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-200

I’d like to see them make a No Keyboard Laptop

-200 points posted to Accessories (Keyboards, etc.), Laptops by doctorcox Feb 29

Re-design the internal parts so that everything is behind the screen … add a compartment to store a wireless Palm styled keyboard (since about 40 million people proficiently use that style of input device).
A disappearing sliding door would protect the (touch) screen.
An optional full-size keyboard could be plugged-in.
For increased ruggedness include a thick neoprene coating.
Make it available in various colors.
Call it a “Crossover”.

okroger104
Feb 29		 Sounds like a PDA.
millhauz
Feb 29		 I´ve encountered something like that a couple of years back, but I don´t know the manufacturer anymore. Problem was that with the keyboard plugged in, the screen part was so heavy, that it could not "stand" like with a notebook. Looked cool though
I guess you´re asking for an oversized PDA...
jorge
Feb 29		 Dupe. Its been an idea for awhile.
doctorcox
Feb 29		 Not a PDA... all of the power and features of a laptop but without the standard laptop keyboard. The world is changing and I believe it's time to take a closer look at utilizing the smaller (plam size) keyboard. That size has been successfully adopted by most of the mobile world.
zanlok
Feb 29		 HP had a little thing a lot like this. the computing power was seriously lacking, though.
jorge
Feb 29		 Well doctorcox (how the new account creator let you use that only means they are not reading, yet again), looks like yet another futuristic idea is squished, too bad it will still be done no matter what the demoter's fear.
doctorcox
Feb 29		 Thanks jorge.
And, another clarification ... not "a little HP thing" as mentioned above.
Do we have the ability to use colored text here? I would like the words “No Keyboard” to be in red and the words “wireless Palm styled keypad” to be in red bold underlined.
zanlok
Feb 29		 no. and that's exactly why. because people would abuse it.
zanlok
Feb 29		 p.s. what you are talking about is ten years off. I'm demoting because it was tried and not done well and it doesn't sell. when you can pack a 3GHz octo-proc in there alongside 32GB PRAM or something, then maybe we'll talk
jorge
Feb 29		 Well you have to start somewhere, gaming PC's didn't start with SLI as default or an option.
doctorcox
Feb 29		 It has never been tried ... what's so hard to understand about using a wireless Palm size keyboard with a laptop computer? Think about your favorite laptop with a missing keybaord... next think about a touch screen monitor built into the place where the keyboard was. Now the hard part ... visualize using something totally new ... a wireless Palm size keyboard.
jorge
Feb 29		 Nothing is wrong with it, much like the wireless phone and then cell phone, some people were scared (some still are) to use them. I'm just surprised to see so many "Tech" people so scared of new technology, really baffled... guess not everyone is ready for the future.
okroger104
Feb 29		 On my Axim PDA, I used a soft keyboard made by TENGO. I can type on it using the stylus about as fast as I can type on a normal keyboard. Would be cool on a larger screen to be able to type with just two or three of your fingers of one hand.

So I think I understand what you're talking about.

Here's an example of the TENGO soft keyboard: (it's an animated gif, so keep your eyes on it for a demonstration.)
jorge
Feb 29		 Hey I can see what you're typing, cool, pop some por... pictures up.
okroger104
Feb 29		 LOL. No. I'm too bashful.
doctorcox
Mar 1		 Hey okroger104, that's a great illustration of an alternative keyboard. The full size keyboard definitely has some competition, especially for mobile/portable users. A “Crossover” computer product (below) could open new doors.
kenjennings
Mar 1		 The idea pretty much describes a slate format tablet.

I'd actually like a laptop/portable with no keyboard or display. My work Lattitude travels between a docking station at work and another at home. I can't remember the last time I actually opened the case and used its keyboard and display.

Something like a small format computer that plugs into the docking stations would be good. In an emergency it could work without the docking station, needing only two wires -- one for power and one for video. Using wifi and bluetooth it could be hooked up to a network and keyboard/mouse without any additional wires. And without the display, keyboard, and battery built in it should be very light.
doctorcox
Mar 1		 welcome to "outside the box" thinking
okroger104
Mar 1		 I think it would be better to use a "soft" keyboard with multiple modes than a remote-like keyboard. Everything should be integrated. That palm sized keyboard looks like something you can lose and then you're SOL until you get another one.
doctorcox
Mar 1		 Multi-modes would be good. I happen to prefer the Palm keyboard because I use my Palm so much. But not integrated because I don’t like putting my body in the ‘laptop user’ position.
okroger104
Mar 1		 But imagine if it were a unit that's no bigger than 6" x 9". You can hold it with one hand, use the other to tap a finger friendly soft keyboard that doesn't require a stylus. You can stand while using it.
doctorcox
Mar 1		 A 6X9 unit would be very appealing. And I do like the soft keyboard concept but I would sill prefer the Palm keyboard (personally). And I want a machine that could do double duty as a desktop when connected at a docking station.
okroger104
Mar 1		 Right, didn't think about the docking station aspect. A hand sized keyboard with integrated trackball would be awesome. Whole thing is coming to me now. Good thinking doc. I like the concept of this unit.

I can imagine myself with it docked to a 24" screen while laid back in my chair, palm sized keyboard in my right hand, coffee in my left...

That's the life. As compared to being hunched over a 101key keyboard. Also a palm sized keyboard is very ergonomic.
 
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