A laptop without a physical screen...with a dozen (plus) virtual screens
...but with limits, at this point
Friday, June 30, 2023 by DrJBHL | Discussion: Personal Computing
I saw this and thought I just have to write about it...then I looked up what Tom's hardware had to say.
There's no question that this is a huge step forward, but it's specs are limited at the moment. Tom's hardware takes a more exacting look at this machine, and it's worth reading both the NoCamels (enthusiastic and less exacting) and the Tom's Hardware (realistic, if negative and a tad harsh) articles to get a balanced view.
Specs:
CPU Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 - Kryo 585 8-cores, up to 3.1 GHz Graphics Adreno 650 Memory 8GB Storage 256GB Battery Life About 5 hours (claimed) Ports 2x USB Type-C (3.0) Networking Wi-Fi 6, 5G (Sub-6), Bluetooth 5.1 Webcam 5MP, 2560 x 1920 Operating System Spacetop OS (Android Open Source Project) Dimensions 10.47 x 9.8 x 1.57 inches (266 x 249 x 40 mm) Weight 3.3 pounds (1.5 kg) Price $2,000 (early access) "The company wants people who they think can use this the way envisioned — using lots of windows, largely web apps — trying the Spacetop first. People who need more powerful hardware, like gamers, will be asked to wait. Once an applicant is approved, they will pay $2,000 for their hardware."
-from Tom's Hardware
Personally. I think it's a great idea, but limited at this point by its OS and by its using only webapps. A valid point is that Apple's new VR headset might end up being a more attractive solution. What I found most attractive is that this, if it's combined with a Groupy app could give very portable, less costly work machines with dedicated work spaces and can if developed more, eliminate the cost of screen for businesses.
It's in the future though, and at least for me, I can see businesses and individuals wanting something like this if their processing demands aren't large for the software they use.
It needs much more processing power to get into the hard core gaming and digital design worlds.
Links:
1. https://nocamels.com/2023/06/the-screenless-laptop-with-a-dozen-virtual-screens/
Reply #2 Friday, June 30, 2023 1:11 PM
Nifty! This is something I could get into!
Yo Red! Good to see ya. At this point it seems a bit lightweight, but I also remember Commodore 64s. I think it's pretty cool for a couple of guys to have developed and produced it on a relatively small funding, even as is.
Reply #3 Saturday, July 1, 2023 12:31 PM
Great concept. Much better than headgear, once it is fully fleshed out for routine use. Headgear for gaming, this for work (if I'm still around then).
Reply #4 Saturday, July 1, 2023 12:59 PM
Great concept. Much better than headgear, once it is fully fleshed out for routine use. Headgear for gaming, this for work (if I'm still around then).
I'm cautiously optimistic about this because it ends the concept of screen rea estate and decreases resource usage and manufaturing as well as waste pollution. It's also cool. 
Reply #5 Saturday, July 1, 2023 1:43 PM
It looks cool. It is a shame that it is stuck with a snap dragon cpu and an android OS.
@Dr
Does Groupy 2 work on a chrome book? I know it is hard to get software to work properly on these arm processors.
Reply #7 Saturday, July 1, 2023 8:11 PM
If Chrome book can run on Windows10 or 11 and, from what I read, its on Intel Celeron, I assume it would work.
Thank you,
Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant
Reply #8 Sunday, July 2, 2023 12:36 AM
If Chrome book can run on Windows10 or 11 and, from what I read, its on Intel Celeron, I assume it would work.
Ah yes, The Celeron cpu is intels way of competing with the arm processors. Although it is not an arm processor. It is still a tradional x86 processor that intel was able to make way more power efficient for better portability.
I like what intel is attempting to do. However, in regards to raw performance the Celeron is no competition for the snapdragon. And if this contiues to be the case then we may not be able to stop the rise of these hard to work with arm processors.
Reply #9 Sunday, July 2, 2023 6:37 AM
Does Groupy 2 work on a chrome book? I know it is hard to get software to work properly on these arm processors.
Neil answered:
Please login to comment and/or vote for this skin.
Welcome Guest! Please take the time to register with us.
There are many great features available to you once you register, including:
- Richer content, access to many features that are disabled for guests like commenting on the forums and downloading skins.
- Access to a great community, with a massive database of many, many areas of interest.
- Access to contests & subscription offers like exclusive emails.
- It's simple, and FREE!
Reply #1 Friday, June 30, 2023 12:47 PM
Nifty! This is something I could get into!