what new feature would make a new laptop revolutionary?

[Wheatmaster]

i just wanted to hear some ideas from you guys about what you would like to see in future laptops. i'm creating designing a "new" laptop for my engineering drawing class. thanks!

 

[TommyVercetti]

Upgradeable, like video cards and what not.

 

[BatmanNate]

12 hour battery.

 

[MrScott81]

it would be cool if it was solar powered

 

[Wheatmaster]

Originally posted by: TommyVercetti
Upgradeable, like video cards and what not.

you mean like how they have minipci slots for modems and minipci wifi cards but for video cards?

 

[MrScott81]

Originally posted by: BatmanNate
12 hour battery.

IBM has one that will last 8 hours....if you need your laptop for more than 8 hours straight without any source of power I feel sorry for you

 

[TommyVercetti]

Originally posted by: Mak0602

Originally posted by: TommyVercetti
Upgradeable, like video cards and what not.

you mean like how they have minipci slots for modems and minipci wifi cards but for video cards?

Yeah. That and touch screen laptops.

Also, detachable screens, and laser keyboards. Laser keyboards project the image of a keyboard on anything, and you can type on it.

 

[UglyCasanova]

Built in printer/scanner.

 

[SilentRavens]

One that is powered by a small fuel cell that only requires the occasional addition of water to continue running.

 

[opticalmace]

Originally posted by: TommyVercetti

Originally posted by: Mak0602

Originally posted by: TommyVercetti
Upgradeable, like video cards and what not.

you mean like how they have minipci slots for modems and minipci wifi cards but for video cards?

Yeah. That and touch screen laptops.

Also, detachable screens, and laser keyboards. Laser keyboards project the image of a keyboard on anything, and you can type on it.

But they're ridiculously hard to use.

 

[Bootprint]

Some way to use the area behind the LCD to dissipate the head generated by the CPU. Try playing BF42 for an hour or two and your lap gets really warm.


From Notfred's idea, how about removing the CPU/HD to a seperate box and use UWB for contact between the CPU/HD and LCD/keyboard.

 

[notfred]

WIRELESS CHARGING. I want to walk within 100 yards of a wireless charging point, automatically connect, and start charging the laptop. Should work exactly like WiFi, but transfer power instead of data.

 

[MikeyIs4Dcats]

custom cases....like cell phone faceplates.

A laptop with a double sided LCD for presentations to clients, etc...

 

[BigPoppa]

Originally posted by: notfred
WIRELESS CHARGING. I want to walk within 100 yards of a wireless charging point, automatically connect, and start charging the laptop. Should work exactly like WiFi, but transfer power instead of data.

Watch your junk when the microwave beam misses.

 

[Wheatmaster]

hmm nice ideas, anything else?

 

[dman]

I think it'd be nice if the LCD Display was both detachable (using some industry standard connection) and could be used with a standard DVI interface as a PC Monitor. Would make the displays semi-useful when the laptop no longer is. Would also make upgrading the other parts feasable when your display is still good. Would also alleviate a lot of the risk when you drop the laptop and damage the display you could (in theory) buy a new one for less than the cost of a new laptop.

I guess the drawback would be size/weight, but, a decent interface would be useful.

 

[Jfrag Teh Foul]

Originally posted by: notfred
WIRELESS CHARGING. I want to walk within 100 yards of a wireless charging point, automatically connect, and start charging the laptop. Should work exactly like WiFi, but transfer power instead of data.

Yeah... it's called LIGHTNING!!!

First charge up=DEATH!

Definitely a neat feature in the right hands.

 

[kalster]

by having graphic manufacturers release new video cards for laptops (while not being power hungry) the same time they release new cards for desktops

basically for laptops to be almost as fast as dekstops all the time in all aspects rather than playing catchup with atleast a generation diff in performance all the time like it is now

 

[flxnimprtmscl]

Originally posted by: notfred
WIRELESS CHARGING. I want to walk within 100 yards of a wireless charging point, automatically connect, and start charging the laptop. Should work exactly like WiFi, but transfer power instead of data.

Tesla Coils for everyone. Wooohooo!

 

[EyeMWing]

Not sucking.

Edit: The current 15" Powerbook is as close as it's gotten so far. It only has three drawbacks other then price

1) Not x86. Bad, bad thing.
2) Suckage video (Can you blame it? It's a mac)
3) Can't use standard IDE harddrive. This feature is CRUCIAL. I know it means giving up a LOT in terms of slimness, but don't ship the laptop with a 3.5" drive in it, let those of us that need it add it and deal with the weight and power consumption issues ourselves. External enclosures DON'T CUT IT.

 

[TallBill]

Originally posted by: TommyVercetti

Originally posted by: Mak0602

Originally posted by: TommyVercetti
Upgradeable, like video cards and what not.

you mean like how they have minipci slots for modems and minipci wifi cards but for video cards?

Yeah. That and touch screen laptops.

Also, detachable screens, and laser keyboards. Laser keyboards project the image of a keyboard on anything, and you can type on it.

You = Suck

There are touchscreen laptops, and its not a laser keyboard, its infrared.

 

[CtK]

hot swappable hard drives
built in TV Tuner
more than 2 ram slots
play CDs/MP3s without havin to turn it on
built in temp gauge

 

[her209]

A laptop that is my tablet pc + my cell phone + wireless internet access + tv-radio tuner.

 

[Freejack2]

I'm thinking further ahead. I want a laptop that I control with my mind and see with my minds eye. Or at least a credit card sized AI computer like Selma in Timetrax.

 

[Howard]

DLC-coated exterior (that necessitates a metal shell) to prevent scratches. Also, the conductivity of a metal substrate with a diamond coating is very high, if we can fit some slim heatpipes through the flex-joint between the screen and the base we can use the back of the LCD to dissipate heat.

EDIT: Neither of these are revolutionary, just features I'd like to see.