Dual-display laptop design has wings

Perhaps it's just that nostalgia for the ThinkPad 701 but there's something about this dual-display reference design that's causing optical interrupts all over Engadget editorial. It's certainly not as elegant as some other dual-display laptops we've seen, but what it gives up in looks, the Electronic Keyboards, Inc. design makes up for in practicality. They're currently pitching it to OEMs and will gladly sell you the related US patents if interested. Though given our choice, we'd be more interested in patents related to an elongated trackpad which doubles as a secondary glass display or e-Ink informational widget. Hey, a boy can dream can't he?

[Via The Raw Feed]

[A.C.E.R. @ Aug 15th 2008 1:54AM]

Just give me one decent screen and I'll be happy. I don't need another one to drain my battery.

[j @ Aug 15th 2008 2:04AM]

just hope this thing has 2 battery slots too = =

[404 @ Aug 15th 2008 3:20AM]

Don't worry, solar panels unfurl from the back of the top screen. They double as tanning mirrors, too, to banish that pasty geek look!

[getStringFromObj() @ Aug 15th 2008 9:59AM]

I would guess that it is available in scented and non-scented ultra versions and the wings have little adhesive pads on the underside.

[peacefulpony @ Aug 15th 2008 1:59AM]

Well, this is obviously the inspiration for the Macbook refresh set for September.

[knoxer @ Aug 15th 2008 8:24AM]

Is this story 25 years late or something? Those pictures look extremely old.

...and AutoCAD - I mean who shows off their computer running the big steaming pile of dung known as AutoCAD? (and who would want to run a program like AutoCAD on that tiny of a screen?)

[Rocketboy @ Aug 15th 2008 4:19PM]

AutoCad? Dung? I think my must be thinking of Bobcad or Rhino.

[XIYL @ Aug 15th 2008 2:06AM]

Notice the impressive Windows 98 OS its got on it, not to mention Netscape.

[Keaton @ Aug 15th 2008 4:12AM]

One word describes this....

WHY?

[Valicore @ Aug 15th 2008 3:43PM]

omfg, I didn't even notice Netscape, not just Netscape but Netscape 1.1 or whatever it was... I'm having flashbacks from elementary school, arg!

[Stephen @ Aug 15th 2008 2:11AM]

Wow, I can look at porn... and look at porn, all at the same time!!!

[steven @ Aug 15th 2008 2:20AM]

Yes you can pretend like you're there with that one screen...

[The Beef Machine (lala lala la) @ Aug 15th 2008 2:15AM]

I'd like to see that in Netbook form, thank you.

[LiNTEK @ Aug 15th 2008 2:26AM]

I hope it runs Windows on the 1st monitor and Linux on the other at the same time! LOL!

[~~Tito~~ @ Aug 15th 2008 2:29AM]

Wow I bet this runs at a beastly 300mhz, with a monstrous 4 mb of ram, and to top off the titan, it probably has a 2gb hdd. What a monster!

That's just a concept that was made a while back people, its plastic body with a photo shopped screen. A more up-to-date concept would be nice.

[Richard Glitter @ Aug 15th 2008 2:42AM]

With a name like "Sketch-n-Send" it sounds more like gimmicky '80's kids' toy.

[The Beef Machine (lala lala la) @ Aug 15th 2008 2:53AM]

... and the best part of the Sketch and Send: all you have to do is shake it to clear the screen!

[kyle allen @ Aug 15th 2008 2:48AM]

wow, that thing got run over by a bunch of ugly trees at an ent-moot in ugly town... i still want one tho

[shaun @ Aug 15th 2008 2:50AM]

I'm loving the really old keyboard on that thing. It's one of those ones that you know is gonna be really loud!

[marty.com.au @ Aug 15th 2008 2:54AM]

Well, it looks cool...
if it was on a sci-fi bomb, and the keyboard opened like that automatically with a "psssst" sound effect to reveal a red countdown, that would be frikkin cool.

I might even get a woodie...

but then perhaps not as it would mean I was about to die....

[collegekid13 @ Aug 15th 2008 2:54AM]

Look at that state of the art 1998 laptop. yaaaa!

