Intel Prototypes World's Thinnest Laptop

aalobode sends us to an article up at BusinessWeek about Intel's design for a new, ultra-thin laptop — almost as thin as a Razr — designed as a fashion accessory. Intel hopes to get the high end of the laptop market growing faster, and so they are particularly targeting female consumers with the new model. It's unlikely that all of the advanced features in this prototype will make it into products, and if they did the resulting laptops would command a daunting price. One feature we can hope makes the cut is built-in cellular Internet access. From the article: "The result, code-named Intel mobile Metro notebook, is less than 0.7 inches thick — about one-quarter of an inch thicker than Motorola's iconic cell phone, making it the world's thinnest notebook. And at 2.25 pounds, it's also one of the lightest small-sized portable computers. Other features include always-on Internet connectivity via various wireless technologies."

Neat

[tsa]

That is a beautiful laptop. And apart from the Macs, there aren't many beautiful laptops out there IMO. If I were Intel I would lose the screen on the outside. Though it raises the WOW factor a whole lot, it's not practical when traveling, especially if you carry the laptop around like it's a purse as shown on the first picture.

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Ergonomics

[suv4x4]

Intel's design for a new, ultra-thin laptop -- almost as thin as a Razr

And just like like the Razr, the keyboard is flat. And just UNlike the Razr, you'll want to type a lot on this thing, and the flat keyboard will make it a very bad experience.

I hope the other benefits of the technology (flash drive, 14 hours online battery life), carry on to "thicker" laptops.

Re:Ergonomics

[tsa]

I have never come across a laptop with a good keyboard. Portability of a laptop comes at a high price. You lose a good screen, good keyboard, good video card... the list goes on. If you want an ergonomic computer, buy a desktop.

Ultra Metro Man

[simpl3x]

The details look suspiciously mac like, and I would much rather have a tough shell than a screen on the outside so that I can carry it without a sleeve. I'm jitter enough thanks to my Blackberry!

One day I'm hoping for that Powerbook 2400 replacement...

Re:Big deal

[drinkypoo]

The spec I read said the V3 is around .6 inches and the V3i (what I have - but I lack a micrometer or caliper) is .55 inches. Not sure about the RAZR's linux-based successor, which is coming out soon, but it's even thinner. Regardless, it's really not "almost as thin" as a RAZR; when you're talking about a phone barely over .5 inches thick, .2 inches is a very large percentage of its thickness.

Thinkpad

[Anonymous Coward]

I'll stick with my Thinkpad X60s, thanks. Right around 8 hours of battery with the extended life battery (running Linux), a 12.1" display, about an inch thick, and just over 3 pounds.

Re:Photos

[kurokaze]

huh? there was a laptop in that pic? all I saw was the girl :P

Re:Ergonomics

[AP2k]

I hope the other benefits of the technology (flash drive, 14 hours online battery life), carry on to "thicker" laptops.

Naa, you can keep your flash drives. I actually like having my hard drive die in several years instead of several dozen thousand read/write cycles.

CAPTCHA: whitely

Re:need more ways to spend my cash

[geekoid]

Since you seem to keep buying them, exactly why would they change?

Re:Photos

[19thNervousBreakdown]

They're making a big mistake if they market it too hard toward women.

You really don't have to try that hard, chicks love laptops, and if it's thin, light, and looks decent, they'll snap them up by the dozen. The problem is, there's plenty of dudes out there that won't be able to handle that it's marketed toward women--never mind the 2 1/4lb weight, built-in bluetooth + wi-max + 802.11 + EVDO, and 14-hour battery life--if you buy it, you're gay.

Of course, the only thing they'd have to change is make another cover for it that looks like a wallet instead of a purse and not mention that it's "for women" (what, does it latch on the right or something? keyboard designed for a longer index finger? breast rests?) and they could sell to everyone. Then again, I imagine it'll end up like the Mustang.

Re:Magnets?

[datapharmer]

I have a laptop. It has speakers. The speakers have magnets in them and they are INSIDE the case. I'm not too worried.