🚀 go-pugleaf

On Mon, 26 Feb 2018 16:12:47 -0800 (PST), Quadibloc
<jsa...@ecn.ab.ca> wrote:

>When I first came across the Motorola MPX300 cell phone, I was very impressed by
>its unusual dual-hinge design that let it open one way to be a conventional flip-
>phone with a display in portrait orientation, or the other way to have the display
>in landscape orientation and the buttons treated as a QWERTY keyboard instead of
>cell phone dialing buttons.
>
>https://www.mobilegazette.com/motorola-mpx.htm
>
>Recently, the DELL Inspiron Duo came to my attention. A number of laptops have a lid that opens 360 degrees to operate in tablet mode; this one, instead, had the display turn 180 degrees in the rest of the lid that framed it, so that the tablet mode left the keyboard protected on the inside.
>
>https://www.notebookcheck.net/Review-Dell-Inspiron-duo-Convertible-Netbook-Tablet.43896.0.html
>
>There was the Amstrad PPC512, which was also unusual because you could power it on ordinary D-cell batteries, and because of futuristic styling which would have led to it not being out of place as a prop on the series Space: 1999 - in addition to having a screen that folded down, and a keyboard that then folded over-top of it.
>
>http://ruscoe.org/2012/06/amstrad-ppc640/
>
>And, of course, there was the IBM ThinkPad that had the "butterfly" keyboard.
>
>https://gizmodo.com/5733896/the-sad-demise-ibms-awesome-fold-out-keyboard
>
>Anyone recall other examples of products with unusual and innovative form
>factors?

The Cray-1, etc.

https://www.google.com/search?q=cray-1+photo&client=firefox-b-1&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjFkYOG8MTZAhUM92MKHRnIDKAQsAQIKA&biw=1435&bih=795

Louis

On Mon, 26 Feb 2018 17:52:27 -0700, Louis Krupp
<lkrupp@nospam.pssw.com.invalid> wrote:

>On Mon, 26 Feb 2018 16:12:47 -0800 (PST), Quadibloc
><jsa...@ecn.ab.ca> wrote:
>
>>When I first came across the Motorola MPX300 cell phone, I was very impressed by
>>its unusual dual-hinge design that let it open one way to be a conventional flip-
>>phone with a display in portrait orientation, or the other way to have the display
>>in landscape orientation and the buttons treated as a QWERTY keyboard instead of
>>cell phone dialing buttons.
>>
>>https://www.mobilegazette.com/motorola-mpx.htm
>>
>>Recently, the DELL Inspiron Duo came to my attention. A number of laptops have a lid that opens 360 degrees to operate in tablet mode; this one, instead, had the display turn 180 degrees in the rest of the lid that framed it, so that the tablet mode left the keyboard protected on the inside.
>>
>>https://www.notebookcheck.net/Review-Dell-Inspiron-duo-Convertible-Netbook-Tablet.43896.0.html
>>
>>There was the Amstrad PPC512, which was also unusual because you could power it on ordinary D-cell batteries, and because of futuristic styling which would have led to it not being out of place as a prop on the series Space: 1999 - in addition to having a screen that folded down, and a keyboard that then folded over-top of it.
>>
>>http://ruscoe.org/2012/06/amstrad-ppc640/
>>
>>And, of course, there was the IBM ThinkPad that had the "butterfly" keyboard.
>>
>>https://gizmodo.com/5733896/the-sad-demise-ibms-awesome-fold-out-keyboard
>>
>>Anyone recall other examples of products with unusual and innovative form
>>factors?
>
>The Cray-1, etc.
>
>https://www.google.com/search?q=cray-1+photo&client=firefox-b-1&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjFkYOG8MTZAhUM92MKHRnIDKAQsAQIKA&biw=1435&bih=795
>
>Louis

I monitored a Cray YMP-2, ye old horse shoe shape, for about 18 months
back in the early 1990s. 12 hour shifts on the weekends. 