[kyle allen @ Aug 15th 2008 3:12AM]

i betcha thats runnin on of those new fangled 100mhz 486dxs processors, now thats class!

[Knives_Out @ Aug 15th 2008 3:06AM]

looks like this is from 1984

[Lucretius @ Aug 15th 2008 3:30AM]

looks more like 1994...

(by the way...Fog, the B-Side to your single, was pretty groovy...)

[A.C.E.R. @ Aug 15th 2008 3:32AM]

Beware the savage jaw
Of 1984

[linuxamp @ Aug 15th 2008 3:45AM]

This thing looks like crap but the idea of a non-fixed keyboard is actually a good for netbooks; I can't touch type on any of the eee PCs.

I don't think splitting the keyboard would solve my problem but if it could stretch and evenly increase the spaces between the keys that'd be sweet. The keyboard base structure could be a lattice of scissor hinges like the hoberman sphere but flat. I'm no engineer but the hinges may also need to slide a bit as well as pivot.

[JohnnyBoy @ Aug 15th 2008 11:37AM]

I too like the split-keyboard idea. I think it would be great if you use a graphics tablet or Wacom Cintiq to have a half a keyboard on each side. More comfortable for touch typing as well.

Uhhh, looks like I'm running out of kind things to say about this ugly laptop...

[Jack @ Aug 15th 2008 3:53AM]

Please, take it away and burn it

[Argot @ Aug 15th 2008 4:43AM]

Nuke it from orbit - it's the only way to be sure.

[neofolklore @ Aug 15th 2008 7:40AM]

killing it with fire would be more than adequate and fun to watch on youtube.

[TareX @ Aug 15th 2008 5:39AM]

The OLPC dual screen concept is much better, more practical, and has more uses.

[everchanging @ Aug 15th 2008 5:44AM]

why not just have a display where u would normally find a keyboard and have the new tactile one i heard blackberry sporting where u actually feel the keys move in, then if u need to read a lot flip the computer on the side like a book and look at both screens

too crazy?

[BoloMKXXVIII @ Aug 15th 2008 6:39AM]

I want that keyboard!!!

[neofolklore @ Aug 15th 2008 7:41AM]

back in the day when Netscape was called Nutscrape

[ehisforadam @ Aug 15th 2008 9:03AM]

Really, it seems like the idea is that the screen in the keyboard is like a Wacom tablet screen, with is actually a pretty slick idea. They just need to ah..sorta update their concept models.

[GETYOID @ Aug 15th 2008 9:41AM]

Not THAT keyboard. You can keep it.

[urbanminstrel @ Aug 15th 2008 9:41AM]

Yuck.

[Sam @ Aug 15th 2008 11:44AM]

Ugliest. Laptop. Ever.

[therpham @ Aug 15th 2008 12:15PM]

The early 90s called. They want their industrial design back.

[foolthrottle @ Aug 15th 2008 12:27PM]

This is what the new Macbooks should be, but that lower screen should be a multi-touch "screen pad" so you can manipulate media with multi-touch, without having to hold your hands up like you do with the HP Touch Smart.

[ShadowKain @ Aug 15th 2008 12:49PM]

Did a Transformer die and try to make a name for itself?

[anantha92 @ Aug 15th 2008 12:50PM]

Are we returning to retro beige/white computers already?

[ShadowKain @ Aug 15th 2008 12:50PM]

Sketch and send your dignity away

[Frank @ Aug 15th 2008 6:02PM]

The dual screen notebook is coming out soon, and you better believe Apple will be the first. Both screens will be touch screen, and the bottom screen will have the touch screen keyboard. I hope battery life won't be a problem. ibook touch in 2009.

[Matt Keller @ Aug 15th 2008 8:45PM]

Must've been a slow news day. This "reference design" looks like its 10 years old.

[Jason @ Aug 15th 2008 10:07PM]

The wings flex when you move, so you know you're always protected against leaks.

[Timerider @ Aug 16th 2008 12:48PM]

Thats actually a neat idea. To bad their design looks so ugly.

[Garst @ Aug 16th 2008 5:37PM]

Does this remind anyone else about the transforming toys (specifically the hamberger) that McDonald's had in Happy Meals many, many years ago?