Get Ready For The 20-inch Laptop 373
linumax writes "With so many DVDs featuring letterboxed or wide-screen versions of films, consumers' fascination with larger screen sizes is changing the size and shape of the laptop industry, stated an IDC report issued on Monday. The wide-screen format, found in only 39.2 percent of laptops expected to ship this year, will become dominant in mid- to late 2006. It will nearly eclipse standard screen dimensions by the end of 2009, the market research firm estimates. Samsung has already unleashed its upcoming 19-inch laptop. The product is expected to ship later this year. Dell, a major partner of Samsung, could easily adopt the large screen format for its high-end XPS laptops. And, LG Philips is also touting its 20-inch LCD displays for laptops."
ugh.. (Score:5, Insightful)
Bigger Screens good, Wider Screens bad (Score:3, Insightful)
The worst part is, all the good new laptops are being made with widescreen because little Jane going off to college wants to watch DVDs. I don't want to watch DVDs on my computer, I'll do that on the TV. I want to use it as a computer, and computer need height.
I just wish some laptop companies would keep the big non-widescreen models around. It's sad.
obligatory whine.. (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Bigger = Better? (Score:4, Insightful)
Simply put, I hope companies begin to innovate rather more than simply changing the dimensions of the screen I need to view with. I mean the things meant to be portable, not inexcusably large.
Why is everything 'unleashed' these days? (Score:5, Insightful)
Same tiny keyboard? (Score:5, Insightful)
'Only' 39%? (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:Bigger Screens good, Wider Screens bad (Score:4, Insightful)
Since getting a 20" widescreen iMac I'd not go back. It gives you the same advantages as a dual head system but without the join: rather than reading more of the same webpage it means you can read the webpage AND see the document you're working on. Thats not so say I wouldn't want more height too!
Re:Bigger Screens good, Wider Screens bad (Score:4, Insightful)
Re:I have to ask... (Score:5, Insightful)
In the office where my wife works all the computer systems (I assume except the servers) are laptops. They cost about the same amount of money and people tend to take them home on the weekend.
So the laptops are being used as car-portable desktops.
Strange market developments (Score:4, Insightful)
Personally I'd like to see a step in the other direction, something akin the Apple 12 inch iBook, except smaller and less fruit.
I don't get it (Score:4, Insightful)
Result of better PDA technology (Score:5, Insightful)
Meanwhile, the desktop users, all but the l33test gamers, and developers are demanding more powerful transportable devices. They don't need to travel accross the country, but would like the flexibility of using their PCs from their living room or the backyard without sacrificing their big screens and better power.
The transportable desktop replacement business is naturally growing while the ultraportable segment is shrinking.
Laptop gauge (Score:3, Insightful)
Wider screens means also heavier batteries and bulkier carrying bags!
And also more fragile devices!
Re:Bigger Screens good, Wider Screens bad (Score:5, Insightful)
I too thought the wide screen laptops were stupid until I tried one out. Now I could never give up being able to have 3 documents open side by side at work. Think of it as dual screens on one screen...
Re:Lap Top vs Table Top (Score:5, Insightful)
Different strokes, I guess. I have a feeling that we aren't going to see a massive shift in what laptops folks are selling, I'm more inclined to guess that the PC market will follow Apple's suit and have size be the primary selling point on their laptops.
Re:Lap Top vs Table Top (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Desktop Replacement! (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Don't confuse these with a laptop (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Lap Top vs Table Top (Score:3, Insightful)
My laptop is a widescreen 15.4", quite a perfect fit for me. It fits fine on my lap and is small enough to carry around. I'm around 184cm/6feet myself, so i dont concider myself neither a small nor a big boy. But a 20" laptop on my lap would look pretty redicilous
On the other hand, what would you think about having the screen in your glasses (or sunglasses if you dont wear regular glasses) ? They could have pretty enormous resolutions and still be portable
Re:Bigger Screens good, Wider Screens bad (Score:3, Insightful)
I don't like tables layout more then I dislike CSS hacks to emulate coluns, but this is my opinion. I do use tables, to display tabled data, not much else.
Re:Lap Top vs Table Top (Score:5, Insightful)
You mean it's what YOU want in a laptop. I want a large screen. I don't carry mine around with me constantly. It goes to work, and it goes home. I don't take it to cafe's, on trains, or to random places much. I want a big screen and dont' really care if it is 20" wide or weighs 10 lbs. Unlike you, I also have several apps open and onscreen at what I consider usable sizes. Different strokes for different folks.
It's nice that we are getting a wider selection of models available so that each person can chose one that suits them and the way they like to work. I don't think 19" and 20" models will take over in what's used. I think we will see that sales in laptop sized will be broadly distibuted, jusst like their uses.
Re:Lap Top vs Table Top (Score:3, Insightful)
I know a couple people who have picked up 19"ers. The things are absolute monstrosities and weigh half a ton. But you don't see them carrying the laptops around in their backpack every day. They carry it in a laptop bag from their permanent residence to their next temp residence then to the next temp residence after that. They aren't out in the field using their laptops for diagnostics on equipment. People just want a computer they can use wherever they happen to be for that week.
Having said that, I was looking into getting a true "portable" laptop computer, and was thinking that even a 15.4"er might be kinda hefty. I am contimplating something in the 12" to 14" range because I simple want the laptop for collecting and manipulating data, and writing documents on the fly. I have no desire to watch a 2 hour movie on a screen in my laptop on a daily basis. Although, for convenience, I might watch a movie or play a game during a flight if I don't have any other work I can complete. But that's about it. I'll stick to a 110" diagonal projection screen for watching movies for real
So Much Wider... What about the keyboard then? (Score:3, Insightful)
Higher resolution (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Lap Top vs Table Top (Score:5, Insightful)
In short, the keyboard is worst typing experience I've ever had. I'm sure some vendors place the keyboard better and make it more comfortable, but it's still going to be awkward with that much useless real estate.
Re:Bigger = Better? (Score:3, Insightful)