Now you've done it
You posted something positive about Windows 8. The anti-Microsoft brigade will be along shortly to correct you.
The Surface tablet's Touch Cover is eerily reminiscent of typing on a ZX81, The Register can report after fondling one of the elusive (to non Microsoft-adoring press) computers at the Australian launch of Windows 8. To do so, we elbowed aside other media and scored a few minutes on a Surface running Windows RT. We were able to …
I remember when audio equipment consisted of separate mix and match components - pre-amp, graphic equalizer, power amp (I don't know, maybe it still does).
Wouldn't it be nice if you could wirelessly connect a screen of your choice of dimensions and resolution to a pocketable device running your favourite combination of CPU, GPU and OS.
Of course, that would require an agreement on standards, so it will never happen.
In the meantime I'll stick to my Windows 7 desktop PC and my Android phone.
And those hifi systems took up a lot of space and cables. New audio gear, and laptops, have all their components squeezed and integrated into as small a space as possible.
Your modular plan would require you to accept a bit of wasted space - so if you really want to carry around an ATX-sized laptop, then that could probably be arranged.
They tended to be expensive and didn't catch on. I think I remember hearing about one where the screen was a Windows CE device running the remote desktop software, or something, and it cost about a thousand dollars.
What you can do, of course, is get a slim tablet containing screen and PC, and use Bluetooth wireless peripherals, for a wireless virtual docking station.
Although I wonder if that is part of the reason why my Dell Latitude ST (Windows 7 tablet) frequently goes completely unresponsive for a full sixty seconds - I'm using a Bluetooth mouse on its underside while pushing the cursor around with the stylus. But no - I think it also happens if I use it without the mouse. This leads up to looking for a Windows 8 full-fat tablet that isn't from Dell, although I also might upgrade my touch-only Fizzbook Spin up from Windows XP, instead. It's heavier than some new tablets, though.
I'm a little more optimistic. It requires after all little more than the tablet producer manufacturing a powered dock suited to the device concerned with standard ports (full size USBs + HDMI etc). You could then connect what the heck you liked to it. Dell have just launched a Windows 8 device with that sort of setup (don't ask about the resolution though - that just starts me off and explains why I won't be buying that particular device!). However, my point is that such devices do exist and can be readily manufactured by any OEM willing to do so. Furthermore developments within chippery expected next year should go a long way to realising the device you desire.
0:53: .. "that is Touch Cover .. it uses unique pressure sensing technology that actually senses your typing as gestures. So it can actually allow you to put your fingers down on the home position, find your home position. You can actually rest there it doesn't fire off keys but when you start touch typing on it, it actually registers those key press or the gestures as key presses and that allows me to type at fifty two words a minute. I type at fifty on a laptop keyboard of a similar size and then Type Cover allows me to .. this one's sixty two for me but it would vary by the person .." link
is whether you can fold the keyboard back under the tablet, so that you can use it as a tablet without having to detach the keyboard and carry that separately. Its been the deal breaker for every otherwise decent ipad keyboard and android keyboard I've seen so far, except for an expensive and fairly bulky Belkin one.
Yes you can (and it disables the keyboard when you do). You can also fold it flat on the desk behind the tablet when using the kickstand (i.e. under the foot of the kickstand), so you don't need to take it off then either. They pointed out yesterday that the folded back cover actually makes quite a nice surface (ha!) for the kickstand to rest on if you want to stand it on your lap.
I believe I made this comparison about four months ago.
(IIRC the ZX80 keyboard was thinner than the ZX81's so probably a better match).
>>start a swipe off the screen, a technique pioneered on the BlackBerry Playbook<<
I first experienced this on the Palm Pre 2, where the black area under the screen is touch enabled, swipe up to minimise, swipe left and right to switch between minimised apps or views in the current app. It's a great idea because developers can't fuss it like they can a touch area with display underneath...
Foolishly HP dropped this for the touchpad though, making minimising an app and scrolling the page impossible to differentiate, yet another stupid HP tablet decision...