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General discussion

"Transportable" All-In-One Desktop PCs should be a thing.

Jul 25, 2016 1:59PM PDT

I don't think people who wish to have a "movable" PC in their life should necessarily be forced into getting a "Laptop". Laptops, while fine for a whole lot of situations, are not nearly as good as All-In-Ones for productivity and comfort. They are non-ergonomic, they don't (naturally) come with a mouse, and their screens generally max out at 17". I think there are a lot of hybrid designs that can still be explored. Please see my sketches linked below, which include Rugged/Construction variants as well as a Gaming variant.

https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0B6VIwvkoUxnXczY4S2N5WXJEUnM&usp=sharing

Discussion is locked

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that is stupid
Jul 25, 2016 2:24PM PDT

tt is better to have a laptop. at least it is portable, easy to manage, and light to carry.

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I agree
Jul 25, 2016 3:29PM PDT

For most situations, you're right. But there ARE some use cases out there that don't apply to you, so you wouldn't understand the benefit of this. People in developing countries like India and China would best understand the need for a Hybrid Desktop PC.

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Next I'll read
Jul 25, 2016 3:56PM PDT

That it must be cheaper than current products or have battery times 10X the norm.

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Actually, 10% the norm is fine.
Jul 25, 2016 4:15PM PDT

Whatever battery life a Transportable Desktop would have would be just for plug-to-plug transport, i.e. a few minutes only. They're not laptop substitutes, they're convenient Desktop variations for certain people with high productivity desires, but no good place to "permanently" set up a traditional desktop. They are not "mobile" they're simply "transportable".

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Then create it.
Jul 25, 2016 4:19PM PDT

I've seen such ideas before yet for some reason these never get the traction the designer envisioned.

So today you have 3D printers, Rasperry Pi 3 power and more to mock up and give folk a taste as you do crowd funding.

I usually find the designer always blows the schedule. They rarely know it took decades to get where we are today.

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Available by Christmas 2020, guaranteed :)
Jul 25, 2016 4:35PM PDT

I'm working on it, man. You'll see, I'm going to satisfy the computing desires of all those Sri Lankan and Taiwanese programmers who are forced to code on cramped laptops on their dining room table....if it's the last thing I do! lol Happy (Actually, I see much more use for Military/FEMA, and those kind of situations).

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Wait.
Jul 25, 2016 5:01PM PDT

In my work I've traveled to Taiwan to work with folk there on projects. Since I've been there, what are you writing about cramped? Sure they had a desk and a shared lab but cramped? Nope.

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the thing is
Jul 26, 2016 2:15PM PDT

there are already portable aio's out there. I know for sure Dell sells them and I am willing to bet other companies have them. so it is really nothing new.

Personally I still do not see how one would be beneficial to developing countries, since they would be power hungry - especially if you are talking about 23 inch or bigger screens. developing countries do not always have electricity available 24/7.

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Isn't that covered
Jul 26, 2016 10:19AM PDT

Well, if you don't like a laptop and an AIO isn't your flavor, then maybe a tablet is keen to your interests. Basically, from the link you posted you already see a tablet which can be flippable and/or a more flexible laptop. You want bigger screen display then actually that wouldn't be as mobile,other than room to room or little mobile action involved. All you're wanting is just a little extra and until users complain and/or a vendor sees a nitch, may provide a new product. However, so-called book or small form PCs that attach a LCD display are non-laptop but easily become more mobile as they are only two-part PC, PC box(small) and display. Intel offers a PC in a USB form(stick) that attaches to a LCD display and thus becomes more agreeable to some users, but then there's the kybd. issue, because I don't like on-screen kybd. myself through some controller.

https://www.amazon.com/Intel-Generation-Compute-Processor-BOXSTCK1A32WFCR/dp/B00UZ3CYE2

tada ------Willy Happy

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The main point is the keyboard/mouse storage and charging.
Jul 26, 2016 12:29PM PDT

Good points, of course there are solutions, hacks and workarounds for every desire, but please Google the 1979 Xerox Notetaker. It is a horrendous 'luggable" from the PC stoneage, but it has two ergonomic features that every single laptop since completely lacks....1. The keyboard is independent from the chassis, meaning when typing/neck strain or eyestrain set in, you can adjust the angles and positions. That sounds trivial, but comfort is key to productivity. 2. The Notetaker has a dedicated place to pack up the mouse and go. That's awesome to me. I hated digging around in my giant laptop man-purse for a mouse (and dongle) that I had no idea if it was charged or not. All of my designs take into account the mouse/storage charging, and several use a screen cover that folds and doubles as a mousepad. They may look ridiculous, but they would be a pleasure to use, and if extreme portability wasn't a primary concern for you, you'd never want to go back to a laptop for productivity.

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And imagine this.
Jul 26, 2016 12:54PM PDT

I own a few Logitech K400's. One's the Plus model and once in a while I use that rather than the laptop keyboard.

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For certain...
Jul 26, 2016 1:00PM PDT

For certain there are countless ways to arrive at the destination I envision, but I'd just like the prime manufacturer to make all a true All-In-One where everything (I need) was actually on the chassis, not a in a bag full of accessories in various states of dischargedness. (Made up that word). I know it's a niche desire, but I see plenty of niche things these days Happy

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Given the 3D printers and more today.
Jul 26, 2016 1:12PM PDT

All you need to do this is to do this. If there was a mass market for it you would see such but I've seen such kicked around and the problem is that unlike a laptop with millions of buyers, this has many less.

