Asus unfolds dual-screen laptop/e-book reader

Cebit 09 Two screens are better than one, aren’t they? The answer’s yes, at least according to Asus – developer of a dual-screen display shown off at the ongoing Cebit show in Germany this week.

Asus' prototype dual-screen device

Although still only a prototype, the Asus machine would have four main modes: laptop, e-book, cinema and artist. The latter could be some form of Photoshop application, allowing the user to draw and sketch using a stylus or their finger.

According to various online reports, a working model was seen running Windows 7 earlier this week at CeBit. However, exactly what functions the dual-screen device was able to perform, if any, is unclear.

Aside from touch-based operation, the displays would be able to bring up a virtual keyboard on either screen. Users may also be able to opt for a larger one to be spread across both.

The wood laminate option would be optional, we hope

In cinema mode films would, we assume, be spread across the two screens to form a wider viewing area - but who wants a thick black line down the middle of the picture?

So the ability to watch a film on the top screen while simultaneously surfing the web on the bottom panel would definitely be a plus.

No plans to launch the unnamed device have surfaced yet. ®