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Video of the Intel Metro Laptop

gizmodo.com — Friends at AeroXperience got this great video of Intel's ultra-ultra-ultra thin concept laptop, the Metro, with lots of footage of the e-ink lid display in action.

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  • iwanttodiggthis, on 10/11/2007, -72/+5Name one thing that this laptop can do that my MacBook Pro can't.
    • geminitojanus, on 10/11/2007, -4/+42...weigh less? Run for many, many hours (14!?) on battery?
    • iwanttodiggthis, on 10/11/2007, -49/+4How do you think it runs 14 hours on battery? Hint: you have to buy the EXTENDED battery, which weighs more than my whole MacBook Pro!
    • sleepyness, on 10/11/2007, -4/+26Weigh 2.2lbs...your MBP weighs like 5-6lbs. That's mother ***** heavy.
    • thegenome, on 10/11/2007, -2/+13urgh no... I hope that was the design of the thing before they released the pics.
      That one hasnt got a widecreen... and the keyboard is nowhere near as sexy as the pics we have before http://gizmodo.com/photogallery/intelnotebook/1929610
    • abhiroop, on 10/11/2007, -6/+2the e-feed viewer!
    • theone3, on 10/11/2007, -12/+14Right click. Also middle click.
    • theonlyvlad, on 10/11/2007, -8/+7@thegenome

      Widescreen? If they put in a res of 1920x1200 will you complain that it's not 1920x1080? As long as the total rez is higher than what you need to watch a widescreen movie, who cares? In case you didn't know, there are a whole lot more apps that benefit from full screen than not.
    • thegenome, on 10/11/2007, -1/+8@theonlyvlad
      nah... im just saying i think the widescreen version looks a lot better. Ive had a macbook now for a while and any nonwide screen laptop just looks really square like. Again personally I much perfer well made apps in widescreen... for photoshop theres way more room.... games... you can see more...
    • kingo, on 10/11/2007, -2/+1@thegenome & @theonlyvlad
      The computer is a widescreen, the video is stretched vertically for the youtube vid. Just look at the clock in Vista.
      That is why the laptop looks ***** in the vid compared to the promo pics.
    • PathDaemon, on 10/11/2007, -3/+3@iwanttodiggthis
      As a long-time digger and Mac user, you make me really, really sad. Stop now before someone slaps you.

      ...also, what the ***** is up with eInk displays and that inverted refresh? I don't see what in the technology would require that.
    • Scaryclouds, on 10/11/2007, -0/+7@iwanttodiggthis

      Wrong, it can run for 14 hours because it has a LED back lit screen, it runs entirely on flash, has a Penryn processor?, has energy efficient integrated graphics. All this adds up to LONG battery life. Also the point of this laptop isn't to out power a MBP, its to provide a ultra-portable laptop with power nearly equal to one.
    • geminitojanus, on 10/11/2007, -1/+3"...also, what the ***** is up with eInk displays and that inverted refresh?"

      Probably a firmware glitch (it's said in the video Microsoft provided all of the firmware...) E-ink traditionally doesn't require a completely blanking refresh, but that doesn't mean jack if you've got some strange "optimizations" in your framebuffer code (like xoring pixels blank instead of clearing them, which is faster for processor instructions, but not necessarily a pretty sight on a screen with that slow of a refresh rate).

      "it runs entirely on flash, has a Penryn processor?,"

      Extremely doubtful. Likely these machines are running a Pentium M ULV or some version of it (perhaps a Core Duo ULV if they're shipping). Anything this thing has in its heart is commercially available now.
    • rebopper, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1Anyone else notice all the candy at that guys booth?
    • icabod540, on 10/11/2007, -2/+1"Probably a firmware glitch (it's said in the video Microsoft provided all of the firmware...) E-ink traditionally doesn't require a completely blanking refresh, but that doesn't mean jack if you've got some strange "optimizations" in your framebuffer code (like xoring pixels blank instead of clearing them, which is faster for processor instructions, but not necessarily a pretty sight on a screen with that slow of a refresh rate). "

      He said it ran just like the Sony Ereader and that device does the inverted blanking refresh. It's the way its done if it's using the same technology as the Ereader.
    • netdawg, on 10/11/2007, -5/+2Ooooooohh.... you have a MacBook Pro. You're so cool. I bet you fondle it.
    • JonForTheWin, on 10/11/2007, -1/+1That black and white (doesn't appear to be backlit) screen on the back of the case is NOT sexy.
  • geminitojanus, on 10/11/2007, -6/+9I wish I could digg this, but it's yet another shoddy video (looks like it was shot from a camera phone, or at least by someone who has no idea how to control the zoom/focus features of their camera), and not really showing off much in relation to the laptop as it is Windows Vista (the whole video practically talks about Sideshow, rather than focusing on the wonder that is the less than 3lb and has more battery life than every other laptop on the market).

