Have Laptop Will Travel

PC makers working on borderless screens

Originally posted on February 11, 2010 @ 11:48 pm

It seems that several ODM Taiwanese notebook manufacturers are at work developing slim laptops with frameless screens. And amazingly, we can expect the first few models to come out the second half of 2010. These manufacturers are said to be Foxconn, Quanta, Compal, Acer, and HP.

This is something I’m seriously looking forward to, because bezels on screens have always been a huge turnoff for me. On some systems, such as the Asus Eee PC 701, the bezel makes sense, since the only way to provide a reasonably large keyboard with a 7 inch screen is to pad the space on the sides of the display. But on other models, there’s no good excuse for the black bars that border the display.

According to Digitimes,

The Foxconn Group is cooperating with Chimei Innolux Corporation (CIC), the new entity to be formed by Chi Mei Optoelectronics (CMO), Innolux Display and TPO Displays, to develop frameless models to strengthen its competitiveness in the ODM notebook segment, the sources indicated. Meanwhile, Compal Electronics is collaborating with Chunghwa Picture Tubes (CPT) to develop frameless screens, and is expected to start shipping frameless notebook models to its major clients, including Acer, in the second half of 2010, revealed the sources.

The new frameless screens will mainly be made using Corning’s reinforced Gorilla glass, the sources indicated.

We’re not exactly clear what “frameless” means, though. I’m hoping that we get a screen that has no bezels whatsoever, with the display bleeding over to the edge of the laptop’s lid or will we get a laptop with a really thin bezel that it’s barely noticeable? I’m seriously hoping it’s the former.

Do You Remove Your Laptop Stickers?

Originally posted on January 2, 2010 @ 9:14 am

As I posted on my personal blog, I bought a new Acer Aspire 4736ZG. Aside from getting myself acquainted with Windows 7 (I love it to bits), I’ve spent the better half of the holiday weekend tweaking it. I’ve installed my favorite programs I use on my old netbook, while at the same time I’ve uninstalled a LOT of OEM bloatware that came with the computer. Why OEMs like Acer like to ship in unnecessary programs that can sometimes even slow down performance is beyond me. [Read more…]

MiniMounts for netbooks

Originally posted on December 27, 2009 @ 11:21 pm

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Netbooks are meant to be taken everywhere. That much we know. We all know that the diminutive sizes of netbooks make them ideal for lugging around everywhere. But then if you do decide to carry your mini laptop everywhere, there’s the simple matter of safety. We don’t want to drop our precious netbooks when we’re working in rugged places, right? (Although there’s the matter of bringing your netbook – which isn’t made of top notch materials to begin with – to a rugged place, but whatever floats your boat.)

But if you do insist on bringing your netbook to a potentially dangerous environment, to protect it you might need a MiniMount. It’s basically a rack that allows you to mount a netbook in the home or car for easier use. You need MiniMount’s hard shell case – it’s the one that easily lets you set your netbook on their mounting kit.

From the MiniMount website:

Mounts are available in preconfigured kits containing what you need to attach your MINIMOUNT case in most any imaginable setting. From passenger car to forklift, from big-rig to RV, from office cart to exercise bike, from work bench to laboratory, from bed post to tripod, from quad to tractor, it goes where you go.

Both RAM-Mount and Manfrotto integrate for clamp mount, direct surface attachment, or in-vehicle bolt-on applications. Our Quick Plate™ system allows the MINIMOUNT to be easily detached from mounting arms without tools and without protruding hardware.

Prices start at $79.

Non-Macintosh users, you can make your own MagSafe Power Adaptors Too!

Originally posted on February 19, 2010 @ 10:54 am

One of the things I envy the most about Macbook users would be the pretty neat MagSafe power adaptors. Aside from the fact that it’s much, much easier to plug and unplug your laptop, it also keeps your Macbook safe if someone trips on the cable. And have I mentioned the fact that it also reduces wear and tear damage? So yeah, that’s the one feature I really, really like about Macs. [Read more…]