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Displays

Collapsible LCD Screens 304

Schart writes "I can't seem to find any pictures of exactly what they mean by 'collapsible LCD,' but NEC today announced a new line of low(ish) priced LCD screens that 'fold up for easy portability.'" Anyone out there who can supply visual documentation?
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Collapsible LCD Screens

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  • about time... (Score:4, Insightful)

    by LBArrettAnderson ( 655246 ) on Tuesday June 24, 2003 @10:55PM (#6291028)
    this is exactly what the world's been looking for.... we want smaller devices BUT larger displays. this'll be great.
    • Re:about time... (Score:5, Interesting)

      by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday June 24, 2003 @11:37PM (#6291304)
      Forget folding LCDs - a technology whose time will NEVER arrive. What we want is fold-up or roll-up screens. Remember the "electric paper" display units? These things will be in colour pretty shortly, plus they don't lose the image when you remove the power!

      Imagine your laptop, which is half the size of a normal keyboard (folded in half), with a display folded like a map inside it. Remove the display, unfold it to 2 metres x 1 metre, stick it on any wall less than 6 metres away, and presto - wireless display.

      The unit will auotmatically select what display mode you want, and what size, based on how you unfold it, and the display will know where it is still folded, and only display across the area intended for viewing. So you'll be able to unfold it to quarter-size while it's close to you (on a desk) but move up to the full size when you unfold all of it.

      LCD - BAH!

      OLED and I might be impressed... ;)
      • Re:about time... (Score:2, Interesting)

        stick it on any wall less than 6 metres away, and presto - wireless display.
        ... and it won't even matter if the wall is flat, or if you're looking at it straight on because the screen will reccognise these differences and adjust pixel placement to give a non-distorted, parralell perspective view no matter /where/ you look at it from!
  • Cool, (Score:4, Funny)

    by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday June 24, 2003 @10:56PM (#6291032)
    Now I can fold up my porn and put it my pocket!
  • why (Score:4, Interesting)

    by teklob ( 650327 ) on Tuesday June 24, 2003 @10:58PM (#6291044)
    whats the point in having a folding lcd monitor? it's not like portability is a huge factor when you still have to plug it into your computer
    • Re:why (Score:3, Funny)

      by sixdotoh ( 584811 )
      well, for those of us who like to lug our towers around! this will save a whole lot of space on those long airline flights ;)
    • Oh come now... (Score:3, Insightful)

      by Trespass ( 225077 )
      Folding LCD + NLX case = portable gaming computer for LAN parties, RV'ing, etc.
    • by SuperKendall ( 25149 ) * on Tuesday June 24, 2003 @11:13PM (#6291140)
      What I want is a PDA with the form factor of a palm, that I can attach a portable screen for more real estate - like if I want to look at a manual or book with diagrams.

      The killer app for ebooks and PDA's could well be reference material.
      • by r84x ( 650348 )
        I think you are on to something here. I cannot tell you how many times I have thought, "Man, I wish I had a dictionary/map/encyclopedia/etc. right now" when I go to pull out my PocketPC.

        I am going on a trip to Rocky Mountain National Park in a couple days, and have downloaded some topo maps that display poorly on my tiny LCD. (Buying paper maps cost money that I don't have...)

        As a previous poster said though, folding is not where it's at, what we really need is a cheap-ish roll out display, one that wil

        • Exactly, I forgot to mention that but topo maps are also one of the things on my mind, since they display so poorly on a PDA screen. And with an external ePaper display, you could update the paper and then disconnect from the PDA - so you could load content on demand.

          I think an outdoor PDA is a great idea... My Palm V in a hard case is very rugged but not at all waterproof. Something with the same durability but also with environmental seals would be perfect.
        • On the other hand, you can make your own portable folding display for your maps by using a printer...
    • Re:why (Score:5, Interesting)

      by Shishak ( 12540 ) on Tuesday June 24, 2003 @11:17PM (#6291169) Homepage
      Remember the IBM laptops that had a keyboard that would open up to full size? Imagine a laptop LCD that opens up like a pop-up card to a full 23" LCD screen when in use but fold down to 15" when not in use.