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No doubt.
Jul 26, 2016 1:19PM PDT

There is no doubt that there is not a mass market for these concepts. HP has already told me as much Happy I'm just a madman randomly posting about his own highly personalized desires for personal computer form factors. I think there's a bigger PC spectrum than most people imagine, and that there are certainly gaps to be filled between the desktop and the laptop, but I know that 99% of people are just fine with the current bi-polar setup. (Although, to be fair I do think that if someone like Microsoft made the transportable gaming PC/X-box I envision, that one might actually sell well to college dorm dwellers, sailors, soldiers and others).

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Load of doubt.
Jul 26, 2016 1:23PM PDT

As I deal with students, they seem more into gaming laptops and capable smart phones than what you drew up.

-> You also seem to be stuck on the idea that the prices would be lower. My experience is that niche or custom units go for double to 1000X off the shelf items.

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This wouldn't be that custom, it'd be just another variant.
Jul 26, 2016 1:38PM PDT

There's nothing exotic about my designs in terms of technology or manufacturing. They're just a re-configuring of existing hardware into a "travel" friendly, "storage" friendly layout. Basically a way to pack your OEM wireless keyboard and mouse up and either go somewhere else or simply to get your PC out of the way because dinner has been served or whatever. If cheap plastic is used and the PC specs are normal, then there's no reason why someone like Dell or HP would have to sell this for any more $$$ than any other All-In-One. The only cost difference would be the increase in plastic used, which can be mostly made up by using cheaper plastic. As for your students argument, I'd mostly agree but there's a lot of 25-40 year old gamers out there who could like the practical design, in my opinion.

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As I worked in design and more
Jul 26, 2016 1:51PM PDT

I take it you have not worked as a product designer before. There is no such thing as cheap plastic either. The molds alone, well you should know this.

How much do a set of molds run for say a run of the mill laptop?

This is why I think you're stuck with 3D printing for your first prototypes.

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I know what you're saying friend.
Jul 26, 2016 2:05PM PDT

I know why you keep saying that. You keep thinking I have this idea to first make a prototype, which would obviously have to be 3-D printed, and then produce some small batch of products to sell, which of course would cost so much due to the low scale as to make any sales or profit nonviable. Neither of those things are my intention. I'm not trying to make and market the "next big thing" (because this certainly isn't it Happy) All I'm trying to do is provoke more exploration into PC design from the existing manufacturers. Nobody is going to "break into" the PC market any time soon, the players have long been established and are shrinking, not growing. I just think they should, in addition to their traditional offerings, make a few semi-mobile variants that take into account a REAL mouse and keyboard, because truth be told there is no replacement for those two items when it comes to real productivity, and you shouldn't have to be shackled to ONE desk if all you want to be is productive.

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I'm not shackled at all.
Jul 26, 2016 2:12PM PDT

I have my smart phone and on top of that I write Apps! So if there's something missing I can fill in the missing app.

I also have another tablet with a combo keyboard so there's that.
For real work I have my laptop.

What I have is really grand. I'm sure there are folk that want "this, this, that but not that and it must be cheap." But they will ask for such over and over but forget that to get there, that's not enough.

When I work on product idea promotion, I have prototypes. That seems to be what lands the project.

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I appreciate the constructive criticism.
Jul 26, 2016 2:54PM PDT

I may just build a prototype yet, trust me I know you are correct in that. That being said, allow me to give you an example of what I mean by shackled. At my previous workplace, very few were "executive" enough to have their own private office. As such, I worked in an "open" environment. I had a very comfortable 21" PC, and it was a pleasure to work on. OFTEN, however, co-worker conversations would become very distracting/loud/offensive and I would wish that I could have some peace. Sometimes people would even bring in food that would "smell" up the place, and I myself was guilty of that, so I wouldn't dare complain! The company had issued us all very nice 14" Samsung laptops. From time to time, if things got obnoxious enough, I'd save my work to onedrive, pull out my Laptop and go work in an empty conference room down the hall. Problem solved right? Not even close! The screen went from 21" to 14" - HUGE eyestrain difference. The keyboard went from fantastic to nice but barely acceptable laptop-depth keys. The mouse went for wonderful to OK, assuming the travel mouse was charged. Of course I could have reached under my desk and unplugged all my existing peripherals, but that would be a bit extreme wouldn't it? Then there's ergonomics. I can work in a lean-back mode on my desktop, while a laptop is a much more neck-straining lean-in experience. All-in-all, my productivity would fall by a large percentage as a result and since I had to complete my work that day, it meant my day was extended if I did abandoned my workhorse PC. Now, how nice would it have been to simply pull the plug on my REAL desktop PC, pack up the keyboard and mouse on board the chassis itself, and simply carry it like a briefcase into the empty conference room. The whole move would take 4 minutes and I'd be back to at least 95% productivity in no time. If someone kicked me out, I'd simply pack up and move again. No bag, no nothing. Click. snap. click. go. That would have been great. I know, I know, it's a unique experience to yours, but who knows how many out there would appreciate a transportable design way I would have.

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Oh heck...
Jul 27, 2016 10:55AM PDT

I'm stating my age but I was around when PCs became something. I saw the various models and all the ideas it took to get there. The morphing of a PC from one OS to another, the portability as well and then all the PC componets from floppy to ram and what have you. Now, it's the 21st century and users want more and more. Until a new ahtever becomes available and also affordable to boot, then maybe your quest will be fulfilled.

You should have seen the Kaypro that users really liked and hated to give-up when the co. when under. The 1st "luggable" Compaq that really got things going. Then the GRiD laptop which proved that a laptop could survive beyond basic needs and go where other laptops sooner or later failed. Now, we have users wanting even more and that's only natural but any fulfillment comes only after some break-through and those come when its time to. Star Trek stuff will arrive hopefully long before stardate 2xxx. Wink

tada -----Willy Happy