More details on D-Link's upcoming 7-inch SideStage USB monitor

We swung by D-Link's booth at CES to check out its upcoming SideStage USB-powered monitor, hoping to see the thing in action and get some more details ahead of its release. What we found was quite familiar looking, to say the least. D-Link was disappointingly just demoing a Nanovision, but was quick to point out this would not be the product destined for a full US release sometime this summer. That new display will still be produced by Nanovision, but will be modified to better suit our market, graced with a different logo, and cheaper, too. No firm price yet, but the company is targeting sub-$100, which sounds good to us.

[Mike @ Jan 13th 2009 2:50PM]

Looks cool, but it reminded me of something... is Google ever going to update the Google Talk application?

[Verythrax @ Jan 13th 2009 2:40PM]

So it's REALLY the device look? I thought that you (and Gizmodo) took the mimo pic as example only...

Maybe it's the same product, rebranded?

[Electromodo @ Jan 13th 2009 4:48PM]

I have the MIMO UM-710, and I say the D-Link on the photo looks EXACTLY the same. Except for the logo.

So yes, it should be rebranded then.

[Chris @ Jan 13th 2009 2:44PM]

this seems like it would be very handy for me, a photoshop artist, to have. I could put my pallet, layers, and brushes all on that little screen and leave my big ol' 24 incher to just handle the image itself. Very useful!

[Lars @ Jan 13th 2009 8:06PM]

You just described a multi-monitor layout... which artists, techs, and programmers have been using for years. I'm typing this on my second monitor right now in fact.

[chris.p.dunning @ Jan 13th 2009 8:49PM]

@Chris:

Very true. I use Final Cut Pro for video editing, and I'd love to have one of these for my tools and such.

@Lars:

I'm sure he's aware of the concept of a multi-monitor setup. I've used multiple monitors for years, too, but it would be nice to not need a full size monitor taking up more desk space. I've got a ton of backup drives, tape decks, cameras, and a million other things. It would be nice to conserve some of that by putting a little 7" right below my full size. I don't need an extra 20", it will only serve one of two purposes for me:

1. I have my non-work related apps open on screen two, which becomes a distraction from my work, or;

2. I have my tools on screen two with a lot of wasted space.

[rita hainsworth @ Jan 13th 2009 2:49PM]

I would have my picture displayed on this while i worked on my reg. monitor

[Oli D @ Jan 13th 2009 3:28PM]

save yourself some money and buy a mirror

[loocas @ Jan 13th 2009 4:41PM]

I would have your picture on my 7" anytime, anywhere!

[cwj @ Jan 13th 2009 4:53PM]

but mirrors don't do candid shots.

[Lars @ Jan 13th 2009 8:07PM]

Wouldn't mirrors *always* do candid shots?

[terry @ Jan 13th 2009 10:07PM]

i would have your picture displayed on this while working on my reg. monitor. :)

[syko21 @ Jan 13th 2009 2:50PM]

This would be very useful for procrastinating/working while watching a video at the same time.

[joe23521 @ Jan 13th 2009 2:50PM]

Good thing to have at work for non-work activities. All it needs is a "boss button" that promptly turns it into a digital photo frame upon the arrival of your supervisor.

[joe23521 @ Jan 13th 2009 2:51PM]

I need to type faster.

[Erwos @ Jan 13th 2009 2:51PM]

Considering I just found out that I might need something like this for a headless install, I'm thinking they might have my custom...

[Kevin Gass @ Jan 13th 2009 2:53PM]

I would buy one....scratch that I will buy one. throw my IM client on the small screnn, play games on the other. Diggnation on the small one, WoW on the big one. I cant wait

[Oli D @ Jan 13th 2009 3:27PM]

cools...

[keland444 @ Jan 13th 2009 3:00PM]

I like these and the product line these look great for in case solutions now if only they came in sizes bigger then 7in an 8in-10in wide screen would be great with touchscreen and possible overlay options would be nice

[musback @ Jan 13th 2009 3:00PM]

with a 800x480 res in portrait mode ideal to extend my 1280x800 laptop screen.

[jakjak9210 @ Jan 13th 2009 8:31PM]

thats such a good idea!
i hadnt thought of that, atm i have a 17" screen in portrait mode to extend mine, but its a little overkill for what i need.

[KilgoreTrout @ Jan 13th 2009 3:01PM]

Must be touch screen though , otherways the original Nanovision will still be a better option

[Gordon McAlpin @ Jan 13th 2009 3:02PM]

This would be a great palette monitor for Illustrator, Photoshop, etc.

[AVG @ Jan 13th 2009 3:10PM]

Is "SideStage" the Windows 7 version of Vista's "SideShow?" Or is this completely different?