    • Re:why (Score:3, Insightful)

      by zakezuke ( 229119 )
      I can see an advantage when shipping a LCD monitor. While I don't have an accurate picture, but rather like a laptop where the action of closing the lid protexts the screen when putting in your bag, a folding screen could serve to protect it when shipping.

      Also.... There are those people who are offended by dust on their screens. folding down your screen, like a laptop would serve to keep dust off the screen when it's not active.

      As far as a business arangement, I can imagine being spoken to by someone be
    • You may have noticed a trend in the technology industry. Things keep getting better while also getting smaller. From what I've seen, the "vision" for technologies like this (at the moment, at least) is to mimic a newspaper. Despite all of our technology, people still use, and like using, paper. Think what happens if you have a small processing unit (maybe a couple inches square) attached to a large foldable LCD. Electronic paper. You could download the newspaper every morning and read it on the train
    • ... Attractively designed for home users and gamers on the go, ...

      Of course whether these target groups will purchase it is another question...

  • by Shriek ( 261178 ) on Tuesday June 24, 2003 @10:58PM (#6291045)
    Excuse me while I go take a picture of an LCD falling on my head. Then you'll have one of a 'Collapsible LCD' :)
  • Confused (Score:5, Insightful)

    by Davak ( 526912 ) on Tuesday June 24, 2003 @11:02PM (#6291077) Homepage
    Okay... if I want a portable screen, I'll buy a laptop.

    Sure the screens come in 17 inches... but come on, I don't know why portable screens would be so helpful.

    Somebody give me some actual uses... I just can't think of any that a laptop wouldn't do just as well.

    The only thing I can think of would be nice to display a powerpoint presentation from my PDA -- however, a laptop would still do better.

    Anyway, I think it's cool. Just give me some reasons.

    Davak
    • Some ideas: (Score:5, Insightful)

      by lpret ( 570480 ) <[lpret42] [at] [hotmail.com]> on Tuesday June 24, 2003 @11:49PM (#6291367) Homepage Journal
      How about pulling a PDA sized device out of your pocket, and then unfolding it to the size of a laptop? It'd only need to be as big as you need it.

      How about a clam-shell device that would open up to a full-screen? Double the size.

      Or, since it's flexible, why not just have it on your sleeve? You could look down at your sleeve and see what your schedule is for the day (kinda sci-fi, but possible).

      Or, in a larger scale, a complete mockup of some new device for demoing.

      Or, potentially you could have a book-like device that would allow an old school feel, but be LCD and downloadable and all.

      And these are all just off the top of my head, I'm sure there are a ton of applications for this elsewhere than just consumers like the military, hospitals, research etc.

    • by Tensor ( 102132 ) on Wednesday June 25, 2003 @12:58AM (#6291637)
      ... think about it this way ...

      You have a laptop with a thin, ultra portable 10x12 form factor (ie 15 inch display)... and suddenly you open (unfold) the screen upwards or sideways (maybe both ? like landscape/portrait modes) and end up with a 23.5 inch Screen in a ultra-portable !!

      i'd say its sweet ...

      Obviously if you think about it from the desktop point of view its pretty useless, unless you travel with your desktop a lot, like to lan-parties, but that would make it an extremely small market to recoup the r&d.
    • Re:Confused (Score:2, Interesting)

      by dontbgay ( 682790 )
      I can see an ideal use in the business sector. Depending on the cost and the size of the display, you could use it for your powerpoint presentations without dropping $10,000 for a projector and still get the same effect. For those of you that use your computer for music production with a MIDI keyboard, picture setting up a 2 ft. screen over your keyboard instead of having to keep your head on a swivel to manipulate your programs. Keep an open mind on this.. i'm sure there's plenty of other uses out there.
    • Re:Confused (Score:3, Informative)

      by leasilver ( 605237 )
      'the new monitors provide a protective black bezel acrylic screen with flexible silver cabinet and stand that adjusts to a variety of angles including flat against its base'


      This 'portable monitor', isn't anything more than a screen with a base that can collapse. No folding screen. LCD's do not lend themselves to that kind of abuse and, if you read the article, it says that is only folds into the base, the display itself does not fold. Gimmick, gimmick.

