NETBOOK PC PC : DISCUSSION

The Incredible Shrinking Netbook
Posted in Netbook PC | May 11, 2009 12pm

When viable netbooks first hit the scene a couple of years back, Sony's SVP of the company's Information Technology Products Division in the U.S. was quoted as saying netbooks represented a "race to the bottom". The point he was trying to get across was that smaller, less powerful, systems could potentially have a detrimental impact on the overall PC market, due to the somewhat degraded user experience offered by the machines in comparison to more powerful, full-blown notebooks.
Of course, the market has spoken since then, and netbooks are an undeniable success. But that's partly because the more prolific and nimble netbook manufactures took a detour on that supposed race to the bottom.
If you remember back to the release of the original Asus Eee PC, the machines had a miniscule amount of storage and small 7" screens. They were still quite popular as secondary or tertiary mobile PCs, but a funny thing happened once consumers got their hands on the tiny systems in mass quantities. Despite the relatively low prices a large contingent of users expected more, even though they many of them went into the purchase knowing full well that a netbook wouldn't offer the same kind of computing experience as a notebook. Netbook manufacturers seems to listen to consumers closely, however.  Take Asus, for example. Over time, the Eee PC line expanded to the point where the most sought after models featured larger screens, faster processors, better keyboards, and standard mobile hard drives--just like more powerful notebooks.
Instead of racing to the bottom, netbooks have generally climbed up a few rungs on the evolutionary ladder. The market didn't become filled with smaller, cheaper, lighter netbooks, but rather the machines morphed into slightly larger, more sophisticated machines than their early predecessors. That's a great development, and one that I hope continues. As much as I can appreciate and understand the appeal of an inexpensive, ultra mobile netbook, I feel consumers are better served by the slightly larger more refined products available today. There is a point where a netbook become too small, and it hinders the experience. Where that point is will obviously differ from user to  user, but I think the vast majority of us can agree that low resolution screens smaller than 8.9" - 10.1" and keyboards so small it's difficult for an adult to push a single key at a time are pushing the limits of usefulness.

NOTEBOOK PC PC : DISCUSSION

Notebook Security Explored
Posted in Notebook PC | September 13, 2009 8pm

An unfortunate reality that all road warriors have to contend with is the relative ease at which a nefarious character could steal data or even an entire notebook. Their small form factors, coupled with the fact that they're often used while in transit, means notebooks are a prime target for theft.
To date, most notebook manufacturers try help users combat theft incorporating only basic deterrents into their machines, like BIOS level passwords, Kensington-compatible lock ports, and fingerprint scanners. And while these devices do offer some level of protection, there are many things that can, and perhaps should, be done to better protect mobile users.
If you've already got a notebook, at the very least, you should be setting strong passwords, using software firewalls and anti-malware software, and using whatever built-in mechanisms are already incorporated into your notebook to protect the machine itself and its data. For new and upcoming notebooks, however, there are a number of useful items I'd love to see offered as standard equipment.

For example, custom fit, removable screen guards, that only allow viewing the screen from a certain angle would be quite useful for some users and could prevent data theft due to shoulder-surfing. Also, hardware-level hard drive encryption would be a huge plus--who knows how many trade / government secrets, SSNs and Credit Card numbers could have already been kept out of the hands of shady characters, had the drives on the notebooks that had been stolen to obtain them had been encrypted. As an aside, I'd love to see newer notebooks ship with easily removable, encrypted hard drive enclosures--when not in use, the drives could be easily separated from the notebook and stored in another location for another layer of security.
Another feature that would be incredibly useful is some sort of hardware-level homing signal, that transmits the notebook's location anytime its connected to a network--regardless of whether the OS has booted. Some machines have similar features built in and there are applications available that work similarly, but something that works even if the notebook's hard drive has been removed and wiped clean would be immensely useful.
There are dozens of other things I could list as well, but I'm interested in what you all have to say. What steps do you take to keep your notebook safe? Are there any tips or tricks you could share that may come in handy for other users?  And what type of features would you like to see available in a future notebook? Now's the time to tell...

