

Rule 34

[Bernhard @ May 16th 2008 3:18AM]

The Panel at the back is the spare OLED display, which you will need to replace the one at the front with once the colors start fading.

[NIHONS @ May 16th 2008 3:39AM]

That just Amazing!

[anabouboula @ May 16th 2008 3:43AM]

Take that Apple!

[Drew Scott @ May 16th 2008 10:38AM]

uhh ... it's a concept.

[vdogg89 @ May 16th 2008 5:52PM]

haha! drew

[Zoroaster @ May 16th 2008 3:52AM]

Amazing how the addition of an OLED display seems to do away with the need for things like a hard drive, ram, and other internal components. Unless those are contained in that third panel as well.

[JaxTJ @ May 16th 2008 8:49AM]

That's my guess for the third panel as well. In addition to housing the guts, it could provide counter balance for the light KB and display like others have suggested.

[TC @ May 16th 2008 9:01PM]

Flash RAM already elimiated the need for harddisks in the Macbook Air and Thinkpad X-Series. As for the rest of the components, I don't really think that will be a problem.

[raul @ May 16th 2008 3:54AM]

Well, the keyboard seems smaller than the screen, so the back is the cover? It's a concept after all.
It can even be the back of the screen that poped off when the guy took the picture. You can almost hear the R&D dep. laughing while seeing us discussing what is the purpose of the thing... -_-'

[ethana2 @ May 16th 2008 4:01AM]

All you qwerty typists are going to bash that keyboard, but I'd like to let you know that that is awesome. That is amazing.

You see, when you use a layout with 2.2x times as much finger movement as needed and a backspace key three miles away, tactile feedback is something you want. Force and distance for key presses are desirable.

I do not. I want the keys to be pressed with no little to no force over no distance.

That could be the perfect keyboard.

[CrackedButter @ May 16th 2008 4:06AM]

It would be nice if that back panel is some sort of solar charger because so far nobody has mentioned where the battery is going to fit.

[XenoX101 @ May 16th 2008 4:24AM]

Zoroaster is on the money. Where are all the components? Is the Atom really that small? What about the HD? Memory?

And now for an optimistic question.

Would I be able to use this keyboard surface as a tablet for drawing/handwriting? The technology is all there

[Nick @ May 16th 2008 5:29AM]

At that point, I'd rather just draw on the screen and say to hell with the extra peripheral. I'd much rather have the keyboard act like the Optimus Maximus keyboard with the keyboard changing depending on the application and such.

[Atanas Boev @ May 16th 2008 4:46AM]

I would guess there are three panels - the keyboard, the screen and the computer. While the computer is "opened" they keep panels 2 and 3 separated for better cooling.

[GPS @ May 16th 2008 4:49AM]

"just as soon as someone can explain the extra panel around back"

Thats probably support for screen :)

[GPS @ May 16th 2008 4:50AM]

And I am very late

[Good_Bytes @ May 16th 2008 5:28AM]

Awesome laptop... now all it needs is a motherboard, CPU, GPU, PSU, HDD or SSD, heatsink, fan, optical drive, speakers, microphone, sound card... and you have almost a real laptop. Just amazing!

[dj496 @ May 16th 2008 9:20AM]

ROFL

[marios @ May 16th 2008 5:28AM]

heyy.... Where is the mouse pad?

Is the keyboard a portable one? i cant see how on earth this thing closes.

[russwilliams @ May 16th 2008 5:32AM]

Well that was a gripping read.
Im still recovering and confused.

[Kinnie @ May 16th 2008 6:14AM]

It's probably just that the display back fell off the mockup model and the photographer though, like most others, that it should be that way. The keyboard is awesome!

[Alex @ May 16th 2008 6:23AM]

Having an OLED display DOES NOT MEAN that it has to be thinner.

Look at Alienware, they build laptops that are inches thick because they are fast and these displays would be perfect for that application.

[Shinigami @ May 16th 2008 6:33AM]

Another "extra panel around back" guess:
Its a battery ;)
Or are all laptop concepts battery-less and missing hardware by default?

[Ryan @ May 16th 2008 7:56AM]

without a doubt it has to be a support to hold the computer upright.

Both the screen and the keyboard seem to be around the same thickness, and not only that, but if you look at the dimensions, the keyboard looks smaller than the keyboard. Without this support the laptop would just topple backwards. no reason to waste that space either, so theres probably some type of hardware built inside. the battery idea seems logical enough.

[Benson @ May 19th 2008 6:24PM]

The keyboard looks smaller than the keyboard...

[ITSTIME @ May 16th 2008 7:59AM]

GO SAMSUNG!!!! :D

[BustaCap @ May 16th 2008 8:34AM]

Dammit! No one puts Baby in the corner!

[riggs @ May 16th 2008 9:16AM]

dont like the keyboard cause i like having to PUNCH THE KEYS FOR GODS SAKE!!

[eggothewaffle @ May 16th 2008 9:50AM]

For those who are actually excited at the prospect of a large and flat touchscreen keyboard...Have you ever tried to type efficiently on a perfectly smooth piece of glass?

Good luck hunting and pecking.