USB-enabled PicoLCD SideShow display may soon be a collector's item

Remember way back when everyone and their third cousin twice removed was hopping on the SideShow bandwagon? Yeah, those were the days. We'll admit, we still think SideShow has had a lot of promise, but you know what they say about a technology without support. At any rate, Mini-Box has decided to offer up a (comparatively) inexpensive way for folks to indulge in a minuscule auxiliary display, and while the $49.95 PicoLCD 4X20-Sideshow won't provide any looks at high-res widgets, the basic blue display is a real champ at showing off stock prices and birthday reminders. Worst case scenario? You can probably use it in a random DIY project that you've been meaning to get to.

[Via SideShowDevices]

[Serial 8-Ball Mouse @ Sep 12th 2008 9:38AM]

Oddly enough, I want this.

If the functionality is there (and I am assuming easy to set up), it'd be cool to have a little... screen full of dumb shit by my side while I work on my PC. If not just to remind me how hot my GPU is for no reason even when I barely use it and piss me off.

[konshuss @ Sep 12th 2008 9:39AM]

AHHHHH!! SIDESHOW, BOB!

[Adderz @ Sep 12th 2008 9:40AM]

oo another USB cable to add to the collection, me want, me want.

[strider_mt2k @ Sep 12th 2008 9:49AM]

Another attempt by MS to create needs around a product instead of creating a product that fulfills a need.

The ease with which they abandon this stuff should be telling.

[Neoprimal @ Sep 13th 2008 6:27AM]

Well that's a little unfair. I can think up ways to use sideshow wonderfully. Personally, I'd love a little device - perhaps the size of a picture frame (4x6 or so) that could display yahoo/google widgets, sideshow/sidebar etc. Of course touchscreen. I have a satisfactory sized monitor (24") as a matter of fact, I also have a 19" running alongside it, but I don't want widgets on any of my desktops. I don't NEED widgets and pretty icons displaying weather and stocks - but I'd LIKE, heck, I'd love to use them! And I'm sure others feel similar. I'd gladly take a $50 device that is hi-res that can do this.

Glance down on it to see weather, stocks, gmail/email, etc. etc....thousands of gadgets/widgets that do little neat things that appeal to each person. So, I think they had the right idea. Manufacturers and device makers just aren't jumping to make products that can do something more than the minimum.

[▀█▀ █ ▀█▀ ▄█▀ @ Sep 12th 2008 10:03AM]

I am currently doing this with a 4x20 LCD I hooked up to my PCs parallel port. Since most newer PCs don't have parallel ports anymore though it sure would be nice to have a display connected via USB. Seems a bit expensive though, should be $30 max for me to buy it.

[Serial 8-Ball Mouse @ Sep 12th 2008 11:23AM]

Just buy this and save $39.95.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16815124004

: )

[Nietzche @ Sep 12th 2008 10:09AM]

ahh, the joys of having a G15 and not having to bother with more clutter if you want to show some system stats or whatever.

[Sean @ Sep 12th 2008 10:15AM]

Why not just get a Logitech G15 Mouse?

[louage @ Sep 12th 2008 10:48AM]

As it's a keyboard?

[kphitman13 @ Sep 12th 2008 10:30AM]

Mmmm, this looks familiar. Like posted above, its what my G15 keyboard has on it. Instead of lurking off to the side uncomfortably, it sits above the keys, where its useful. Plus, i can put whatever i want on it too, so no need for a seperate device. I guess if i was a stock market guy and needed to know every second on a seperate screen because i was using my monitor to manage multi-billion dollar accounts, well nevermind... id never use it. (PS> make it yourself, 35$ and it can do much more)

[Bobjim @ Sep 12th 2008 11:15AM]

I think it'd be pretty neat if you could integrate it with a messenger client, and have it display messages when you're running fullscreen apps, like games or movies.

[vigilante.killer @ Sep 12th 2008 11:49AM]

That doesnt sound all that logical, considering you would have to minimuse or otherwise move from the fullscreen app to reply to them.

These sort of devices are no more than novelties, and afaik sideshow technology was primarily aimed at notebooks, to allow a small screen to show info and save power with main monitor off. Like playing music with the screen closed. Other than that, I think its just an "okay" idea paired with little market support, leading to its quick death.

[Steve A. @ Sep 12th 2008 12:12PM]

The second OLED screen on some of ASUS' laptops do that exact function, along with regular system messages like battery conditions and temps. It's quite useful while using apps (games) in full screen.

Also, for those saying that sideshow is a pure novelty, check out the currently beta plugin for windows mobile. It's really impressive, as it is an amazing 'super remote' for media center, with ability to create playlists, and offers full control of the PC via your phone or PDA.

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=79f19684-f862-4e02-a2b0-0003b4565f34&displaylang=en

[Virgil @ Sep 12th 2008 11:37AM]

My Antec media center case came with a vaccum fluorescent display which does exactly this. No USB ports needed, just some lovely low-footprint background software that can make it display just about anything (weather reports, CPU stats, sports scores). Works well in a media center environment, since it's not always convenient to switch out of Media Center, open FireFox, and browse to the relevant page, using a WMC remote or wireless mouse. Best of all, it stays on and displays date/time when the computer is in sleep mode.

[Homer J @ Sep 12th 2008 12:02PM]

I've beeing using a pertelian for a couple years now, same thing $10 bucks less (pretty convinient if you're lazy to build your own)

[SimonRichards @ Sep 12th 2008 12:16PM]

I think I will just make one myself tbh, and probably for half the price. Still, w00t for old skool!

[BigD145 @ Sep 12th 2008 12:36PM]

Or you could just build your own for under $20 like people have been doing for over a dozen years now.

[Brad @ Sep 12th 2008 2:31PM]

Personally, I like SideShow now that I have it on my WinMo phone. It's pretty damn sweet, actually.

[Scripps @ Sep 12th 2008 4:19PM]

Matrix Orbital has the same thing only full graphic and COOL.

[Brad Goodman @ Sep 12th 2008 5:28PM]

$50?! Are they nuts?!

I'm not even a "cheap" person - but come on! A 4x20 text display? That's like a $5 item - and a PIC USB controller? Another $5. Give 'em a 50% margin and call it $20 even - but $50?!

I'd buy one in a hearbeat....but not for $50!

[paul-engadget @ Sep 13th 2008 7:16PM]

you can also use a palm pilot for this, which has the extra benefit of also being a PDA and handheld games gadget!

[The_Steven @ Sep 14th 2008 8:59AM]

Slideshow = Vista = Bad.

Let's see some XP love and maybe we'll talk.