    But at least Gizmodo is trying.

    • troelsbay, on 10/11/2007, -2/+21What is going on with the terrible video? Do these guys have a clue about tech at all?
      And why is the unit (though really hard to get a crasp of in the vid) so god damned big and ugly? Doesn't at all seem super-slim, check the guy holding it sideways. Plain awful, not at all the same unit as that on the pics shown just below.
    • sleepyness, on 10/11/2007, -14/+2The original video was shot in 1080p, now if your computer can't play that, don't whine about the watered down youtube version. -.-
    • troelsbay, on 10/11/2007, -2/+7We're not whining about the resolution of the vid, it's youtube, we know. We're whining about the fact that the guy can't speak properly (or has gum in his mouth), he can't hold a camera straight, he hasn't got a clue about how to make a movie with a depth perspective, the sound is awful and people around him are not told to stop fiddling with their cables or whatever, he doesn't at all ask the dude relevant questions, everything he does breaks, and on top of that, he's supposed to be a tech-guy.

      I'd sack him.
    • geminitojanus, on 10/11/2007, -2/+15"The original video was shot in 1080p,"

      1080p isn't going to save the content when the content is crap to begin with; rapid camera movements, jitter, the guy/gal can't even figure out how to work the zoom.
    • sleepyness, on 10/11/2007, -2/+4Yes the guy who recorded it did have zero camera skills and yes basically the video showed jack *****.
    • gcnaddict, on 10/11/2007, -2/+1Hot damn, you guys are unappreciative. The people on AeroXP and Engadget liked it a whole lot more than you guys did.

      I didn't even realize why the laptop was so special until I read about it later. I'm working on getting a better shot of it now, but it's not likely that I'll get anywhere.

      "1080p isn't going to save the content when the content is crap to begin with; rapid camera movements, jitter, the guy/gal can't even figure out how to work the zoom."

      Unforgiving. Thanks :)
    • gcnaddict, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1"And why is the unit (though really hard to get a crasp of in the vid) so god damned big and ugly? Doesn't at all seem super-slim, check the guy holding it sideways. Plain awful, not at all the same unit as that on the pics shown just below."

      That was the unit shown off in Bill Gates' Keynote. The marketing shots were what you saw earlier.
    • scarper86, on 10/11/2007, -1/+4I agree, the video is almost unwatchable because it's annoying and frustrating. He talks over the answers to his own questions and it's shot like a drunk epileptic. If you're gonna make a video for strangers to watch, then have some pride in how it's presented. I understand why my aunt's vacation vids suck, but I'm getting tired of sites that make money off of my page views by posting crap. I'd say it was amateurish, but that would be an insult to amateurs who are capable of much better than this.
  • fatas, on 10/11/2007, -4/+1Take the gum out of your mouth *****.
  • m0nk, on 10/11/2007, -5/+4The concept photos remind me a lot of the MacBook and MBP.
    Oh, and the video sux.
  • Cybrwolf, on 10/11/2007, -3/+7Hey did anyone else notice the Microsoft guy give this interviewer the middle finger?? It happens beginning at the last 38 seconds of the video, right after the UMPC has an "opps."
  • Flarup, on 10/11/2007, -8/+2This is one ugly laptop. Im not getting the whole screen on the outside thing? Couldn't they just have sticked with simplicity, instead of making some half assed slow screen on the outside? Intel really fcked this one up imo.

    And who wants a laptop called "metro" that looks like this http://gizmodo.com/photogallery/intelnotebook/1929634 - its one big semi homosexual joke!
    • MindStalker, on 10/11/2007, -1/+3@flarup Its an e-ink screen. Advantages of e-ink is ZERO battery usage except for refreshing. Of course unless this screen has some magic way of getting information from the laptop when the laptop is in hybrination, this is fairly pointless.
    • geminitojanus, on 10/11/2007, -0/+6"Of course unless this screen has some magic way of getting information from the laptop when the laptop is in hybrination, this is fairly pointless."

