Optoma's screen-in-a-bag actually makes a lot of sense
Optoma doesn't have a price, release date or even a name for this thing, but it's a pretty solid idea: a portfolio-style case with slots for a pico projector and miscellanea on one side, with a pop-up miniature projector screen on the other half. We guess you could call it a "pico screen" if you don't mind odd looks from math nerds who actually know what pico means. We'll let you know if this thing gets any more official, or if we think of a better title for it.



























As a highly trained math nerd myself, I would correct you: it should say, "If you don't mind getting odd looks from everyone who ISN'T a math nerd." Math nerds will understand the symbolism immediately; duh...
Aren't physics and chemistry nerds more likely to understand what pico is than math nerds?
Hey, what about us Computer Science Nerds!?
To me, pico = wanna be emacs.
It's because pico is such a small measurement that the Math nerds would have an odd look in their face. They'd find it absurd to call it pico as pico is even much smaller than nano. Pico would be used to defiine the radius of an atom. It's that small.
pico doesn't mean anything on its own. 1 pico-astronomical unit is about 6 inches if my math is correct and I have no idea if it is, so maybe the name comes from it being 2pAU big.
doesn't pico mean 10 to the -12?
Mini Portable Display - MPD
Why not just make a briefcase with an LCD in it?
Or heck, why not just show your image on your laptop? Its roughly the same size and will look at lot better....
Carrying around a lappy that size would probably add a lot of weight and expense for simple movie viewing, not to mention be a lot more accident-prone/drop-n-breakable.
I thought of the extra LCD too, with batteries, but yea, it adds more weight.
@Adam - exactly!
I love projectors for home theatre but let me get this straight - this provides a barely bigger screen that looks washed out in bright lights and can't sit on your lap, takes time to set up, requires extra wiring and uses a projector on a tripod that can be easily knocked over? And this is better than a laptop how?
My thoughts exactly.
@Noli
"I love projectors for home theatre but let me get this straight - this provides a barely bigger screen that looks washed out in bright lights and can't sit on your lap, takes time to set up, requires extra wiring and uses a projector on a tripod that can be easily knocked over? And this is better than a laptop how?"
It's better to a particular target market -- let's say people you meet in conference rooms. You typically dim the lights/close shades during presentations, you never give presentations on your lap, the projector isn't likely to be knocked down on a conference table, and the whole thing is no worse to set up than a larger projector and looks easier to caary since you can throw it in your laptop bag.
Thinking the exact same thing here. Looking at these images the first thought that pops into my head is "laptop". The whole purpose of using a projector is to be able to project large images. That being said, there's nothing wrong with the idea of building a screen into a bag that you would use for other stuff anyway. I just don't think I'd pay a premium for it since walls are cheap, plentiful and scalable =)
As for the weight issue, you still have the weight of the projector + accessories and whatever device will be used as your media source. Unless you always have access to a media source at your destination, packing an ultralight wouldn't be much heavier.
Irony is that I bet some people will connect their laptops to that projector to show stuff on a laptopscreen sized canvas.
You know, I agree with the title. Also, excellent backup screen.
Now if those silly flexible OLED's would hurry up then we could just do away with said projector and roll out an 96 X 54 screen to place against the wall....
I know I'm up too late when I see the headline "Obama's screen-in-a-bag actually makes a lot of sense." I was really hoping our President was innovating more than just healthcare.
Im just glad Im not the only one who thought of Obama!!!
I "read" Obama.... and immidiately clicked on it to see what Obama was doing with such item!!
lol
Could be useful if you're toting a Mac Mini or a tiny netbook as your mobile computing hub and image source. Perhaps also useable as a DVD player screen, at a pinch?
Bag of hurt
I guess if the bag was as large as an artists portfolio, then this would make sense. I suspect that even a netbook screen would be nicer to look at then the inside of this particular bag.
i would like to have a laptop with a big fat ass display rather then this, just imagine how long u need to setup this finny thingy, laptops are not that heavy as they were before
He's implying that the math nerds, who actually know what pico means, will know that the prefix pico ( 10^-12 ) is much too small to be used to describe this screen.
a screen-in-a-bag at that size? why not get a laptop and you can do much more than present a recorded presentation (maybe edit one too)
9 inch case with screen and paper notepad and pen. pico projector with nettop built in running your favourite OS. 3G, a bluetooth keyboard and handset to act as your phone. Awesome battery life.
I'd buy that for a dollar.
failure
hahaha,,
this is a bit silly no?
Just use a laptop all together
"a laptop will add extra weight"
what are you left with then? a pico projector and a "screenInABox" ?
surely you need some sort of source for your flashy presentation??
Actually those projectors often do have SD cardslots, and connections for iphones and such, but as I said earlier, most like people will actually use their laptops with it yeah.
The idea could be great if you could play presentations by plugging usb / mem cards directly to the projector ( which i think is not the case)
then the idea could look cool if that old leather case is swapped for a snazzy injection molded ( can have leather trim) case which is flat and stands at 90degree.
Many of you are forgetting that when giving a presentation, it helps to be able to see your own laptop screen, especially if you are using the "presenter view" feature. Plus laptop screens are not always ideal for boardroom meetings in cramped quarters where LCD viewing angles can cause visibility issues.
This is a nice solution for times when a real projector/additional laptop combo are not available.