Sharp intros 'world's first optical sensor LCD pad' netbook
Sharp has unveiled a netbook that, it claims, features the world’s first LCD touchpad, allowing for both pen and multi-touch finger operation - and providing visual feedback.
Video courtesy of Akihabaranews
Can't see the video? Download Flash Player from Adobe.com
Named Mebius, the PC has a 4in, 854 × 480 input device that – …
Toshiba had a simple LCD touchpad that was used in a similar fashion on an Satellite laptop. I think it was a 7200, or something like that. Similar, only it was only B&W and didn't support multitouch
The touchpad apparently has a much higher pixel density than the screen -- at more than half the number of pixels at a much smaller area.
The touchpad is probably designed as the main screen for a PDA and just reused for a netbook.
But why, oh why, does nobody make netbooks with better screen resolution? HP did, briefly, before going down to the boring 1024x600 that everyone else uses.
So its a laptop with a biggish screen and a much smaller screen, which is touch and pen sensitive. And its got quite a good colour range. And you can write stuff on it.
What was not shown was how this integrates with what's on the main screen. My eyes can track a cursor on a main screen quite well enough without needing a little repeater screen. How does this improve your user interface to allow you to do things in ways which are impossible with a more conventional pad?And in the 21st century how does a laptop go into production with a 3 hour life expectancy?
BTW on the video. Kill the sound. There is no commentary and the music is pants.
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Sharp intros 'world's first optical sensor LCD pad' netbook
Sharp has unveiled a netbook that, it claims, features the world’s first LCD touchpad, allowing for both pen and multi-touch finger operation - and providing visual feedback. Video courtesy of Akihabaranews Can't see the video? Download Flash Player from Adobe.com Named Mebius, the PC has a 4in, 854 × 480 input device that – …
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Posted Tuesday 21st April 2009 14:17 GMT
jeremy
nintendo DS???? #
First is such an over used word these days.
Posted Tuesday 21st April 2009 14:17 GMT
David
Nothing new... #
Several high-end Toshiba laptops from early 2004 featured (monochrome) displays built-in to their touchpads/
Posted Tuesday 21st April 2009 14:17 GMT
Big Bear
Finally! #
Someone is breaking out of the mold! Pity the machines have bloated to 10in but hey, at least someone is trying something new...
Posted Tuesday 21st April 2009 14:17 GMT
Anthony Chambers
Not Exactly New #
Toshiba had a simple LCD touchpad that was used in a similar fashion on an Satellite laptop. I think it was a 7200, or something like that. Similar, only it was only B&W and didn't support multitouch
Posted Tuesday 21st April 2009 14:17 GMT
Dave
Resolution #
So, the there are almost as many pixels on the trackpad as there are on the screen - in what world does _that_ make sense?
Posted Tuesday 21st April 2009 14:20 GMT
Lottie
want!!! #
That looks so cool. Hope we get it over here soon.
Posted Tuesday 21st April 2009 14:20 GMT
Anonymous Coward
awsome... #
but i just spent £700 on a netbook for work and a laptop for gaming.....
:(
hopefully sharp will licence this new tech to other manufacturers soon, it looks like the next big thing for laptops.
Posted Tuesday 21st April 2009 14:20 GMT
Anonymous Coward
nice #
hmmmm trackpad as context sensitive display mmmmmmm
where's the linux version <sigh>?
Sharp: sell the trackpad to other OEMs ... <dreams>
Posted Tuesday 21st April 2009 14:20 GMT
Bracken Dawson
Looks like a... #
Looks like a glorified Nintendo DS.
Posted Tuesday 21st April 2009 14:20 GMT
Anonymous Coward
Mmm mebbe #
Mebius? Which marketing guru was paid a ridiculous some to come up with that lemon of a name?
Posted Tuesday 21st April 2009 14:20 GMT
Ian Michael Gumby
Interesting... #
How large of a touch pad could they create?
Posted Tuesday 21st April 2009 14:20 GMT
Torben Mogensen
Pixel density #
The touchpad apparently has a much higher pixel density than the screen -- at more than half the number of pixels at a much smaller area.
The touchpad is probably designed as the main screen for a PDA and just reused for a netbook.
But why, oh why, does nobody make netbooks with better screen resolution? HP did, briefly, before going down to the boring 1024x600 that everyone else uses.
Posted Tuesday 21st April 2009 17:39 GMT
John Smith
Very clever. Sort of #
So its a laptop with a biggish screen and a much smaller screen, which is touch and pen sensitive. And its got quite a good colour range. And you can write stuff on it.
What was not shown was how this integrates with what's on the main screen. My eyes can track a cursor on a main screen quite well enough without needing a little repeater screen. How does this improve your user interface to allow you to do things in ways which are impossible with a more conventional pad?And in the 21st century how does a laptop go into production with a 3 hour life expectancy?
BTW on the video. Kill the sound. There is no commentary and the music is pants.
This topic is closed for new posts.