      Microsoft came up with some grandiose-scheme called "sideshow" that will allow the machine to update the screen, but in order to do that, the laptop has to come alive for some period of time, refresh the screen, then return to sleep. A smart laptop manufacturer would sidestep this by adding their own, secondary processor that would come alive and get whatever data it needed, while leaving the big, heat producing processor off. Intel, OTOH, solves this problem by using an ultra-low power chip to begin with, so that coming and going from low-power states doesn't cost the machine very much in the way of battery life.

      All of this could have been pointed out in the video, but sadly, wasn't.
    • Flarup, on 10/11/2007, -1/+4I still fail to see the actual point of using this screen? Its a major design obstacle and puts off the entire thin simplistic look of the model, and it seems like you interact with it through a set of incredibly ugly plastic controls? They could atleast have opted for a multitouch screen.
    • geminitojanus, on 10/11/2007, -1/+2"I still fail to see the actual point of using this screen?"

      Well, you've really gotta understand what this laptop is meant to be. Intel, and others in the industry, have been waiting a long time to build machines like this, machines they've wanted to build for years, but never had the technology to do it. Now they do, and they can't get away with just showcasing the ultra-sleek plastics, the wafer bonding and chip-scale packages. They can't sell this machine based on numbers, it's sexy, it's stylish, it's what Intel's wanted for 10 years.

      The problem with these "technological demonstrations" is that they very rarely translate to actual marketable models, for one reason or another. Because of this, interestingly enough, designers usually go all out: throw in any piece of technology anyone will pay you a dime to demonstrate. Inductive charging, over-the-shoulder integrated carrying strap, and certainly Microsoft's chipped in more than a few pennies to see Sideshow showcased on this wonder machine, especially using a state-of-the-art E-ink LCD (and a rather large one at that). It's a Pepsi-sticker away from being pure Product Placement for the technological society's "Who's Who".

      The technologies don't really need to be sensible, as it's not likely any of these machines will actually ship (in meaningful volume). But maybe it'll spur some of the designers at other companies to adopt some of them. And sideshow is one of those big technologies Microsoft spent money on, you can be damn well sure they're going to attempt to market the hell out of it anywhere they can, whether or not it actually makes sense.
    • Flarup, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1I still don't think it answered my question though.

      What is the point of the outside screen? what do you use it for? Its not vista running on the e-ink screen, but some boiled down app with limited access to your computer. What possible use could this screen offer me that would justify such a bulky and large design obstacle?
    • geminitojanus, on 10/11/2007, -0/+3As a designer, that's basically what you'd have to ask yourself. That's all the screen does; run "Sideshow" plugins, like Dashboard, only on the outside of your computer.

      If that's something that interests you, hey, go for it. If not, no big deal, at least it looks cool with this demo machine, which is exactly what it's supposed to do: sell the technology to designers.
    • MindStalker, on 10/11/2007, -1/+1@flarup The outside screen is mainly for reading ebooks or checking your email. With the eink you can read several large books on one battery charge because its not using power when your not flipping pages.
  • kilworth, on 10/11/2007, -3/+3This plasic package made me mad.
    Wahahahahh stop eating!
  • astanhope, on 10/11/2007, -4/+2Lame video. Disappointing. Don't bother.
  • KevinJim, on 10/11/2007, -9/+4This laptop cry out for a dual boot Linux - OSX (86 project ).
  • jkramsay, on 10/11/2007, -8/+5The ultra thin "Metro". I wonder if it comes with a Mesh Shirt and some hair gel.
  • capran, on 10/11/2007, -1/+15Is it just me, or does anyone else think this "sideshow" screen on the outside of a laptop is stupid and pointless? I don't get it.
    • alejandrops, on 10/11/2007, -3/+7Its great for information purposes, like email notification, calendar, news, date/time, weather info. Maybe wi fi availability, so you don't have to open your notebook just to check that you don't have a wifi spot around.
    • unloud, on 10/11/2007, -6/+1The only time my macbook is closed so that I could possibly see that screen is when it's in my laptop bag. It takes probably half a second to see if there's a wifi spot and then just close my laptop again. So, yes, it's pointless to me as well.
  • JohnnyXmas, on 10/11/2007, -0/+3Yeah, whatever. If I ran for that many hours, I'd weigh less, too.