    • How about being able to fold your laptop up and fit it into a pocket? Not likely it's that small; but, it would be cool. No?
  • by WIAKywbfatw ( 307557 ) on Tuesday June 24, 2003 @11:03PM (#6291090) Journal
    Several years ago (circa 1995 if my memory serves me right) IBM produced a regular-sized notebook which had a full-sized keyboard. This "butterfly" keyboard was the closest anyone has ever come to producing a desktop-type experience in a notebook package but the screen was still no better than that on any other notebook.

    Now, with these foldable screens, we'll finally see ultra-ultra portable notebooks with 15in. dispays and usable keyboards in smaller packages than currently possible.

    Of course, it'll be a long time until these babies are anything but top-of-the-line models but, eventually, they'll be available at the lower-end of the market too.

    I can't wait to see one.
    • This "butterfly" keyboard was the closest anyone has ever come to producing a desktop-type experience in a notebook package

      The 17" PowerBook...
      • The 17" PowerBook... is not a notebook. I have seen three of em now and have come to the conclusion it should be classified as a luggable.

        The Thinkpads with the butterfly keyboard were SMALL. SMALL I say in large letters. :) Not quite as small as some of the Librettos, but they had a real full size keyboard when extended and that counts for a lot.
        • You need to work out more often.

          Sure, it's big, but it still fits in a backpack.
          • > You need to work out more often.

            Yes, 6.8 pounds is heavy for a 'laptop' computer. But the weight isn't the worst part, it is the width of the sonofabitch. It won't even fit in most laptop bags if you rip out the bit on the side intended for the power pack, which is not a problem because that fscking UFO ain't going there anyway.

            I'm currently running a Thinkpad 570e as the best compromise I could find between cost, weight, size, real keyboard and linux compatibility. 4.2 pounds and a full size (lap
            • If you add the number pad it makes the Keyboard off center.

              Do you really want your keyboard not lined up with your monitor when it is only 2 inches away?

              I know I wouldn't and the designers at apple didn't either. That is why they settles on the design.

              Of course if I wanted a laptop I would not want a 17" monstrosity.
              • > Do you really want your keyboard not lined up with your monitor when
                > it is only 2 inches away?

                Dunno, when I'm docked at work I have my Model M pretty much lined up under the external monitor and it most certainly has a keypad.

                I hear this argument on a regular basis, guess it must be based on appearances and not usability, and since the Mac is all about looks it probably makes sense for that market.
    • IBM produced a regular-sized notebook which had a full-sized keyboard. This "butterfly" keyboard

      IBM stopped making these though. They really, really sucked.

    • Several years ago (circa 1995 if my memory serves me right) IBM produced a regular-sized notebook which had a full-sized keyboard. This "butterfly" keyboard was the closest anyone has ever come to producing a desktop-type experience in a notebook package but the screen was still no better than that on any other notebook.

      The thinkpad you're referring to is the 701C [gol.com]. I had one back in high school, it was a great little machine, and the "magical" keyboard never failed to impress =)

      -A
  • by cloudless.net ( 629916 ) on Tuesday June 24, 2003 @11:05PM (#6291100) Homepage
    The world's 1st foldable LCD [samsungsdi.co.kr]

    Can't find a photo of it yet, but the article says "The seam between the two panels is less than 1 mm"

    • They've already been beaten to it! http://perso.club-internet.fr/musepat/donkey_p.jpg
    • 1mm is -HUGE- I mean, come on, the human eye can see the difference between text printed at 300dpi and 1200 dpi: a gap of even a 10th of a mm would be extremely irritating (at least for me)
      • OK, I've got a gap of 6" between my monitors, and it's not horrifically annoying.

        It's a problem that can be engineered around, I think. Me, I'd arrange the folds so they run horizontally (IE between lines of text), but I'm sure there are other orientations that might work.
        • Yes, but do you use those two monitors as a single screen, or two seperate workspaces you control from one place? I run dual 19" and I would never have a single application spanning both monitors unless it has a work area and a tool area (eg Photoshop). I can't imagine anyone working well with a text document that has a six inch gap in the middle of words.

