Some say the PC is dying and the laptop is a thing of the past, as smartphones and tablets rapidly become our digital windows to the world. Meanwhile, others are busy designing the laptop of the future, leveraging the latest advances flexible displays and industrial design. Here’s a look at five concepts that offer a glimpse of what could be tomorrow’s laptop.

1. Five innovative laptop concept
designs
Some say the PC is dying and the
laptop is a thing of the past, as
smartphones and tablets rapidly
become our digital windows to the
world.
Meanwhile, others are busy designing
the laptop of the future, leveraging the
latest advances in flexible displays and
industrial design.
Here’s a look at five concepts that offer
a glimpse of what tomorrow’s laptop Image courtesy of basketman at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
could look like.
By Jeff Jedras

2. The smartphone will be
assimilated
OLO Computer has teased the
market with an interesting concept:
a netbook that appears to have
swallowed an iPhone.
In fact, the iPhone is inserted into
the netbook chassis and functions
as the trackpad.
It’s unclear if the smartphone
would also power the device, but if
the smartphone can be assimilated,
perhaps resistance isn’t futile after
all.

3. The Flexbook
A project designed by Taiwanese
designer Hao-Chun Huang for a
Fujitsu design contest, the Flexbook
folds in on itself for portability, and
also promises to be waterproof.
It would have an 11” OLED screen
and could function as a netbook, or
as a tablet or e-reader when the
keyboard is tucked away.
Colour customizable rubber screens
would be another distinctive
feature.

4. iWeb 2.0
From designer Yang Yongchang, the
iWeb 2.0 is another foldable laptop
design that uses flexible materials to
correct one problem that often arises
as devices get smaller: tiny keyboards.
This design boasts a full-sized foldable
keyboard that tucks away when not
needed. It would also boast a 6.5”
touchscreen.
The screen is a little small but, if you
miss the keyboard, this may be the
answer.

5. Bento Book
Designed by René Woo-Ram Lee, the Bento
Book isn’t so much a laptop, as it is a docking
station for your laptop and smartphone.
The concept features a 15” OLED screen and
solar-rechargeable batteries, but no keyboard
or trackpad. That’s where your devices come
in. You would insert your 11” tablet to
function as they keyboard, and your
smartphone as the trackpad.
Not sure it would all come together well, but
its an interesting concept.

6. Compenion
Conceived by designer Felix
Schmidberger as his answer to
what the laptop will look like in
2015, the Compenion boasts a
sleek minimalist design.
Not only is the display OLED but
the keyboard is too, which
means it could easily be adjusted
for size, layout and language.
A number of docking stations for
different uses would be
available, including one with a
built-in projector for watching
movies.