Video: ASUS AIRO laptop with amazing sliding keyboard

ASUS was kind enough to take its beautiful AIRO laptop out from behind the glass at CES for an Engadget exclusive look at the functional sliding mechanism. The design raises the keyboard to cool the hot running components beneath allowing for a fan-less, convection-cooled design. Unfortunately, this prototype is just a chipset-less mechanical shell. Raise the lid and the keyboard slides back smoother than a greased-up Pete Rose. This allows for a larger, more comfortable wrist rest from which to slap those angled keys. Sexy? Oh yeah, with mojo to spare. Check the video after the break.

Gallery: ASUS AIRO prototype

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

[dale1v @ Jan 10th 2009 4:55PM]

That
looks
so good.

[Don @ Jan 10th 2009 5:37PM]

oh sh!t, it was real... lol
i saw the video last week and thought, never gonna happen.. nice Asus

[I LOVE THE CAPS LOCK KEY @ Jan 10th 2009 10:33PM]

Bring back the IBM Butterfly Keyboard!

[Decoy @ Jan 11th 2009 1:58PM]

Lamborghini Countach of laptops.

[Tarnation @ Jan 13th 2009 8:34AM]

Yeah, I had an old Pentium 1 IBM lappie that had a sliding keyboard it was awesome until the damned thing broke. Had to manually raise and lower the keyboard it wouldn't do it automatically anymore. That one looks a whole lot more hawt than my old IBM though.

[oh.ppie @ Jan 10th 2009 4:58PM]

Sexy.

Whats the point besides being nice looking?

[oh.ppie @ Jan 10th 2009 5:00PM]

Crap, didn't read the article fully.

[Temple @ Jan 10th 2009 6:10PM]

probably be easier to type.

[Rocketboy @ Jan 11th 2009 11:47AM]

It might have something to do with the cooling as well. I'm not sure... It does allow for more placement of LED lights though. That's cool.

[STINK @ Jan 10th 2009 5:03PM]

Give the Asus people a cookie if the design works, because it's purty...

[chiark @ Jan 10th 2009 5:05PM]

Looks like a Psion series 3 style hinge mechanism. Or a Psion 5... But I'm glad to see some innovation in this area!

[Neil @ Jan 10th 2009 5:08PM]

Looks way cool, but how do you adjust the displays angle?

[Darren @ Jan 10th 2009 5:16PM]

That's why this prototype will never make it to market.

[aznofazns @ Jan 10th 2009 5:24PM]

Uhhh... just adjust it however you want. Even if the keyboard shifts a little, it shouldn't affecting typing comfort.

[aznofazns @ Jan 10th 2009 5:24PM]

affect*

[Tyler @ Jan 10th 2009 8:10PM]

good point...another case of form over function.

[Slack @ Jan 10th 2009 5:09PM]

It would be really great to have a fanless laptop design. Although I do enjoy the jet engine sounds from mine at full CPU load.

[JAmerican @ Jan 10th 2009 5:10PM]

That's one of the ugliest laptops I've ever seen. I think the sliding mechanism is cool but the design needs to be smoother. Looks like you can cut someone with that laptop.

Expecting Low Ranked.

[Saad Rabia @ Jan 10th 2009 5:15PM]

I wouldn't like to crush your expectations, so I'm low ranking you anyways.

[Richard Glitter @ Jan 10th 2009 5:18PM]

It's not even a laptop yet. It's just a prototype shell. Likely will be tweaked a lot before any production (if ever). It's just a design exercise. Looks like a good idea though.

[Mike @ Jan 10th 2009 5:20PM]

I agree 100% with JAmerican! I think it is ugly and over-thought. Thank god this is just a prototype!


Low rank this as well.

[Boards of Canada @ Jan 10th 2009 6:31PM]

Did you see your avatar? thats an ugly shit!
Come on, it look super slick! I really digg that paper light feeling.

[Jim @ Jan 10th 2009 5:11PM]

It does look cool but it's about as practical as a chocolate fire-guard. When closed, the laptop is thicker than it needs to be. The angle of the display is fixed when open, as is the angle of the keyboard and there is no way to seal the sides due to the need of the design which would allow all sorts of gunk to get under the keyboard. ASUS had nothing better to show?