[Erik @ Jan 13th 2009 4:01PM]

It's still listed as SideShow in Windows 7, so that's probably just the product name (likely to indicate compatibility with SideShow).

[pewpewcat @ Jan 13th 2009 3:15PM]

i'll be interested when they make it multitouch so i can set up world of warcraft buttons in it or other game commands

good lord i need a life...

[silkkutz @ Jan 13th 2009 3:19PM]

been there... seen that...
basic model
http://www.scan.co.uk/product.aspx?ProductId=27489

speakers and mic model
http://www.scan.co.uk/product.aspx?ProductId=27490

[Dez @ Jan 13th 2009 3:21PM]

I have the mimo, touchscreen version. I'm pretty happy with it, but the touch isn't perfect (maybe if i would just calibrate it already)

Its a nice display to keep a media player in, so its easy to switch songs, watch a video, etc. i move it across the room to my nightstand so i can change songs while im in bed, plus it just has a serious cool factor. can't speak for the webcam or microphone, or audio passthrough, as i havent used any of that.

[David @ Jan 13th 2009 3:43PM]

How much did you pay?

[Morphix @ Jan 13th 2009 6:12PM]

I'm wondering how well this would work with a wireless usb set-up.
Would be nice to it anywhere (in range of the receiver, of course)
I'm deffinetly thinking of picking up the touch model. All thats left is wireless set-up, and its touchscreen RTS goodness!

[rtdunham @ Jan 13th 2009 10:11PM]

wirelessly, this could be used in another room with airport-connected speakers, as an awesome remote control, no?

[Oli D @ Jan 13th 2009 3:24PM]

Fucking awesome, how many of these can you have running at once?

[Oli D @ Jan 13th 2009 5:25PM]

i think i got a bit too excited by these, what can i say, i'd just had my coffee

[dj-kenpo @ Jan 14th 2009 9:52AM]

hopefully many!

I want to grab a netbook, and grab one of these and rebuild the case so it swivels off the netbook lid as a second monitor!

[jsh4ft @ Jan 13th 2009 3:36PM]

These are still available from www.thegadgeteers.com for anyone who never read the previous posts on the MiMo.

Jeremy Shafton
The Gadgeteers

[Hinten @ Jan 13th 2009 4:52PM]

And by "still available" you mean "not available".

[jeff allan @ Jan 13th 2009 3:57PM]

one word for the look of this thing: FUGLY. good idea, horribly designed.

[Ellianth @ Jan 13th 2009 4:44PM]

I think it looks nice.

[NeoDarkSaver @ Jan 13th 2009 4:17PM]

this would certainly be better than the display on the G15 or even the G19

[bob sakamano @ Jan 13th 2009 4:23PM]

i wish they would make it more portable

[Will Jackson @ Jan 13th 2009 4:28PM]

Strange... Looks a lot like this:
http://satechi.com/MIMO-UM730-USB-Powered-7-Swivel/M/B001OXSEPK.htm

Just about exactly, except not sub $100

:)

[m-p{3} @ Jan 13th 2009 4:38PM]

Yay for using Google Talk.

[loocas @ Jan 13th 2009 4:46PM]

"but will be modified to better suit our market, graced with a different logo, and cheaper, too."

Basically means "sub-$100 in the US" and "above-€100 in Europe"

[brighenne @ Jan 13th 2009 4:52PM]

So if I'm playing a hardware accelerated full screen game, will it still lose focus if I try to switch to a program on this monitor?

[Minilap @ Jan 13th 2009 4:58PM]

It really needs a built-in webcam.

[jje @ Jan 13th 2009 5:14PM]

only "sub $100" huh?

better be because I could buy a much larger screen for $100.

Sounds like a useful idea but it would never be remotely worth it for me unless it was "sub $75".

[Travis @ Jan 13th 2009 6:40PM]

I don't know why I want this. I already have 2 monitors. It just seems like a third full size one is overkill, so this seems like a good compromise.

[SilentStalker @ Jan 13th 2009 6:15PM]

well, considering some of us already have larger screens, and are lacking desk space, i really wouldn't mid shelling out the $200 for the touch model. However, i'm still going to wait and see what the prices of these when they come out, compared to the MIMO-branded screens

[Neoprimal @ Jan 13th 2009 7:13PM]

Apart from being touch screen, these def. won't work for many people considering that you'll positively get 15-17 inches for sub $100 and even some 19 inchers clock in at around $100 now. Granted, you'd still need an extra monitor port on your video card whereas these use USB ports. So I guess it'd work for those who already have 2 screens OR for those that need touchscreen.

[VasR @ Jan 13th 2009 7:57PM]

Definitely MiMo. I reviewed the UM-740. Great little device:

http://www.terracode.com/MIMO_UM740_Review/UM-740%20review_P1.html