          By this token, ANY visible gap will be irritating. It took me a while to get used to the lines across my monitor from the tension wire things and they're
      • Sure a gap in the middle of your screen is annoying - so why not treat it as two screens (assuming the resolution is decent enough)? Ie, a word processor/ebook reader on one side and a contact manager on the other. Etc.
  • by $calar ( 590356 ) on Tuesday June 24, 2003 @11:06PM (#6291104) Journal
    http://www.etechkorea.info/articles/20020501001.ph p

    Don't know if this constitutes what everyone is looking for, but you can see that there is no border in the center portion where it folds.
  • Didn't recently we slashdot-ed the Sony bendable PDA.. Duh..

    Well and good if you can fold the LCD monitor, but what's the use if you can't fold the the CPU!

  • by stonebeat.org ( 562495 ) on Tuesday June 24, 2003 @11:13PM (#6291142) Homepage
    yup. they ship the monitor in the standard 3x7 envelope too. pay 35 cents for shipping and handeling.
  • by beerman2k ( 521609 ) on Tuesday June 24, 2003 @11:16PM (#6291159) Homepage
    From the article (emphisis mine)...
    With an ultra thin-frame bezel on all sides of the screen, the new streamlined models not only
    reduce usersâ(TM) horizontal desktop space but their attractive design also complements home environments at all angles.
    So this monintor reduces my desktop space and it's attractive? What a deal. This has to be some kind of typo, but what the hell were they trying to say?
  • Folding Screens (Score:2, Interesting)

    I was reading an article that was given a link by another poster - http://www.samsungsdi.co.kr/sdi_en/news/news_view . jsp?page=3&no=775&type=null&searchtext=nul l - and it would seem that this is intended to be more along the lines of an e-book reader, as opposed to a new pda or a new style of laptop. Personally, I see this as a great leap forward for e-books, which i have had a fair amount of interest in from their inception a few years ago. I think it would be really great if i could go ba
    • I read my books on my P800 [sonyericsson.com] these days. The screen's smaller than this thing, but it's backlit, very crisp, and so easy to turn pages that I don't mind turning them more often. It's smaller & lighter than a real book, too - I find I prefer it to the real thing, overall.

      Conveniently enough, there are whole communities of people out there who scan in new releases & make them available as txt or HTML (just be sure to buy the real book before downloading).

      And best of all, since it doubles as a phone,

  • Comment removed (Score:5, Insightful)

    by account_deleted ( 4530225 ) on Tuesday June 24, 2003 @11:21PM (#6291200)
    Comment removed based on user account deletion
  • by Kris_J ( 10111 ) on Tuesday June 24, 2003 @11:22PM (#6291202) Homepage Journal
    The center is so important in games -- it's where my Diablo II character always is. I'd prefer two half-sized peices either side than a fold in the middle
  • Hmmm (Score:4, Insightful)

    by sbszine ( 633428 ) on Tuesday June 24, 2003 @11:30PM (#6291255) Journal
    Forgive my scepticism, but looking at the picture [etechkorea.info] this seems awfully similar to two adjacent screens.
  • by Squarewav ( 241189 ) on Tuesday June 24, 2003 @11:32PM (#6291273)
    you could take say quake3 bend the screen a bit and up the fov that way when you look to the left you see guys that are to the left of you, without so much distortion from just uping the fov on a flat screen
  • Cool (Score:5, Interesting)

    by Klimaxor ( 264151 ) <`moc.sbbsos' `ta' `nnudj'> on Tuesday June 24, 2003 @11:33PM (#6291281)
    I like the idea. Some may think "well, it's 13lbs, that's not so portable" But you have to look at it this way. Whether you haul your system to and from LAN's every week, or even move it from location to location once a year, it's common knowledge that if you can the make the package smaller, it won't get harmed as easily. Even with current day LCD's, the worry of scratching the screen, or something else, makes people put them in a box, which takes up room, and is a general pain in the ass. If you can fold it up, especially so that the entire screen is enclosed, what the hell, put the monitor in your glove box and save room in the moving vehicle for other stuff (like that abnormally large chair that is just really comfortable and you just CAN'T compute without it)
  • by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday June 24, 2003 @11:35PM (#6291290)
    Collapsible LCD?