On Mon, 26 Feb 2018 16:12:47 -0800 (PST), Quadibloc
<jsa...@ecn.ab.ca> wrote:

>When I first came across the Motorola MPX300 cell phone, I was very impressed by
>its unusual dual-hinge design that let it open one way to be a conventional flip-
>phone with a display in portrait orientation, or the other way to have the display
>in landscape orientation and the buttons treated as a QWERTY keyboard instead of
>cell phone dialing buttons.
>
>https://www.mobilegazette.com/motorola-mpx.htm
>
>Recently, the DELL Inspiron Duo came to my attention. A number of laptops have a lid that opens 360 degrees to operate in tablet mode; this one, instead, had the display turn 180 degrees in the rest of the lid that framed it, so that the tablet mode left the keyboard protected on the inside.

My Thinkpad X is like that.  The new ones aren't though.

>https://www.notebookcheck.net/Review-Dell-Inspiron-duo-Convertible-Netbook-Tablet.43896.0.html
>
>There was the Amstrad PPC512, which was also unusual because you could power it on ordinary D-cell batteries, and because of futuristic styling which would have led to it not being out of place as a prop on the series Space: 1999 - in addition to having a screen that folded down, and a keyboard that then folded over-top of it.
>
>http://ruscoe.org/2012/06/amstrad-ppc640/
>
>And, of course, there was the IBM ThinkPad that had the "butterfly" keyboard.
>
>https://gizmodo.com/5733896/the-sad-demise-ibms-awesome-fold-out-keyboard
>
>Anyone recall other examples of products with unusual and innovative form
>factors?

On Monday, February 26, 2018 at 7:19:29 PM UTC-7, J. Clarke wrote:
> On Mon, 26 Feb 2018 16:12:47 -0800 (PST), Quadibloc
> <jsa...@ecn.ab.ca> wrote:

> >Recently, the DELL Inspiron Duo came to my attention. A number of laptops
> >have a lid that opens 360 degrees to operate in tablet mode; this one, 
> >instead, had the display turn 180 degrees in the rest of the lid that framed 
> >it, so that the tablet mode left the keyboard protected on the inside.

> My Thinkpad X is like that.  The new ones aren't though.

Ah, yes. But the Thinkpad X display was re-oriented by swiveling the whole top 
of the laptop horizontally around a single pivoted hinge. In the case of the 
DELL Inspiron Duo, the display was turned vertically in the middle of the top of 
the laptop, which stayed in place as a frame.

So the same result was achieved somewhat differently.

John Savard

On 27/02/2018 05:44, Quadibloc wrote:
> On Monday, February 26, 2018 at 7:19:29 PM UTC-7, J. Clarke wrote:
>> On Mon, 26 Feb 2018 16:12:47 -0800 (PST), Quadibloc
>> <jsa...@ecn.ab.ca> wrote:
> 
>>> Recently, the DELL Inspiron Duo came to my attention. A number of laptops
>>> have a lid that opens 360 degrees to operate in tablet mode; this one,
>>> instead, had the display turn 180 degrees in the rest of the lid that framed
>>> it, so that the tablet mode left the keyboard protected on the inside.
> 
>> My Thinkpad X is like that.  The new ones aren't though.
> 
> Ah, yes. But the Thinkpad X display was re-oriented by swiveling the whole top
> of the laptop horizontally around a single pivoted hinge. In the case of the
> DELL Inspiron Duo, the display was turned vertically in the middle of the top of
> the laptop, which stayed in place as a frame.
> 
> So the same result was achieved somewhat differently.
> 
> John Savard
> 

I think the Compaq TC1000 and TC1100 were interesting. Horrid 
performance, but detachable keyboard,

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HP_Compaq_TC1100

Dave

What's that you say?  You want computers with interesting form factors?

http://slodive.com/inspiration/custom-computer-cases/

https://www.webpagefx.com/blog/web-design/30-beautiful-custom-pc-case-designs/

On Mon, 05 Mar 2018 19:53:51 GMT
usenet@only.tnx (Questor) wrote:

> What's that you say?  You want computers with interesting form
> factors?
> 
> http://slodive.com/inspiration/custom-computer-cases/
> 
> https://www.webpagefx.com/blog/web-design/30-beautiful-custom-pc-case-designs/
> 
Modding a case usually does nothing to the underlying form factor.

