4.3-inch USB-powered monitor asks "will the real nettop please stand up?"

So you've just purchased a new desktop that checks in at 1.6- x 2.4 - x 2.1-inches (actual size may vary), and you're looking for the perfect LCD to accompany it. At long last, we finally have a solution for the aforementioned quandary. The Century LCD-4300U is a 4.3-inch LCD monitor that not only provides the convenience of a USB connection, but it also gets every ounce of energy it needs via that same USB cable. The mini monitor touts an 800 x 480 resolution, LED-backlighting and compatibility with Windows XP / Vista and OS X. Now, if only the darn thing didn't cost ¥19,800 ($197), we might have ourselves a runaway winner.

[Via OhGizmo]

[Fusion Fuzo @ Oct 14th 2008 6:23AM]

NICE, dose it come with a magnify glass, and any more features at that price?

[Techie @ Oct 14th 2008 6:39AM]

I wouldn't mind having one if it has a slide down qwerty keyboard and a mini joystick as a mouse. No point of having a small usb monitor if you can't control your mini desktop. Only reason you would want this is because you got to check your servers or you have one to many desktops "At least that's what I think but I could be wrong".

[ExcavatE @ Oct 14th 2008 6:41AM]

Nice, but for that amount why not make it a touchscreen ?

[Marko @ Oct 14th 2008 6:50AM]

Yes, imagine having one of these as touch-screen as a controller for your computer instead of a mouse, together with an image of your desktop on it! And if it had multitouch!!!

[Mike @ Oct 14th 2008 6:55AM]

mod it and do that...it wouldn't be that hard

that bezel is big enough to do it easily

[rifter @ Oct 14th 2008 12:17PM]

Honestly, when I first saw this, I was thinking, wow, just what I was looking for!!! Then, I realized, it wasn't touch. :-(

I want something like this, that I can load a media player into, browse web sites, etc... while I am doing other things (like playing games) on my primary monitor.

The biggest draw, for me, though, would be to be able to put game controls on this, for additional functionality.

[tiuk @ Oct 16th 2008 4:40PM]

You can get software that lets you use an old Pocket PC as a touchscreen monitor. The name escapes me at the moment, but it's out there. Pocket PCs are cheaper than this, plus you get touch.

[Neg @ Oct 14th 2008 6:52AM]

would make a good aux display for system stats, sideshow, widgets etc

[wazzupalex @ Oct 14th 2008 6:52AM]

Sure I am being thick here, but what does one plug into it? What VIDEO inputs does it have? IE, VGA, DVI? Could I plug it into the video out on my MacBook? Why does one have to ask questions like this on a blog? There needs to be a manufacturers link so readers can contact them direct.

[MWD @ Oct 14th 2008 6:54AM]

It gets both the video signal and its power via a single USB cable.

[Neg @ Oct 14th 2008 6:54AM]

Can't you read? It shows up as a USB-connected video device, like DisplayLink. So all it has is a single USB link for power and video.

[Taylor @ Oct 14th 2008 6:55AM]

You plug it in to USB and the monitor can get the video feed from that.

[Taylor @ Oct 14th 2008 6:56AM]

http://www.coedhumor.com/images/posters/600/1159002584604.jpg

[MWD @ Oct 14th 2008 6:54AM]

This is an excellent idea -- I just wish, like ExcavatE above, it was touchscreen.

A passive secondary or tertiary display is a nice idea, but it would be better if I could put Quintessential or iTunes on the screen and make it a dedicated music player without needing to use my mouse.

According to an earlier post at Akihabara News, you can add up to seven of these to one system.

[Technopest @ Oct 14th 2008 8:13AM]

Yeah right! $197??? For $150 - I can get a more comfortable 8 inch secondary USB monitor that also acts a digital frame. And it's made by Samsung with a 1GB storage (Samsung SPF-85H). For $197, the same Samsung device also gets Wifi.

[Tim @ Oct 14th 2008 8:58AM]

not a bad idea, but refresh rates in digital photo frames usually aren't high enough to act as a very good monitor. If the one you mentioned can handle it, then by all means, that sounds much better!

[Adduc @ Oct 14th 2008 7:52AM]

I'd love to have this as a screen for my home server. Any trouble requiring some work on the computer? Plug 'er in and make the changes.

[MWD @ Oct 14th 2008 8:07AM]

Yeah, it's like a monitor for your toolbelt.

[Gnormie @ Oct 14th 2008 7:21AM]

Almost as expensive as PMP's with screens about the same size, you could probably get a previous gen Archos 605 WiFi for that price...

[Gavin Carey @ Oct 14th 2008 8:27AM]

Indeed, the flash based Archos 605 one is £80gb in Currys (UK) at the moment (presumably running down stock)

[alphachapmtl @ Oct 14th 2008 3:05PM]

800x480, Is this less than my current 1920x1200?

[Cwisfa @ Oct 14th 2008 8:21AM]

You know, this could really have a viable partnership with the Via Artigo.

[Wout @ Oct 14th 2008 8:35AM]

> Now, if only the darn thing didn't cost ¥19,800 ($197), we might have ourselves a runaway winner

It's also inexplicably missing touch screen control and Mac support... This could have been a great device, too bad it's not.

[Adduc @ Oct 14th 2008 8:40AM]

It supports OS X.

[MMS @ Oct 14th 2008 8:40AM]

Pricy, but I'll reserve judgment until it shows up on slickdeals for $59. Right now, I can't stop digging the circa-'70s "Mary Tyler Moore Show" font they used for their übercreative brand name.

[Craig @ Oct 14th 2008 8:53AM]

Prop that bad boy on top of a Mac Mini and you've got a nifty alternative to other "headless" solutions (at least for quick fixes...wouldn't want to do a ton of work using one).

[Wwhat @ Oct 14th 2008 10:43AM]

They might have added a video connector too, for on-the-go use with devices other than computers, or computers that don't have their drivers installed, how hard can that be?

[Allen Mishler @ Oct 14th 2008 11:00AM]

What about using it as a monitor for some of the new smartphones? As some of them have USB connections.

[BERTRAM @ Oct 14th 2008 11:01AM]

I wonder how well it would integrate into a preexisting dual monitor setup?

[sikanrong @ Oct 14th 2008 11:29AM]

Fucking SWEET! You could rig this up to your servers for status checks and shit - would be AMAZING, no need to lug around a 14in monitor in case of trouble anymore...

[Ramune @ Oct 14th 2008 11:39AM]

Doesn't the psp have a 4.3" screen? Lower resolution I know, but http://pspupdates.qj.net/PSPdisp-v0-1-use-your-PSP-as-an-extra-PC-monitor/pg/49/aid/124669. It works pretty well, too.

[SOOPERGOOMAN @ Oct 14th 2008 3:47PM]

I use that all the time now just wish I could hook up my two psp's at the same time. Oh well one can dream right.

[eLeMe @ Oct 14th 2008 12:42PM]

Anyone remember the Massworks ID-75? I still have mine....

[pheer6224 @ Oct 14th 2008 1:59PM]

I'm sticking one of these in my car.