NOTEBOOK PC PC : DISCUSSION

Double-Vision: Is There Room For Dual-Screen Notebooks?
Posted in Notebook PC | August 17, 2009 1pm

On the desktop front, users of dual monitors typically rave about the increased screen real-estate afforded by a second screen. It is not  uncommon to hear dual-monitor users to say that they would never go back to using a single screen. But in the mobile space, dual screens have been more of a novelty than anything else, at least for the most part.
The problem is, most dual-screen notebooks haven't been outfitted with the type of secondary screen that would increase desktop real estate. Instead, the second screen has been nothing more than a Windows Sideshow display, that's used for little more than e-mail and media player notifications. It seems having dual screens meant something very different in the mobile and desktop arenas.
Somewhat recently though, Lenovo finally got it right. Instead of slapping a tiny secondary Sideshow screen on a notebook, Lenovo actually integrated a second, retractable 10.6" LCD into their W700ds, that worked in concert with the notebook's main display. When the secondary screen is engaged, the Windows desktop area is automatically expanded, and the additional pixels afforded by the display can be used for virtually anything--docking tools in Photoshop, keeping IM and e-mail clients open, you name it.

The Lenovo W700ds Dual-Screen DTR Notebook
While the Lenovo W700ds' secondary screen wasn't perfect, I think Lenovo got the implementation right. Instead of adding a gimmicky, additional element to a notebook, that just so happens to display pixels, Lenovo integrated a secondary screen that could actually be used to increase productivity. If other notebook manufacturers use Lenovo as the model, I believe there could be some exciting possibilities. With a larger, brighter secondary screen on a more mobile-oriented machine (think sub 15.6"), a dual screen notebook could offer enough resolution to make editing high-res photos more palatable on the go. And in a gaming oriented notebook, integrating three screens ala the W700ds--one on each side of the main LCD--could open up some very interesting possibilities for gamers. Surround-View on the go, here we come!
What are your thoughts? Would you use a notebook with dual-screens? Or even seek out a machine with dual-screen over a standard single-screen notebook? Inquiring minds want to know...

NOTEBOOK PC PC : DISCUSSION

Your Thoughts On Dual-Screen Notebooks
Posted in Notebook PC | August 31, 2009 8am

Over the course of my tenure contributing here on the WePC site, I've spend most of my time blathering on about what I'd like to see in a notebook. I've written about various docking station possibilities, storage options, input device features, form factors, gaming notebooks, and most recently dual-screens. For this post, however, I'd like to do something just a little bit different.
The WePC website is all about getting input and feedback from you, the reader, on what you'd like to see in the notebook. But I'd like to engage you all more directly and ask some specific questions about dual-screen notebooks, about how you'd use a dual-screen notebook, or if you'd even use one at all...

The gScreen Spacebook sports a pair of 15.6" LCDs
I guess, first and foremost I should ask how important having a dual screen is to you? Would you say it's very important, somewhat important, not important, or are you indifferent to the subject? Personally, I'd really dig a dual-screen laptop implemented properly--the upcoming gScreen Spacebook, which features a pair of sliding 15.6" screens could be a candidate.
If you would be interested in a dual-screen notebook, how would you use it? And in what ways do you think in could enhance your computing needs? I know the increased desktop real-estate would certainly help me when working in applications like Photoshop or Excel.
Finally, What is your ideal size, weight and thickness for a dual-screen notebook?  What screen size do you think would work best?  Obviously, incorporating an addition LCD is going to as some weight and thickness to the notebook.  At what point would you consider the notebook to be too thick? Or too heavy? For me, the thickness of the machine is less important than its weight.  I suspect many of you are like me, in that you absolutely love the look and sleekness of ultra-thin notebooks, but short of the aesthetic appeal, thinness isn't really a necessity.  A comfortable to carry weight, however, is extremely important--lugging around 13lbs+ of dead weight doesn't appeal to me in the least. Under 8lbs though, that I could live with.  How about you?
Once you've formulated your thoughts in regard to dual or even multi-screen notebooks, I'd also suggest checking out the WePC Contest page. Answer a few questions there as well and you could win some very cool prizes.