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Triple the size of your laptop's screen with Slidenjoy

Looking to gain some extra screen real estate for your laptop, that doesn't weigh a ton? Slidenjoy, now on Kickstarter, might be just the thing.

Michael Franco
Freelancer Michael Franco writes about the serious and silly sides of science and technology for CNET and other pixel and paper pubs. He's kept his fingers on the keyboard while owning a B&B in Amish country, managing an eco-resort in the Caribbean, sweating in Singapore, and rehydrating (with beer, of course) in Prague. E-mail Michael.
Michael Franco
2 min read

Voila! It's that easy to triple your screen real estate, say Slidenjoy's creators. Slidenjoy

As a writer, I always thought I'd spend more time in atmospheric cafes working on my stories than in the basement office where I usually am. I'm frequently held back from the latte life by the simple reality of screen real estate -- my Macbook's 13-incher just isn't enough to handle all the windows I need to have open as a I write and research.

Sure, I could add my iPad as a second monitor using the Duet app, but still, that's not quite enough to handle all the windows I need open. And yes, there are portable monitors, but they tend to be bulky and heavy.

A new invention called Slidenjoy, now raising funds on Kickstarter, might be set to change all this.

The device consists of a flat panel that attaches to the back of your laptop via adhesive magnets. Then, either one or two panels slide out to the side of your laptop's screen from there. If you have a USB 3.0 port on your computer, all you need to do is plug in to that and you're good to go. Otherwise, you'll need to plug in to two USB 2.0 ports to provide power to the screens.

The screens can swivel 180 degrees, so they work well for presentations or sharing content with someone sitting beside or opposite you.

The screens come in three sizes: 13, 15 and 17 inches. Each panel weighs between 50 and 100 grams (about 1.8 to 3.5 ounces) depending on the size, so even in the largest configuration you're still looking at just over a half pound. Considering that a lot of single portable monitors start at around 2 pounds and go up from there, the weight savings with Slidenjoy are mighty.

So, unfortunately, is the price. You could buy a regular single 16-inch portable monitor through Amazon for less than $100 (about £64, AU$135) these days. The Slidenjoy pricing scale is a little confusing, but an early bird single will cost you €199 (about $216, £139, AU$293) and the double will set you back €299 (about $324, £208, AU$440). Once the campaign is over, the regular price on the single will be €289 (about $314, £201, AU$426) and the double will be €389 (about $422, £271, AU$573).

Still, if you need the portability and the extra screen real estate, the cost just might be worth it. There are already over 1,100 backers who feel it is, as they've helped push the campaign well past its goal of $331,305. There are still 19 days left in the campaign, and the screens are expected to ship in December of this year.