We have been hearing about
dualscreen laptops (and
readers) for too long now, but it's
MSI to be the first to show off a real working unit. And it's everything we have ever dreamed of -- well kind of. Though MSI is calling this dual 10-inch screen device an
e-reader, it's really a netbook with two screens since it's got an Atom Z Series processor and Windows 7 Home Premium. But it's how the two screens work together that we can't get out of our minds. Hit the break for some more impressions and to see this crazy thing on video.
The all metal device is about the size of a netbook and it actually felt quite heavy in our hand. On the inside of the dual 10-inch, capacitive multitouch screens work like extended displays and we were able to drag windows from one screen to the other. The entire thing was a bit flaky since it's obviously running some beta software, but the digital keyboard was easy to pull up and had a haptic-like feedback when we started typing on the bottom screen. The whole thing is pretty damn awesome for a very early build, and the fact that MSI actually plans to bring it to market within the year is pretty unbelievable. We'll bring you more details as we get them, but for now check the video.
posted January 6th 2010 9:46PM
I wish they would stop calling these things with less than a day's worth of charge power "eReaders" or "eBook Readers". Just because it can display an eBook does not make it a eReader!
why would they call it an e-reader, it doesnt even have an e-ink display!
They need to make a nice custom keyboard because the Win7 one looks like crap all stretched out like that.
The top image illustrates why I don't think this idea is going to go far. In order to be really useful, every application will have to be redesign to take advantage of having two panes, and in both orientations, and when the keyboard is present.
Some nice concepts, especially the option of using one screens as a keyboard when in landscape mode. But it still suffers from a major GUI problem that is only going to be solved with a lot of re-written software -- both at the OS and application level. Until that happens, it's a neat geek toy, or perhaps it may also find a very niche use somewhere.
Pity they let Wolverine have a go on it before taking the photos.
I wouldn't be surprised if MSI will be the producer for the courier tablet. It would be very nice if windows 7 would be the underlying OS. This will definitely be a consumer wannahave.
Awesome... Finally we're gonna have Pennie's computerbook from Inspector Gadget!
:)
WIN!
very, very beautyfull ... and the price is: .... mail me at arr1975 at yahoo dot com ... thanks
She likes the idea of having the full windows 7 operating system on it instead off some slimmed down linux kernel (what?).
I think people like her will really like a full windows 7 operating system on their toasters to. With intel atom processors of course :)
best device at CES this year, almost all the other products are just rehashes of existing stuff. can't wait - full OS as opposed to another light weight OS, great no compatibility problems with files etc.. only one OS to learn, Hope MSI does bring this to market.
Looks like a nice concept but it can't make it beyond "neat toy" status for the following reasons:
1) It runs Windows. I've yet to see Windows be realistically useful in any way, shape, or form without a keyboard and mouse. Heck, Windows is a poor choice for all purpose-built devices (i.e. e-readers), period.
2) It uses LCD instead of e-ink or even OLED. Better keep it plugged in (and FULLY unfolded) all the time. Totally negates its intended purpose.
3) It's running on the Atom platform. I'm guessing the reason for this is so it could run Windows (which I've already said was a bad idea).
4) There's no point to having dual screens when reading eBooks. The physical limitations of binding pages together are what give regular books their "dual page view" existence. There's no ergonomic reason why text needs to be this way. A few years from now we'll look back and laugh at the silly products meant to "transition" people from dead tree books to eBooks.
-Riskable
"If you have a plethora of tools every problem starts to look like a chance to use your imagination."
@riskable Alot of dominant technologies are just "Neat Toys", they're almost always something that does the job better but the gimmick makes one sell better over the other.
And you must not be a Windows user because the entire operating system is easier to use without a mouse and keyboard. Unless you think that double tapping is more confusing than double clicking. And I almost never use the keyboard in the OS itself; clicking and scrolling does everything. The only time I use a keyboard are in applications themselves. As far as OS navigation the keyboard is un-used (unless doing shortcuts).
I can only suppose that your objection to Windows 7 being difficult as an OS is because your eye hand coordination is too poor and the icons are too small for you too click without them being big glossy buttons that take up half the screen. But there's still a setting for that if you have problems.
This item I will buy
i'm thinking this is the future of cell phones. imagine your iphone or droid with two screens. There wouldn't be a need for zooming on a browser at all.
very cool. when perfected, this could go places.might be a photographers best friends, without needing a large 17 inch notebook you can blow up photos to do some on the spot editing