    Nintendo had that decades ago with Donkey Kong! :)
  • Hellooo Trintron! (Score:5, Interesting)

    by SuperBanana ( 662181 ) on Tuesday June 24, 2003 @11:43PM (#6291337)
    1980's, Sony: "You'll never notice those two 'faint' grey lines!" 2003, NEC: "You'll never notice those three 'small' spaces between sections!"
    • Wow, and you know what? I don't notice the faint gray lines.

      So maybe I won't notice the spaces between sections either.
    • Didn't stop Trinitrons selling like popcorn, even now. I'm looking at my screen and realize that yup, it's a Sony tube, the lines are there. It's brand spankin new they're still selling and my company's still buying them. First time I've noticed it.
    • Re:Hellooo Trintron! (Score:2, Interesting)

      by Audin ( 17719 )
      I work at a 21" Sony Trinitron roughly 4 days a week. I notice the wires about once a month (usually on annoying white-background web pages). My reaction is usually one of "Oh, there's the stabilization wire, huh. Wish I didn't have to squint at this bright white background."

      It's still a glorious monitor. No LCD can match it's 2048x1536.
  • by Moses Lawn ( 201138 ) on Tuesday June 24, 2003 @11:43PM (#6291339)
    Aw man, when I read the blurb about a collapsible screen, the first thing I thought of Mr. Whoopie's amazing 3-D blackboard (best link I could find - 2nd image down [toontracker.com]) from 'Tennessee Tuxedo'. That was the one that opened up from pocket size to full size and came to life with full animations of whatever concept he was trying to demonstrate. Always saved Tennessee and Chumley's asses.

    Man, I really want a 3-D blackboard. Life sucks.

    • You know, the biggest problem with that was, every week Tennesse and Chumly would go to Mr Whoopie for advice. Each week he would proceed to go get the blackboard out of the closet, at which point all of the contents of the messy closet would fall on his head.

      You'd think after doing that a few times he'd either clean out the closet, or stop putting the damn blackboard back in there when Tennesse and Chumly leave! Sheesh! :)
  • by Anonymous Coward
    Origami, the age old art of paper folding will be applied to nec folding screen techlology.

    A few folds... it's a bird
    a few folds... it's a horse
    a few folds.... it's broken!

    "It's just like that 80's toy transformers, only kids can maniplulate it".

  • Relax....no big deal (Score:5, Informative)

    by djupedal ( 584558 ) on Tuesday June 24, 2003 @11:57PM (#6291404)
    This is similar to the Samsung SyncMaster 172T, [samsung.com] where the stand and monitor fold together (flat) for wall mounting, easy tote, NEC is just playing catch up, etc.

    Doesn't mean the screen folds in half...sorry.

    From Toms...

    NEC today announced its first line of light-weight LCD monitors that fold up for easy portability. Attractively designed for home users and gamers on the go, the new monitors provide a protective black bezel acrylic screen with flexible silver cabinet and stand that adjust to a variety of angles including flat against its base. "Providing consumers with the freedom to easily carry their monitor around, the new units collapse into small packages that weigh only 8.6 lbs for the NEC LCD1565 and 13.2 lbs for the NEC LCD1765. Built to withstand wear and tear, the durable acrylic screen displays 88 pixels per inch on the 15-inch unit and 96 pixels per inch on the 17-inch unit for continually clear, accurate images even after years of use." Coupled with a small form-factor PC, this looks to be the ideal monitor-type for those that frequently attend LAN parties.

