Dual-screen laptop goodness

Author: Wil Harris
Published: 14th February 2007
Comments (14) Stumble
Dual-screen laptop goodness

The Estari 2Vu is a looker.

We're suckers for technology that looks cool and fancy, regardless of whether it's actually practical or really useful. The Estari 2Vu is one of those products that elicits geek-lust upon first viewing, shortly followed by a resigned "Huh?"

The 2Vu is a dual-screen laptop, which has two 1024x768 15" screens, both of which are touchscreens so that you can use pen navigation. The specs are pretty neat, although not widly over the top for a portable computer - there's a Core Duo running at 1.83GHz, 1-2GB of RAM and 60-100GB hard drive, along with integrated Intel graphics.

There's no data on how heavy this is, or the exact size, but a 15" notebook is not really the kind of thing you want to be holding like a book. Sure, you could rest it on your lap, and you could even put it on a desk and connect up a keyboard and mouse for an all-in-one dual-screen workstation. But we're pretty sure that Estari's claims that "The form and long battery life from Estari opens the door to a new era of mobile computing" is not so true as 'opens the door to really achey arms'.

We can imagine that this would be an awesome product in a smaller form factor - a couple of 8-10" screens arranged like this with a pen interface would be incredible, just like a plus-size Nintendo DS. But as it is, the 2Vu strikes us as a little unwieldy. Which isn't to say we wouldn't enjoy using one for a while!

What do you make of the device? Would it suck you in at its $4350 price point? Let us know over in the forums.
Quote DougEdey 14th February 2007, 10:05
It does look meaty. Ripe for thieving.
Quote lamboman 14th February 2007, 10:17
THe price is extremely cheap TBH. Alienware's cost way more than that.
Quote apoogod 14th February 2007, 12:05
wow this would work great for my trading. Im glad someone finally came out with one. Iv wanted to build one for ever. This is a good thing, now that someone is started these, I see other companies slowly making their own. Dell anyone? Might have to take some money out of the trading company to pick one up :D
Quote mikeuk2004 14th February 2007, 12:25
Great for engineers or someone out and about.

If they made one thats not in a brief case, id have one. Dont like the idea of it being viewed like a book. Id prefer it like a normal laptop. Bottom screen laying down for stuff like photoshop and the top screen with a browser open or a movie playing or something. Great both screens are touch screens
Quote apoogod 14th February 2007, 12:36
Quote:
Originally Posted by mikeuk2004
Id prefer it like a normal laptop. Bottom screen laying down for stuff like photoshop and the top screen with a browser open or a movie playing or something.


I dont see why you couldnt turn it like that, its just a setting in the display and you can have it in laptop mode.
Quote mmorgue 14th February 2007, 14:44
So.. can one half have a make-shift touch-sensitive keyboard as your "keyboard"?
Quote Tyr 14th February 2007, 15:35
Why pay over £2200 for a machine with two XGA 0.7 mega pixel screens 1.4 megapixel total.

For less than £1500 you can get a 17" machine with full keyboard and num pad and a 1920x1200 WUXGA 2.23 megapixel display.

The battery life on some of the more basic machines with 17" WUXGA screens is quite good at over 3 hours. I can't imagine two 15" screens in a smaller package being better at anything, especially with such a low specification and such a high price. It is worse than a Vaio!
Quote Tyr 14th February 2007, 15:54
Oops, double post...
Quote Tyinsar 14th February 2007, 16:27
It looks cool but I can't see a practical use for it (at least not for me) - though it does give me some modding ideas.
Quote rowin4kicks 14th February 2007, 16:36
i would love one of these (although i imagine the batterylife is crap!)

but create a mod whereby two touch screens are connected like a laptop but linked to the desktop that would be brillant as a 2nd(and 3rd) moniter for stuff like photoshop ect. and just general browing the web whilst watching a movie or typing a document!
the possibilites....
Quote David_Fitzy 14th February 2007, 23:18
Battery Life can't be good with two screens, and with no keyboard those touchpanels had better be multi-touch for an onscreen keyboard

and the fingerprints oh god the fingerprints can you imagine?
Quote Aankhen 15th February 2007, 01:35
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tyr
For less than £1500 you can get a 17" machine with full keyboard and num pad and a 1920x1200 WUXGA 2.23 megapixel display.
Heh, never understood why 1920×1200 on a 17" screen is a good thing. I guess systematically chipping away at the health of your eyes is cool now. :p
Quote Glider 15th February 2007, 08:01
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tyr
For less than £1500 you can get a 17" machine with full keyboard and num pad and a 1920x1200 WUXGA 2.23 megapixel display.
And you'll need a truck to transport it, and a monkey to help you carry it...
Quote Tyr 15th February 2007, 10:38
Quote:
Originally Posted by Glider
And you'll need a truck to transport it, and a monkey to help you carry it...

No, it would be lighter than a 2x15" 4:3 display machine, just over 3kg for some. 17" 16:10 displays are not that big but can give you a huge amount of screen space.

Plus IBM make some 15.4" 1920x1200 machines for under £1500!

http://www.laptopsdirect.co.uk/ThinkPad_Z61p_Laptop_UA3KSUK/version-1.asp

# Core 2 Duo T7200 2.0GHz Processor
# 2048MB DDRII-667MHz PC2-5300 RAM
# 100GB Hard Drive
# DVD/RW
# 15.4" TFT - 1920x1200 Resolution
# ATI Mobility FireGL V5200 256MB Video Card (Mobility X1600)
# Integrated Gigabit LAN
# Intel PRO Wireless 3945ABG
# Firewire IEEE 1394
# Operating System: Windows XP Professional Edition + Upgrade Windows Vista
# 4 Hour Battery Life
# 3 year warranty

£1394.97

Oh, and it weighs 2.9kg... No competition at all from that waste of space dual screen, which has a lot less real workspace.

That would be my choice.
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