On 2018-03-05, Rob Morley <nos...@ntlworld.com> wrote:

> On Mon, 05 Mar 2018 19:53:51 GMT
> usenet@only.tnx (Questor) wrote:
>
>> What's that you say?  You want computers with interesting form
>> factors?
>> 
>> http://slodive.com/inspiration/custom-computer-cases/
>> 
>> https://www.webpagefx.com/blog/web-design/30-beautiful-custom-pc-case-designs/
> 
> Modding a case usually does nothing to the underlying form factor.

Still, if you want an interesting and practical mod, it's hard to beat this one:

http://www.damngeeky.com/2013/10/01/14227/caffeine-machine-computer-case-mod.html

-- 
/~\  cgibbs@kltpzyxm.invalid (Charlie Gibbs)
\ /  I'm really at ac.dekanfrus if you read it the right way.
 X   Top-posted messages will probably be ignored.  See RFC1855.
/ \  HTML will DEFINITELY be ignored.  Join the ASCII ribbon campaign!

On Mon, 5 Mar 2018 20:11:09 +0000, Rob Morley <nos...@ntlworld.com> wrote:
>On Mon, 05 Mar 2018 19:53:51 GMT
>usenet@only.tnx (Questor) wrote:
>
>> What's that you say?  You want computers with interesting form
>> factors?
>> 
>> http://slodive.com/inspiration/custom-computer-cases/
>> 
>> https://www.webpagefx.com/blog/web-design/30-beautiful-custom-pc-case-designs/
>> 
>Modding a case usually does nothing to the underlying form factor.

I presented these for entertainment purposes only;  please -- no wagering.

I'm not even sure what you mean by "underlying form factor."  If you're honest,
you'll admit you can't say with certainty what the architecture is for most of
these machines.

"Back in the day," it was possible to "homebrew" some electronic "glue" and
perhaps interconnect off-the-shelf components into a unique machine & write
a basic OS for it.  But for most people, just getting the stuff to work in a
simple configuration was challenging enough.  For all the bitching here about
Wintel, there is obviously a strength to having a larger installed
base/community/market.

On Tue, 06 Mar 2018 20:01:39 GMT, usenet@only.tnx (Questor) wrote:

>On Mon, 5 Mar 2018 20:11:09 +0000, Rob Morley <nos...@ntlworld.com> wrote:
>>On Mon, 05 Mar 2018 19:53:51 GMT
>>usenet@only.tnx (Questor) wrote:
>>
>>> What's that you say?  You want computers with interesting form
>>> factors?
>>> 
>>> http://slodive.com/inspiration/custom-computer-cases/
>>> 
>>> https://www.webpagefx.com/blog/web-design/30-beautiful-custom-pc-case-designs/
>>> 
>>Modding a case usually does nothing to the underlying form factor.
>
>I presented these for entertainment purposes only;  please -- no wagering.
>
>I'm not even sure what you mean by "underlying form factor."  If you're honest,
>you'll admit you can't say with certainty what the architecture is for most of
>these machines.
>
>"Back in the day," it was possible to "homebrew" some electronic "glue" and
>perhaps interconnect off-the-shelf components into a unique machine & write
>a basic OS for it.  But for most people, just getting the stuff to work in a
>simple configuration was challenging enough.  For all the bitching here about
>Wintel, there is obviously a strength to having a larger installed
>base/community/market.

The Dell XPS M2010 was quite a neat form factor.  Like a briefcase
that opens into a gorgeous portable computer.  Beautiful 20" screen,
detachable keyboard, etc.  Nice:

https://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,1970655,00.asp

https://www.prlog.org/10778486-m2010keyboard.jpg

--William Leara
http://basicinputoutput.com

--William Leara
wle...@hotmail.com

On Tue, 22 May 2018 20:18:39 -0500, William Leara <wle...@hotmail.com>
wrote:

