The Dell Community has contributed: 9511 ideas | promoted 651438 times | 73323 comments

How IdeaStorm Works:

Post Promote Discuss See
Monitors and Displays Comments | Monitors and Displays Ideas
238

Extendable Laptop Screen

238 points posted to Monitors and Displays by alokjain 02/18/07

I see two usage in desktop environment that have not seen in Laptop environment so much yet, even though Laptop is increasingly displacing desktops. These are:

A. People keep their LCD monitors in a portrait mode as opposed to standard landscape mode. This ofcourse allows for more vertical space to browse website, work on long documents, write code etc..

Monitor in Portrait Mode

B. Usage of two monitors

Dual Displays

Laptops on other hand so far have been restricted to Landscape mode and a single screen only. I think there is value in bringing the above trends into a laptop as well. Ofcourse it's simpler said than done, and has impact on everything - weight, battery etc.. but those are next level issues. First thing is to think if it makes sense from a customer perspective or not.

First the Idea, so here is an illustration of how this my look:

Folding Laptop

This is ofcourse a very very simplified (oversimplified in many respects) view of the concept, but first thing to explore here is the increased screen size and real estate as that is the end value delivered.

< Screen could be folded to get back to current Laptop design format. In this diagram it looks like the folded screen is unprotected, but that can be easily fixed so that whent he screen actually folds the display side faces inwards as opposed to outwards.

The orientation of the second screen could be horizontal as well:

Folding laptop - Horizontal

dhdeans
02/19/07		 alokjain, I like your very creative suggestion. I hadn't thought about this issue before, but this is certainly worth exploring further, IMHO.
alokjain
02/19/07		 Thanks dhdeans!
dave
02/19/07		 I would rather have a half laptop... which is user configurable.. in cases where I would not have access to a disply CRT/ LCD I will just need to attach the LCD.. this gives me future LCD upgrade if screen resolution improves.. If I do not need the LCD, then I just carry the base..
alokjain
02/19/07		 That is an interestig idea dave, just snap in a display as needed.. sounds very interesting.
toebee
02/21/07		 I'm afraid we need a little more materials research before this would be possible. Current screens would tip the laptop over if they were extended as suggested. Unless of course you add a counterweight. But then you are back to "laptops" of the 80s - luggable workstations. I prefer light and power-wise laptops myself. When I need screen realestate I go to my desktop.
alokjain
02/21/07		 I agree Toebee, however first thing to define is if such a feature woudl actually add any value.. if it does then the material research will make sense, but if it does nto deliver any value then no point.. So if this could be developed as lightweight, do you think it'll add value for you?
captainsensible
02/28/07		 All things are possible with MSPaint.. Just wait for color e-paper... then everything will be possible.
zanlok
Feb 3		 voting isn't working right now
this idea could be implemented with OLED
zanlok
Feb 3		 but it should probably roll up and scroll out instead of folding
Please log in to post a comment
recently promoted by: