October 23, 2008 weblog
ASUStek Shows Off Concept Notebooks
(PhysOrg.com) -- ASUStek showcased its concept notebook with both an internal display and external display for checking e-mail, utilizing a dedicated MP3 key without opening the notebook. The external display concept is borrowed from current cell phones with dual display. The idea of checking e-mail and checking out music while on the run is a novel design concept for notebooks. ASUS one of the leaders in ultra-portable notebooks is a likely candidate for introducing any convenience for commuting users.
ASUStek is not the only player considering the dual-display design concept. Gizmondo reports that Acer and Mitac Technologies may be entering the mix in developing a notebook with a double-display.
ASUS demonstrated the double-display notebook recently at an Intel Developers Conference in San Francisco. The external display provides a sneak peak of most used functions and appears to require very little future improvements. It may be available to the consumer market within a reasonable time.
Another ASUStek concept notebook was displayed earlier in the year at Computex,2008. The concept notebook has dual touch screen displays. According to Rick Morris of Digitimes users can interact with the system using touch and gestures. The screens will change automatically depending on the type of activity the user chooses. As an example a screen will show a traditional looking keyboard and track-pad for drafting or editing documents.
Mr. Morris speculates the news from Microsoft which revealed Windows 7 will rely to a significant extent on touch-based controls may have contributed to the ASUStek design concept. The good news is the double-touch screen may be available to the consumer within a few years.
ASUStek is familiar with putting the pedal to the metal in moving a design to the consumer pipe-line. ASUS incorporation of the Intel Atom processor and energy conservation features moved in sync with Intel. There is little doubt this nimble and agile ultra-portable producer will have a compatible double-display touchscreen ready when Microsoft introduces Windows 7.