>On Tue, 06 Mar 2018 20:01:39 GMT, usenet@only.tnx (Questor) wrote:
>
>>On Mon, 5 Mar 2018 20:11:09 +0000, Rob Morley <nos...@ntlworld.com> wrote:
>>>On Mon, 05 Mar 2018 19:53:51 GMT
>>>usenet@only.tnx (Questor) wrote:
>>>
>>>> What's that you say?  You want computers with interesting form
>>>> factors?
>>>> 
>>>> http://slodive.com/inspiration/custom-computer-cases/
>>>> 
>>>> https://www.webpagefx.com/blog/web-design/30-beautiful-custom-pc-case-designs/
>>>> 
>>>Modding a case usually does nothing to the underlying form factor.
>>
>>I presented these for entertainment purposes only;  please -- no wagering.
>>
>>I'm not even sure what you mean by "underlying form factor."  If you're honest,
>>you'll admit you can't say with certainty what the architecture is for most of
>>these machines.
>>
>>"Back in the day," it was possible to "homebrew" some electronic "glue" and
>>perhaps interconnect off-the-shelf components into a unique machine & write
>>a basic OS for it.  But for most people, just getting the stuff to work in a
>>simple configuration was challenging enough.  For all the bitching here about
>>Wintel, there is obviously a strength to having a larger installed
>>base/community/market.
>
>The Dell XPS M2010 was quite a neat form factor.  Like a briefcase
>that opens into a gorgeous portable computer.  Beautiful 20" screen,
>detachable keyboard, etc.  Nice:
>
>https://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,1970655,00.asp
>
>https://www.prlog.org/10778486-m2010keyboard.jpg

Not sure where the market would be though.  It weighs 18 pounds and
runs three hours.  A typical 17" laptop today weights 4 pounds and
runs 8 hours.  And 40"+ 2 megapixel screens are ubiquitous--there's no
need to carry a big screen around with you.




>--William Leara
>http://basicinputoutput.com
>
>--William Leara
>wle...@hotmail.com

On Wed, 23 May 2018 05:28:59 -0400, J. Clarke
<jclarke...@gmail.com> wrote:

>On Tue, 22 May 2018 20:18:39 -0500, William Leara <wle...@hotmail.com>
>wrote:
>
>>On Tue, 06 Mar 2018 20:01:39 GMT, usenet@only.tnx (Questor) wrote:
>>
>>>On Mon, 5 Mar 2018 20:11:09 +0000, Rob Morley <nos...@ntlworld.com> wrote:
>>>>On Mon, 05 Mar 2018 19:53:51 GMT
>>>>usenet@only.tnx (Questor) wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> What's that you say?  You want computers with interesting form
>>>>> factors?
>>>>> 
>>>>> http://slodive.com/inspiration/custom-computer-cases/
>>>>> 
>>>>> https://www.webpagefx.com/blog/web-design/30-beautiful-custom-pc-case-designs/
>>>>> 
>>>>Modding a case usually does nothing to the underlying form factor.
>>>
>>>I presented these for entertainment purposes only;  please -- no wagering.
>>>
>>>I'm not even sure what you mean by "underlying form factor."  If you're honest,
>>>you'll admit you can't say with certainty what the architecture is for most of
>>>these machines.
>>>
>>>"Back in the day," it was possible to "homebrew" some electronic "glue" and
>>>perhaps interconnect off-the-shelf components into a unique machine & write
>>>a basic OS for it.  But for most people, just getting the stuff to work in a
>>>simple configuration was challenging enough.  For all the bitching here about
>>>Wintel, there is obviously a strength to having a larger installed
>>>base/community/market.
>>
>>The Dell XPS M2010 was quite a neat form factor.  Like a briefcase
>>that opens into a gorgeous portable computer.  Beautiful 20" screen,
>>detachable keyboard, etc.  Nice:
>>
>>https://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,1970655,00.asp
>>
>>https://www.prlog.org/10778486-m2010keyboard.jpg
>
>Not sure where the market would be though.  It weighs 18 pounds and
>runs three hours.  A typical 17" laptop today weights 4 pounds and
>runs 8 hours.  And 40"+ 2 megapixel screens are ubiquitous--there's no
>need to carry a big screen around with you.

I don't think it was a big market success--just saying that it was an
interesting form factor. (the subject of this thread)  Anyway, it was
2006--there were no 17" laptops weighing 4 lbs and running 8 hours in
2006, nor were there 40" 2 megapixel screens around.

--William Leara
wle...@hotmail.com

On Wed, 23 May 2018 23:44:34 -0500, William Leara <wle...@hotmail.com>
wrote:

>On Wed, 23 May 2018 05:28:59 -0400, J. Clarke
><jclarke...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>>On Tue, 22 May 2018 20:18:39 -0500, William Leara <wle...@hotmail.com>
>>wrote:
>>
>>>On Tue, 06 Mar 2018 20:01:39 GMT, usenet@only.tnx (Questor) wrote:
>>>
>>>>On Mon, 5 Mar 2018 20:11:09 +0000, Rob Morley <nos...@ntlworld.com> wrote:
>>>>>On Mon, 05 Mar 2018 19:53:51 GMT
>>>>>usenet@only.tnx (Questor) wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>> What's that you say?  You want computers with interesting form
>>>>>> factors?
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> http://slodive.com/inspiration/custom-computer-cases/
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> https://www.webpagefx.com/blog/web-design/30-beautiful-custom-pc-case-designs/
>>>>>> 
>>>>>Modding a case usually does nothing to the underlying form factor.
>>>>
>>>>I presented these for entertainment purposes only;  please -- no wagering.
>>>>
>>>>I'm not even sure what you mean by "underlying form factor."  If you're honest,
>>>>you'll admit you can't say with certainty what the architecture is for most of
>>>>these machines.
>>>>
>>>>"Back in the day," it was possible to "homebrew" some electronic "glue" and
>>>>perhaps interconnect off-the-shelf components into a unique machine & write
>>>>a basic OS for it.  But for most people, just getting the stuff to work in a
>>>>simple configuration was challenging enough.  For all the bitching here about
>>>>Wintel, there is obviously a strength to having a larger installed
>>>>base/community/market.
>>>
>>>The Dell XPS M2010 was quite a neat form factor.  Like a briefcase
>>>that opens into a gorgeous portable computer.  Beautiful 20" screen,
>>>detachable keyboard, etc.  Nice:
>>>
>>>https://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,1970655,00.asp
>>>
>>>https://www.prlog.org/10778486-m2010keyboard.jpg
>>
>>Not sure where the market would be though.  It weighs 18 pounds and
>>runs three hours.  A typical 17" laptop today weights 4 pounds and
>>runs 8 hours.  And 40"+ 2 megapixel screens are ubiquitous--there's no
>>need to carry a big screen around with you.
>
>I don't think it was a big market success--just saying that it was an
>interesting form factor. (the subject of this thread)  Anyway, it was
>2006--there were no 17" laptops weighing 4 lbs and running 8 hours in
>2006, 

No, they weighed 7 pounds and ran 5.5 hours.

>nor were there 40" 2 megapixel screens around.

Someone needs to tell Sony, Panasonic, and Toshiba.  They seem to
think they were selling them at that time.  Not as ubiquitous as they
are today of course.




>--William Leara
>wle...@hotmail.com

On Thu, 24 May 2018 06:20:58 GMT, J. Clarke <jclarke...@gmail.com>
wrote: 