    Yawn.
  • Qtip42, on 10/11/2007, -2/+4that black finish is awful, you can see how bad it is just by the reflection...lol looks like powdercoat with all that orange peel.
    • Topher06, on 10/11/2007, -0/+0Its textured black leather not powder coated metal. But the idea is you can pick and choose which cover you want for it, or keep the basic magnesium casing, its removeable.
  • qmeister, on 10/11/2007, -1/+1"We're trying to stimulate the laptop eco-system..." What? Mumbo jumbo...produce something people can use....

    And for those commenting about the macbook pro...bah
  • scabbers, on 10/11/2007, -1/+1I wish someone with a ***** clue would turn up to one of these shows with a camera.
  • ceidem, on 10/11/2007, -3/+1So, if you IM on it, does that make you a Metrotextual?
  • jts8, on 10/11/2007, -1/+0What's with the video, I was all excited when I saw the title. Boo-urns!
  • sail191912, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1The shiny pleather made it look more like a porn star instead of a supermodel.
  • ladbroke, on 10/11/2007, -1/+0The "Metro" laptop, helpfully wrapped in patent leather to match your urban, BDSM lifestyle.

    So what functionality does an outside screen offer? I look at that and keep thinking, "what the hell would I ever use that for?"
    • Topher06, on 10/11/2007, -0/+0Um, did you watch the video. I don't know, review incoming emails, access media content, read RSS feeds, podscasts, upcoming appointments, etc, etc, etc all without firing up the whole system. It keeps most of the laptop powered down so you can access data and media quickly, its like a PDA interface on your laptop. Also the idea is that many laptops will feature it as a module that can be separated from the laptop which becomes a standalone digital media player.

      Granted, I am not going to run out and buy a laptop specifically for this feature, but if all laptops started offering this feature you would find a use for it I am sure rather then dismiss it.
    • superkendall, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1So isn't the outside screen really just there to solve the fundamental problem that Windows does not wake quickly from sleep?

      If you are actually going to drag out a laptop, it's just as easy for me to simply open the Screen on a Macbook and take a second to see the data I want, because it wakes instantly. There's only so much quick information you'd want to get at this way anyway, since a laptop is too bulky to pull out just to check the time - a cell phone or other sources of information work better for that.
  • Legolover64, on 10/11/2007, -1/+2Did anybody hear what kind of an ass the interviewer sounded like?

    "What are you... you're Intel right?"
    "Yeah."
    "Oh...okay."

    As if working for some Aero company I've never heard of is suddenly a better position.

    Also, lol@the ebook reader, nice response time there...
    • gcnaddict, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1Oh? I asked him if he's with Intel and he said "No, I'm with Freescale Semiconductors."

      So yeah, that's why I disregarded him. He wasn't Intel.
  • pbrooks100, on 10/11/2007, -3/+0How many people read this headline and immediately thought "metrosexual"?

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metrosexual
  • caniglia22, on 10/11/2007, -1/+0Is it me or was that NOT the Metro? Why did it look like a crappy laptop without a widescreen that had a lcd installed on the back half of the lcd. That laptop wasn't thin, sleek, sexy, wide screen, or anything else that would make me buy it.
  • damnyooneek, on 10/11/2007, -2/+1the guy sounds like the guy that records bangbus. hahaha
  • Asystole, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1Underwhelming technology, underwhelming video. Meh.
  • BGPEREIRA, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1At 2.5 Lbs....$1,500..... Nah... not hot at all !!! Sony is going for 1.85 Lbs., and if at $500, I'll go take a look see.
  • zarex, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1(delete)
  • zarex, on 10/11/2007, -0/+4Wow, that was totally unimpressive. E-ink hasn't progressed much over the years - extremely slow updates, and constant inverting of the image to remove stuck bits. That drove me nuts just watching it, I can't imagine using it.
  • triple110, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2I think the guys presenting the device need some pointers on sales presentations. Kind of hard to get excited about something if the person presenting isn't excited.
  • tobias, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1I wonder if there is someone called Bob on the microsoft sideshow team...
  • blaker, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1AMD FTW
  •  

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