[404 @ Jan 10th 2009 5:15PM]

It's also just a prototype. Relax. Give it time, and it could be pretty nifty.

Also, regardless of whether or not it actually makes it to the market, this kind of tinkering with crazy ideas is essential. Where would we be if we always went down the boring, far-too-easy-and-within-grasp route, eh?

[letstakeawalk @ Jan 10th 2009 5:56PM]

@ 404

In Cupertino?

/runs from thread

[moznme @ Jan 10th 2009 5:14PM]

Hideous and retro uncool.

[Colin B @ Jan 10th 2009 5:14PM]

Is the Pete Rose comment a result of seeing Pete Rose in the Caesar's mall in Vegas, sitting in a hobby store, begging for someone to buy an autograph? What sad life that man lives...

[ben @ Jan 10th 2009 5:19PM]

that is damn hot. it's got this 80's japanese robot aesthetic that kicks ass

[Jack @ Jan 10th 2009 5:50PM]

+1 for having tux.

[va jj @ Jan 10th 2009 5:27PM]

so does that asus origami comes with the laptop or wut?

[dave pevsner @ Jan 10th 2009 5:28PM]

great idea for fanless cooling, and it looks moderately cool, and probably is more comfy to type on than a flat laptop keyboard.


but it is another moving part that can be broken off.

[Alex Francis @ Jan 10th 2009 5:34PM]

I fail to understand what is so cool about this? "Oh it is sliding"...? So you want MORE moving parts? And this design is driven by limitations in the cpu design, so basically a hack to make a faster cpu possible, no?

[Patriks7 @ Jan 10th 2009 5:29PM]

Now make one with a normal keyboard and that will be hell of a thin laptop!

[limited4 @ Mar 6th 2009 11:28PM]

i do believe you dont see the point if they added a 'normal' keyboard they would have to add a fan which would make it just a normal laptop

[Bloo @ Jan 10th 2009 5:37PM]

Is that an ASUS cootie catcher I see?

[Smileypanda @ Jan 10th 2009 7:01PM]

Yep.
Pick a number. 7
What's your favorite color? Purple.
Oh look, you're going to get an eePC desktop!

[Alareth @ Jan 10th 2009 5:38PM]

Shouldn't it be the AEEERO?

[drumdbeat @ Jan 10th 2009 8:10PM]

lol

[Daren @ Jan 10th 2009 6:07PM]

do we really need more things on a laptop that could break?

[Jmh @ Jan 10th 2009 8:38PM]

+1 for picture. But dude, he won, so take it off.

[kevin @ Jan 10th 2009 6:11PM]

Interesting concept, hideous laptop. Looks like something from the old school Star Wars. The idea has some potential though.

[Mobius_1 @ Jan 10th 2009 6:18PM]

"One more time
We gonna celebrate
Oh yeah, all right
Don't stop dancing"

That is a sweet concept, I hope Asus can make something of it.

[HK @ Jan 10th 2009 8:28PM]

people just like to condemn on idea or design they don't like...can people try sees thing positively..this is just and Idea or concept..a concept could trigger hundreds of thousands other better Ideas..to me..this concept mean a different configuration of portable computer.. applause for people who try take the first step or a extra step further..think and make new things..well you don't have to think that if you want to live the same old day with your innovative Dell laptop that offer red color.....recently...

[Boards of Canada @ Jan 10th 2009 6:37PM]

Shiiiiit, my daughter just spill a full hot chocolate on our new carpet...

[Mitch @ Jan 11th 2009 3:09AM]

High ranked for relevance

[jd @ Jan 10th 2009 6:55PM]

so like, why not just do it with a regular laptop design with detachable keyboard? So you can like expose the entire hot component to cool space?

[Al Bundy @ Jan 10th 2009 6:59PM]

something thats aero should not be that thick. it definitely kills the portability factor.

[Wolfticket @ Jan 10th 2009 7:11PM]

It sounds like the person behind the camera was having to think of baseball.

[gerrrg @ Jan 10th 2009 7:30PM]

Their engineering rivals anyone else in the world.

[Marty @ Jan 10th 2009 8:24PM]

Pretty damn ugly.