> On Wed, 23 May 2018 23:44:34 -0500, William Leara <wle...@hotmail.com>
> wrote:
> 
>>On Wed, 23 May 2018 05:28:59 -0400, J. Clarke
>><jclarke...@gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>>>On Tue, 22 May 2018 20:18:39 -0500, William Leara
>>><wle...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>>>
>>>>On Tue, 06 Mar 2018 20:01:39 GMT, usenet@only.tnx (Questor) wrote:
>>>>
>>>>>On Mon, 5 Mar 2018 20:11:09 +0000, Rob Morley <nos...@ntlworld.com>
>>>>>wrote: 
>>>>>>On Mon, 05 Mar 2018 19:53:51 GMT
>>>>>>usenet@only.tnx (Questor) wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>> What's that you say?  You want computers with interesting form
>>>>>>> factors?
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> http://slodive.com/inspiration/custom-computer-cases/
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> https://www.webpagefx.com/blog/web-design/30-beautiful-custom-pc-
>>>>>>> case-designs/ 
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>Modding a case usually does nothing to the underlying form factor.
>>>>>
>>>>>I presented these for entertainment purposes only;  please -- no
>>>>>wagering. 
>>>>>
>>>>>I'm not even sure what you mean by "underlying form factor."  If
>>>>>you're honest, you'll admit you can't say with certainty what the
>>>>>architecture is for most of these machines.
>>>>>
>>>>>"Back in the day," it was possible to "homebrew" some electronic
>>>>>"glue" and perhaps interconnect off-the-shelf components into a
>>>>>unique machine & write a basic OS for it.  But for most people,
>>>>>just getting the stuff to work in a simple configuration was
>>>>>challenging enough.  For all the bitching here about Wintel, there
>>>>>is obviously a strength to having a larger installed 
>>>>>base/community/market. 
>>>>
>>>>The Dell XPS M2010 was quite a neat form factor.  Like a briefcase
>>>>that opens into a gorgeous portable computer.  Beautiful 20" screen,
>>>>detachable keyboard, etc.  Nice:
>>>>
>>>>https://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,1970655,00.asp
>>>>
>>>>https://www.prlog.org/10778486-m2010keyboard.jpg
>>>
>>>Not sure where the market would be though.  It weighs 18 pounds and
>>>runs three hours.  A typical 17" laptop today weights 4 pounds and
>>>runs 8 hours.  And 40"+ 2 megapixel screens are ubiquitous--there's
>>>no need to carry a big screen around with you.
>>
>>I don't think it was a big market success--just saying that it was an
>>interesting form factor. (the subject of this thread)  Anyway, it was
>>2006--there were no 17" laptops weighing 4 lbs and running 8 hours in
>>2006, 
> 
> No, they weighed 7 pounds and ran 5.5 hours.
> 
>>nor were there 40" 2 megapixel screens around.
> 
> Someone needs to tell Sony, Panasonic, and Toshiba.  They seem to
> think they were selling them at that time.  Not as ubiquitous as they
> are today of course.
> 
> 
> 
> 
>>--William Leara
>>wle...@hotmail.com
> 

a 40" screen on a laptop would be a bit tricky^w awesome though!

-- 
Bah, and indeed, Humbug.

On Thu, 24 May 2018 08:35:49 -0000 (UTC)
"Kerr-Mudd,John" <nots...@invalid.org> wrote:

> a 40" screen on a laptop would be a bit tricky^w awesome though!

	I think that would require an interesting form factor - perhaps a
keyboard with a scroll tube containing a flexible display.

-- 
Steve O'Hara-Smith                          |   Directable Mirror Arrays
C:\>WIN                                     | A better way to focus the sun
The computer obeys and wins.                |    licences available see
You lose and Bill collects.                 |    http://www.sohara.org/

On 5/24/2018 3:35 AM, Kerr-Mudd,John wrote:

> a 40" screen on a laptop would be a bit tricky^w awesome though!
> 
Another fine product from the Tardis Works.

Dave Garland <dave.g...@wizinfo.com> wrote:
> On 5/24/2018 3:35 AM, Kerr-Mudd,John wrote:
> 
>> a 40" screen on a laptop would be a bit tricky^w awesome though!
>> 
> Another fine product from the Tardis Works.
> 

You might be able to balance it on your lay, but you'd need a backpack to
carry it!

-- 
Pete

On 24/05/2018 09:35, Kerr-Mudd,John wrote:
{snip}

> a 40" screen on a laptop would be a bit tricky^w awesome though!

It could be a pop up display. A back projection on to a silk screen.

Andrew Swallow <am.sw...@btinternet.com> writes:
>On 24/05/2018 09:35, Kerr-Mudd,John wrote:
>{snip}
>
>> a 40" screen on a laptop would be a bit tricky^w awesome though!
>
>It could be a pop up display. A back projection on to a silk screen.

Or just a built-in projector to a nearby handy white wall.