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Asus dual-screen laptop ditches the keyboard for a touchscreen

Asus-dual-screen-touchscreen-keyboard.jpgAsus and Intel run a site called WePC.com, which the companies pitch as a place where you can dump all of your awesome computer-related ideas for the duo's engineers to capitalize on. Pretty handy, if you're not married to your idea and don't have any said engineers.

WePC.com managed to bear fruit, which Asus showed off at the CeBit 2009 show in Germany. It's another dual-screen laptop concept, but with a touchscreen instead of a keyboard, opting for a virtual 'board just like the iPhone. Having two screens makes it pretty versatile in the company's eyes, giving it extended functionality like you'd have with a tablet without having to bulk up the laptop to accommodate the second screen. It reminds us a bit of that modded Japanese Eee PC we showed you.

So what do you think? Are we getting closer to a dual-screen solution we can actually get behind? Asus is certainly pushing to redefine the laptop. Click Continue to see more shots of the Asus dual-screen and a press release after the jump.

Asus-dual-screen-touchscreen-keyboard-2.jpg

From Asus:

As a leading manufacturer in innovative mobile computing products, ASUS is constantly seeking feedback and listening to the demands of end-users. This year at CeBIT 2009, ASUS has unveiled a revolutionary dual panel concept notebook that is the result of the ideas contributed from users from around the world. As part of the "Community Designed PC" project initiated by ASUS and IntelĀ®, the concept is still a work-in-progress which requires continued feedback. ASUS is thus taking the opportunity to encourage users to participate in the development of this concept notebook. Additional information regarding this concept can be found at WePC.com.

The dual panel concept is just one of the top ideas discussed at WePC.com. The dual panel offers a flexible working space in which users can adapt to suit their prevailing usage scenarios, for example adjusting the size of the virtual touchpad and keyboard. Through hand gestures, handwriting recognition and multi-touch, users are presented with a control surface that is both flexible and intuitive. Users can use the dual panel concept in a myriad of usage scenarios, for example as a conventional notebook with multi-touch screens, a virtual keyboard and touchpad; a multimedia hub, in which both dual panels could combine to form a larger display for widescreen entertainment; or an E-book mode in which users can hold the dual panel concept notebook just like they would a conventional book while flipping pages through intuitive gestures or by touch. These concepts aim to bring convenience to the user through technological innovations and user-centric design.

Asus, via CNET

 
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(9) COMMENTS

TUI:
Good idea. But I'll wait for a tablet PC with a foldable display. Many companies are trying to build practical fold...More »


Comments

By ITrush at 9:23 AM ON 03/03/09

A really nice concept.. wonder what's next with touchscreens and dualscreens..

By djtechy at 9:50 AM ON 03/03/09

v12 design has somethin like this.

v12design.com, click on eng, then 02, second row, second from the right. asus might be cheaper, but it isn't really original

By coralamber at 11:12 AM ON 03/03/09

I will buy this when/if it ever comes on the market. I've been patiently waiting for the OX2.

By BoxerFanatic at 11:22 AM ON 03/03/09

Why?

Why not just one slate tablet screen, with larger area... and a touch keyboard that appears on-screen?

Why bother with hinges, and multiple case parts, and just make a flat device with a useable screen, and a keyboard that comes up on-demand.

While we're at it... use multi-touch and Mac OS. If Apple ever builds that, count me in, definitely. Otherwise, with this one, why not just use a netbook or small laptop?

By EnOne at 2:24 PM ON 03/03/09

I see this as a great option for people who use/want custom keyboards. Not everyone uses QWERTY.

By jcmd13 at 2:22 AM ON 03/04/09

First of all you make it a clam shell design so that it folds up for transport. You don't want to make it a flat surface with no hinges because it would be too big to just take with you. Secondly you use the clamshell design so you can protect the screen when you are not using it. The screens are delicate and can be hurt if just left out all the time, look at the ds who uses the same concept.

By thexfile at 2:48 AM ON 03/04/09

last year i bough myself a new laptop and a bigger wacom tablet , if i know this was coming maby i would have waited :-S

if they put a ful wacom intuos 3 tablet interior under that bas screen i wil buy one if it has 4 gigs or more ram....

for me it would be idea since i rarely use a keabord and always have altleast 1 tablet.
and i use a seperate keabord anyway becouse otherwise my wrists are up 2 high...

so i would say make it alreay becouse if your into grapick design at home or in a smal office and you need a portable maschine this would be very nice indeed :-)

make it already hihihi

By Johan Hattingh at 11:56 PM ON 03/06/09

This is the best idea ever -I will wait.My current asus eeepc is my favourite of four different brands that I have - Asus just know how to get ir right -that is why so many of their EEE's have sold

By TUI at 9:10 AM ON 11/16/09

Good idea. But I'll wait for a tablet PC with a foldable display. Many companies are trying to build practical foldable displays. One examples is found at the following URL:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G2SCZvU8sGU


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