All laptops suffer from a huge ergonomic problem: the screen is attached to the keyboard. The consequence is that you have to look down at an uncomfortable angle to see what you're doing. The screen is too close and too low.
Microsoft just announced a flexible keyboard solution to use with a tablet of your choice. When you really have to work 'laptop' style, you can leave the stand (which doubles as the cover) and the keyboard attached and work in confined circumstances.
For all other occasions you detach both and put the screen at the angle and distance you want. Extra advantage is that the combination of a tablet and a keyboard is easier to upgrade and to replace in case of mishaps.
With bluetooth connecting to iOS, Android and Windows tablets (or even smartphones) it's a flexible solution for $80. You can even control all three of them simultaneously and switch between operating systems with a dedicated key.
Typing comfort hasn't been reviewed as yet: if it's as good as a decent laptop it might be a flexible solution to carry a tablet and this keyboard
http://www.microsoft.com/hardware/en-us/p/universal-mobile-keyboard/P2Z-00001#details #tech
Sounds nice. Surprised that Logitech hasn't been the first to offer such a solution.
Love the idea. Will have to wait for UK launch and price
We have some similar keyboards albeit not detachable from Logitech for over a year now. Officially meant for iOS devices in name and attaching magnet, it works very well for any Samsung Android device we own.
Perfect distance for a 7.7" tab;
NotePro with the book cover needs it's own stand for it's thickness, so distance is no problem.
Not working on Archos G9 10.1 though.
edit
Unless you have a fitting tablet keyboard, like my Logitech would be for an iPad2 or 3, so it closes like a protective clam shell, or the Samsung that fits the TabPro/NotePro 12.2", you'll stop bringing your keyboard. Only when you know beforehand that you might have to write long texts and/or with a speed the tab's virtual keyboard won't allow, you will consider taking again something vulnerable in your bag. A non-shell keyboard simply is impracticle.
When you use a keyboard on your tablet, you might lose the diacritics that are essential in certain languages. Test before you buy. Switching off-and-on so you can use the virtual keyboard is highly impractical; editing full texts for that purpose before you publish not advisable either.
The option to separately replace the keyboard or screen is another huge bonus.
Some years back I used one of the small-format PCs as a portable. The main guts ("CPU") fit in my satchel, and I'd attache to a keyboard and monitor at either home or the office. It lacked a battery (though those are now something which can be purchased). I did have a small "Happy Hacker" keyboard (still around somewhere). The one component lacking was a small display.
Today with tablets and bluetooth, you can pretty much work around all of this. With the option of attaching a larger display, and a central backup (I prefer to own my own rather than use "cloud" services) you've got a pretty decent setup.
Otherwise, a Nexus 7 or iPad comes pretty close, with a separate keyboard.
Most of my laptop write-offs have actually been keyboard problems. I have replaced a few, but it's expensive and a tedious job (if you can get the right part).
The http://www.microsoft.com/hardware/en-us/p/wedge-mobile-keyboard#details seems to make even more sense if live switching between os'ses is not important. It's stand is even more flexible (although you lose the laptop on your knee style)
+Max Huijgen Yeah. I've got a chair where laptop use is actually exceptionally decent. Table-top use is less than ideal, though.
+Max Huijgen I was a Dell onsite tech for 3 years and never spent more than 15 minutes replacing a keyboard. I've also upgraded a couple myself to backlit keyboards and never found them difficult to find or particularly expensive.
So I have to ask, what sort of laptops have you been using?
I'd rather buy the Logitech K480 (http://www.logitech.com/en-us/product/multi-device-keyboard-k480) even if microsoft as done a decent keyboard as usual. I have had better luck with Logitech in terms of longevity, and normally they feel better (to me).
Ah, and the Logitech is already available.
+Chris Holt Thinkpad, Vaio f.i.
+Chris Holt One issue for the public is that laptops are often pretty much black boxes. Onsite repair is one thing, but finding a local independent store to do laptop repair is pretty hit or miss. Short product cycles, high levels of variance between manufactures (despite the fact that the origin manufacturers are often the same), and the cost of repair vs. replacement, all add to the problem.