    Press release [biostar.com.tw]

    It really whips the Lama's ass!
  • Forget the lcd (Score:3, Interesting)

    by NightWulf ( 672561 ) on Wednesday June 25, 2003 @12:01AM (#6291415)
    Where are those paper displays I keep hearing about. The only redeeming factor in that craporama that was Red Planet was that cool pull out film that was a computer display. Imagine having something like a pen, that you pull a display out of, now that's the real future!
  • by squashed ( 664265 ) on Wednesday June 25, 2003 @12:01AM (#6291421)
    Bring back the IBM Butterfly keyboard! It would mesh wonderfully with a collapsible LCD panel.

    And ... time to bring back those comparisons to George Jetson's collapsible car.

  • Sony Flexable PDA (Score:2, Insightful)

    by redune45 ( 194113 )
    Looks like this is just what is needed to make Sony's flexable pda described in this
    New Scientist Article [newscientist.com] to become practical much sooner.

    I've broken too many PDAs from rough pocket treatment. It's about time that this is remedied.
  • by ctar ( 211926 )
    No, but I suggest anyone interested in a nice new flat panel should check out this sexy new 24" LCD Screen [sun.com] from Sun [sun.com]. This takes the place of SGI's old 1600SW for coolest display.

    • I want one. Unfortunately, it lists at $4200. So, I'll go back to wanting the Apple Cinema HD display. 23" and only $2000. I'll take an inch less for half the price.
  • Uses (Score:4, Insightful)

    by m1a1 ( 622864 ) on Wednesday June 25, 2003 @12:33AM (#6291539)
    A lot of people seem to think this kind of thing would be useless. However, as a college student who moves a lot I think it would be really nice. The most difficult part of my system to pack and move is my crt. It is heavy, large, and does not fit comfortably and safely little rice burner of a car.

    An LCD would be a step up, but they are still larger than they need to be. Every little bit of space makes my move easier and more comfortable. When you think about the fact that I move a considerable portion of my belongings at least at least somewhere in the area of 8 times a year (not counting lan games) a monitor that is very portable makes sense.

    Small cases are gaining popularity, portable monitors seem like a logical next step.
  • by Anonymous Coward
    Just do a google search on 'foldable lcd'.

    This is the first link that turned up: Rackmount Folding LCD Monitors - Folding LCD Monitor [lcd-monitor-online.com]

    Its like a laptop without a keyboard and CPU - merely a monitor which folds on the base - which is nowhere near as cool as a flexible LCD screen!
  • Then we could have real scroll bars!
  • Seems like a lot of companies have invented LCDs that fit in your pocket after turning into vapor.
  • by Nathdot ( 465087 ) on Wednesday June 25, 2003 @12:46AM (#6291593)
    This is how it works (I have my sources. Don't question me!):

    * You pay your 500 clams
    * You take your monitor home and out of the packagaing
    * It collapses in on it self, all black-hole-like

    The reason there are no photos of it, obviously, is because it isn't human viewable. And now, a word of advice: Stand the fuck back when it collapses 'cos that things has some serious gravitational pull!

    This has been a public service announcement. Thankyou.
  • by chipace ( 671930 ) on Wednesday June 25, 2003 @01:03AM (#6291656)
    If you want an opinion... it doesn't look like what I expected. If you want a link (like the guy asked for) here it is: http://www.nmv.co.jp/nmvisual/hardware/index.html [nmv.co.jp]
  • by silvaran ( 214334 ) on Wednesday June 25, 2003 @01:15AM (#6291688)
    I had a foldable LCD screen... that is, until I folded it.
  • by Call Me Black Cloud ( 616282 ) on Wednesday June 25, 2003 @02:10AM (#6291865)
    Glad to be of service... Collapsible LCD [systemsint...logies.com]
  • Some links (Score:2, Informative)

    The (Royal Dutch) Philips company is putting quite some effort into flexible display technology for some years now.

    Here the Sales Pitch [philips.com] on their own website. There's not an awfull lot of information, but they do have some nice pics [philips.com] and movies [philips.com] (N.B. Link was broken when I checked; I'm not sure if this is a Mozilla problem or the sites). They really should put more on their websie because they are really doing some cutting edge work there...
  • So, how long before they make a t-shirt out of this stuff, so I can program what it says?

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