Untraditional Laptop Screen Layouts

An article about a sale on ARZOPA portable monitors recently caught my eye. Being curious about the technology for some time, I purchased one for an outstanding $28.24 after applying my Amazon gift card balance. I love having a second display and now I can potentially have one everywhere I go (at the price of a heavier backpack, slower setup time, and looking like a dork). As I impatiently wait for my monitor to be delivered, I thought it would be fun to talk about some untraditional laptop screen layouts.

Razer’s Project Valerie

Project Valerie was first showcased at CES in 2017 and it’s essentially a modified Razer Blade Pro. I was awe-struck when I first came across this triple display prototype and not just because of the Titanfall 2 gameplay shown during the demo. This laptop haunted my dreams and it’s safe to say that I wasn’t the only one fantasizing about it considering two of the prototypes were stolen. Unfortunately, I never got to see one in person, and it doesn’t look like it’s ever coming to market (not that I would be able to afford it).

There are some aspects of the design that I find concerning about this machine. The first is how the displays automatically open. While researching, I found that there was only one prototype equipped with automatically moving displays and it wasn’t accessible for people to play around with. This could mean that the mechanics were prone to failure, too complex to add to other prototypes, or had some kind of adverse effect on performance. The side displays also didn’t receive a lot of structural support while expanded which made them vulnerable to being damaged. Even slight warping to the aluminum casing could render the machine immobile. Speaking of which, the laptop weighed in at around 12 pounds, so you probably weren’t taking it into coffee shops anyway. I would love to see Razer and other manufacturers release some less permanent solutions to the single display problem. There are already a plethora of these on the market but they’re rarely made by the laptop’s manufacturer let alone a reputable seller. With pc gamers being an audience that isn’t afraid to break the bank and love buying peripherals, Razer seems like the perfect fit to start this trend.

Lenovo’s Yoga Book 9i

I love Lenovo’s laptops. Windows laptop designs are usually fairly standard, but Lenovo gets creative with their product lines. The ThinkPad and Yoga product lines especially. CES 2023 brought the Yoga Book 9i which I can’t wait to see be released. This laptop isn’t doing Yoga, it’s doing gymnastics the way it balances on the origami keyboard.

I love how easily the design lets users customize the product for their workflow. Within seconds, you can have stacked horizontal displays, side-by-side vertical displays, a laptop with a screen keyboard, a seemingly traditional laptop, or even a tablet. I also appreciate that the screens are held together by hinges instead of having a larger foldable screen. Foldable screens have been getting a lot of attention recently, but I don't think laptops are the place for them. If Microsoft doesn’t make a surface like this, my next laptop will be a Yoga Book.

Asus ZenBook Duo

The Asus ZenBook Duo has its keyboard sitting lower on the laptop so it can make room for a second screen. The dimensions of the lower screen may make you question its functionality. The products page shows a focus on content creation which makes perfect sense since it’s the perfect size for video timelines, reference material, notes, etc. With both screens being touch screens, the lower one has a more ergonomic placement for writing. I love how the design is so functional for a demographic that desperately needs to optimize their screen real estate.

While it may not be the first thing that pops into your head when you hear the words “dual screen laptop” it has a unique and practical offering. My only qualm with the design is that the keyboard appears smushed in. I imagine it would be difficult to type while the device is sitting on your lap since there isn’t a wrist rest. I don’t see that being a massive problem for those who buy this device since I imagine it will be set up at a desk most of the time. It’s not my dream laptop, but I wouldn’t mind owning it either.

MacBook Touch Bar

For 5 years Apple released MacBooks with a thin glass strip that replaced the function keys. The bar allowed for supposedly more intuitive/visual controls and even gave third-parties developers the option to implement functionality for their apps. From what I recall, the initial reception was mixed with it leaning to the negative side. Apple kept refining the feature over the years in accordance with user feedback until it was discontinued in 2021. Many users were frustrated by this decision since they had finally grown accustomed to it, others were relieved.

Because of Apple’s ecosystem and limited product selection for MacOS devices, I believe they can generate change in the laptop industry more than any other Windows laptop manufacturer. It’s a shame that they couldn’t get this change to stick, and I hope it’s not the last time they take a chance like this one.

Lepow Dualviews

The Lepow Dualviews is an honorable mention as it’s a portable monitor and not a laptop. I came across their IndieGoGo this past Tuesday at Fazoli’s while enjoying a $2.99 Trio Special. Its design is like the Yoga Book 9i where it’s two displays on hinges that can be oriented either vertically or horizontally. I found it strange that while their advertising focuses on its travel friendliness, most images show it being used with a bulky stand. It still looks like an elegant solution for those that need extra screen space. The monitors are currently being manufactured in various sizes and resolutions and are set to start shipping in October.

Conclusions

I know it’s a bit hacky to make a list like this. A few dozen advertisements on this page and it’d look like something you’d see on a “real” tech blog, but I wanted to explore some products that were challenging traditional design. They may not be perfect and definitely have drawbacks like price and battery life, but looking at them shows you what is possible. I hope to see more innovative designs enter the market that let consumers understand that a laptop can be so much more than the basic clamshell they’ve been accustomed to for so long.