Video: ASUS features modded G50 with 4.3-inch secondary computer, oh my

What's 1 primary laptop plus 1 secondary, smaller computer equal? Want, that's what. ASUS just showed us a modified G50 M50 media laptop with a secondary 4.3 LCD display computer with some help from Microsoft here at ASUS' CES presser. Microsoft actually calls it "two computers in one chassis" running independently from each other but sharing a common battery. The smaller computer will run for over 12 hours for all your widgeting (contacts, email, etc) needs -- alas, it does not appear to be removable. Funny thing is, not a single mention by Microsoft about SideShow. Check the video after the break, it's compelling and nerd sexy to see a movie launch from the small, second computer onto the larger display.

Update: We spoke to ASUS and learned that this prototype is planned for production this year. A version featuring a removable, secondary computer (think MID) is a possible followup.

[Danny @ Jan 6th 2009 8:39PM]

Asus is rocking the shit with this one.

[banned @ Jan 6th 2009 9:08PM]

YYYYYEEEEEEESSSSS!!!!!! Ive only ever baught asus computers in my life. ive watched the quality get better as apples fell. perfect storm if asus gets better advertising and windows 7 is a true winner to take out apple!!!!




typed on me eee 1000

[Dakota @ Jan 6th 2009 8:39PM]

Is Asus pulling a "2 motherboards, 1 chassis"?
Did their engineers decide "Yo, we heard you like using your computer so we put a computer in your computer?"

[/comments]

[digitallysick @ Jan 6th 2009 9:19PM]

haha i dont know how useful this would be, id like to see how well it functions as a normal track pad

[Brian @ Jan 6th 2009 9:23PM]

I'm the computer playing the computer disguised as another computer!

[Rogue_Genius @ Jan 6th 2009 9:43PM]

"I'm in your battery, stealing your wattz"

thank you, and good day.

[Ahmed Alzayani @ Jan 7th 2009 1:01AM]

A version featuring a removable, secondary computer (think MID) is a possible followup.

WHAT??


that's my idea (Removable MID) http://www.wepc.com/vote/view/dream/929/MID_BOOK

[-Tj- @ Jan 6th 2009 8:44PM]

Does this also use the same hard drive? Otherwise I'm not sure where this fits in. I would want access to all my files. Pretty cool, though. They caught my attention. :)

[vitriolix @ Jan 6th 2009 8:49PM]

Viddler is totally hosed guys, probably should stop tossing more traffic at them right now...

[Alex @ Jan 6th 2009 8:50PM]

Oh man that is so awesome. 12 hours of battery life. Looks great.

now add finger gestures+
coverflow+
GPS geotagging+
and make it an OLED+


Now when Apple comes out with this everyone will for huge crowds to buy it.

Quick Someone call Ben Heck to DIY MOD one of these into a new 17 MBP or as I like to call it the MacBook No

[Evangelion @ Jan 6th 2009 8:54PM]

I agree.

[adam @ Jan 6th 2009 8:56PM]

Asus is becoming the Apple for PC.

There time will come when everyone starts to love them!

I just bought an Asus laptop and it's great!!!!

[wrabbit @ Jan 6th 2009 8:51PM]

I have to say, so far this is the most boring CES ever. Where is all the stuff on which I will want to spend my money in 2009??

Where are the LCD screens with almost non-existent bezel? Where is more info on Adamo? And what about a new Android phone? For that matter, where are all the "coolest" smart phones? I mean for crying out loud, the most exciting thing so far is the 512GB SSD drive for Asus laptop - but I mean it's Asus, I haven't seen anything from them ever that I'd want to buy.

[adam @ Jan 6th 2009 8:55PM]

You miss the Memo?

Nobody is buying things so why come out with something really cool that no one will buy?

Bad economy = no cool stuff.

[Ruben @ Jan 6th 2009 8:57PM]

Dude, it just started. Relax.

[Chris @ Jan 6th 2009 8:56PM]

So does the screen act like a trackpad when the full laptop is being used?

[Tonicboy @ Jan 6th 2009 8:57PM]

I thought it would just be some geeky overkill but actually, this would be incredibly useful. I can think of a dozen things that I like to do without wanting to power up the whole laptop. Email, IM, music, photos, videos. The key thing is, it needs access to your main file system so it can access your media, music, etc.

[Tohe @ Jan 6th 2009 9:00PM]

I'm blown away, who knew a smaller display would save that much energy! Geniuses, really.....
Take notes Apple, you silly you, with your new green long lasting fitted batteries lol.
I'm a PC and all I want is a goddamn small screen!

[Tohe @ Jan 7th 2009 7:35AM]

BTW if ASUS: include a magnifying glass in the box, pretty please. You rock my socks off!

[charliex @ Jan 6th 2009 9:17PM]

Whats with the jazz hands?

