Post #4291867

2026-07-31 21:15 UTC

this post brought to you by "I want a new portable device but nothing scratches that itch." I want it to be relatively small & portable, have good Linux support (which probably means at least offered by the company at purchase option), and if it is going to have a good pen-enabled touchscreen (let me sketch out my dumb ideas and workflows), it also needs to have a tolerable 2-in-1 design that doesn't feel compromised or bolted on. (being ARM based is a bonus of course, this isn't meant to be a serious work machine it's meant to be a portable device to take out of the house and get random things done on) but alas... there isn't anything new that quite fits that criteria as far as I know. pretty much every 2-in-1 is either a detachable tablet which usually comes with the awkward keyboard and stand setup, or has the 360° hinge. unironically, in terms of design goal, the fucking iPad with the special keyboard thing is probably the closest device. but you're limited by iPad OS which makes it much less capable overall. I can't readily work on my random code projects out and about like that.

Replies (1)

@senil@gts.social.senil.me 2026-07-31 21:24

in terms of older devices, the ones that come closest are the original-design Microsoft Surface Book's, but those are mostly a special version of the tablet device with an actual keyboard and hinge setup. The Acer Ezel-hinge laptops, which came in a variety of types over the years but the most interesting ones to me were the ConceptD lineup. And the old Windows 8 Dell Venue things, which were kinda the same idea as the Ezel hinge but the whole display rotated within its outer frame, so it would sit perfectly flush in "tablet" mode. if it weren't for the questionably documented eDP port making it harder to find proper alternative designs, I'd probably hijack the mainboard, battery, and main deck from my FW13 and re-design the hinge and top lid to turn it into this dream concept.

Open ##4291865