[1234321 @ Jan 6th 2009 9:26PM]

Holy crap Engadget, that's nVIDIA Tegra running, how did I miss that one

[ZSX @ Jan 7th 2009 3:17AM]

You're right! That is Tegra. Interesting to see it in a demo - perhaps this means future Windows Mobile phones can be docked into your PC and serve as a secondary display?

[Game_playa @ Jan 6th 2009 9:40PM]

2 screens one laptop?

[ByronGman @ Jan 6th 2009 9:40PM]

20* Seconds

[David Scott @ Jan 7th 2009 1:17AM]

Is that an itouch running windows?

[Matt W @ Jan 6th 2009 9:42PM]

I agree! That's the APX/Tegra platform built into a laptop!

Maybe ASUS will release a sweet Tegra based WiMo phone soon.

[bolezhinkov @ Jan 6th 2009 9:50PM]

well you're all 'several steps' behind my laptop which has three computers and a jetpack.

oh wait, no its just us who are behind because we dont have an actual product. ASUS does.

[1234321 @ Jan 6th 2009 9:53PM]

I wish Microsoft was smart enough to build some kind of DirectX into WinMo
Developers work have to work hard to make those 3D games and even when they do (I'm seen some good ones over the years) they don't get the exposer they diserve partly because microsoft has no hardware limitations on the devices so most manufacturers go without a GPU
meanwhile Apple is very happy with the success of gaming on the iPhone (it's better than gaming on a Mac)

[Boards of Canada @ Jan 6th 2009 9:53PM]

no kidding, its AsusWorld!

[thedesolate1 @ Jan 6th 2009 10:02PM]

Okay so what happens after the novelty of having "2 Pc's in one" wears off? I feel bad for all those who got suckered into "vista sideshow" the first time around. Why dont they just make smart phones that can use the laptop's battery, keyboard and then output to the screen upscaled in HD via a special port on the laptop.

[AKBlade13 @ Jan 6th 2009 11:11PM]

I might be off but didn't Palm try something like this with the Foleo and everyone panned it?

AKBlade13

[thedesolate1 @ Jan 8th 2009 3:30AM]

Not quite it was only made to complement a smartphone not actually be used as an extension to the phone. I believe the original eeepc was more like what palm had been aiming for.

[Chris @ Jan 6th 2009 10:32PM]

yo dawg, we heard you like computers, so we put a computer in yo computer so you can work while you work

on an unrelated note, that is NOT an asus g50, that is an asus m50.

[poematik14 @ Jan 6th 2009 10:36PM]

Asus is on fire this CES. EEE touch, keyboard with built in pc, and now this.

[Pocker09 @ Jan 6th 2009 10:58PM]

This is neat, but what is the resolution. It looks pretty small and i don't think it would be easy to view it as far the position you laptops. And i was wondering, is the keyboard used for both "computers"? And if they are both on do they access the same hard drive? Can they both be on? If they are both on how do you differentiate if your the "mouse"(small screen) controls the big computer or the small one? And the same goes for the keyboard?

[Santiago @ Jan 6th 2009 10:50PM]

Asus is the best! I have a M50 (same serie as that one) and I love it!

[JS @ Jan 6th 2009 11:20PM]

I know it is cool, at least a kind of cool. But the laptop just looks so ugly to me...
Fantastic? Maybe. But I can't accept it.

[Boards of Canada @ Jan 6th 2009 11:45PM]

The lappy look just fine. You didnt even see the back.

[Boards of Canada @ Jan 6th 2009 11:46PM]

You know, I bet you have tons of ugly stuff in your house... I just cant accept it.

[Oss @ Jan 7th 2009 12:08AM]

Great idea. If this will be removable smartphone - its brilliant! Just imagine Windows 7 and WM 7 tightly integrated. Main computer can use phone's SIM to get 3g, share gps radio and disk drives and so on. Waitin for Tegra APX news. Hope to see real products, at least announcements.

[Ahmed Alzayani @ Jan 7th 2009 1:00AM]

A version featuring a removable, secondary computer (think MID) is a possible followup.

WHAT??


that's my idea (Removable MID) http://www.wepc.com/vote/view/dream/929/MID_BOOK

[aeth @ Jan 7th 2009 1:23AM]

'Yo dawg I heard you like computers so we put a computer in your computer so yo can work while yo work'

[Joshikins @ Jan 7th 2009 2:21AM]

I thought this up about 2 years ago, I have been hoping somebody would make one. It's my dream come true!!!

[iKurt @ Jan 7th 2009 3:21AM]

Didn't we have this years ago? It's called SideShow.

[G @ Jan 7th 2009 3:06PM]

That actually seems like a good idea, but i don't know how often i would use it if my laptop had this.

If the thing was removable and could be used as a mobile phone, we would have a winner.

[axerlzx @ Jan 7th 2009 5:02PM]

If thet gonna put this design on the next gen. gaming notbook, I will buy it for sure. Because it ROOOOOOOOOOCKS!
Maybe they can consider about using touch phone like iPhone instead of 4.3 inch screen

[santiagof4 @ Feb 9th 2009 1:06PM]

Meeee! The best one!!!