Intel's Functional Nikiski Concept PC: Transparent Touchpad Doubles as a Screen Window
by Anand Lal Shimpi on January 9, 2012 12:41 PM ESTIntel talked about the Nikiski concept PC at Computex last year. The concept is simple: replace the palm rest and touchpad on a notebook with a transparent strip with integrated touchpad. When open the touchpad area should work just like a glass covered touchpad. Intel also includes palm detection that disables the mouse cursor if it detects that you're resting your hands on the transparent strip. Close the clamshell and the transparent touchpad will act as a capacitive window to your display. With some support in Windows 8 Intel claims you'll be able to do things like view your calendar, read emails, even browse the web through this little window. Both sides of the transparent strip support capacitive touch so you'll still be able to interact with your machine when closed.
Nikiski is still just a concept PC but it's now functional. Intel owns the patent on the design, but as is normally the case with these concepts it's unclear when we'll see something like it in the market. Make the design thin enough and I definitely see potential though. It'd be nice to still have access to some of your data even when your notebook is closed.
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Articuno - Monday, January 9, 2012 - link
How is this any different, aside from the increased costs from building a touchscreen in instead of just a regular screen and being locked to Intel?GeorgeH - Monday, January 9, 2012 - link
My thoughts exactly. Unless I'm missing something we've seen the "use your PC when it's off" gimmick many times before - and nobody cared.augiem - Monday, January 9, 2012 - link
You got it. The key word is DIFFERENT. That's all that matters. Designers are idiots.piroroadkill - Monday, January 9, 2012 - link
Nobody bought it first time, nobody cares about this time.We all have smartphones for this kind of stuff. First off, PC manufacturers, give us a trackpad as smooth as the one as that which you get on a Mac. Seriously, goddamn.
Sit there with a HP laptop with the single button disaster, and sit there with any Macbook made in the last year and a bit.
There's no comparison, and I'd wager almost all Windows laptops are just as bad, and probably not smooth (using ghetto arrow key/mousewheel emulation instead of ultra smooth native scrolling as in Mac OS X).
Shadowmage - Friday, January 13, 2012 - link
Screw trackpads, what I want is a decent keyboard. Have you tried the horrible Macbook Air keyboard? Chiclet keyboards need to die a slow death.Shadowmage - Friday, January 13, 2012 - link
Also, why are PC manufacturers trying to copy a horrible chiclet-style keyboard in the first place?danchen - Friday, January 13, 2012 - link
Its certainly different, and kinda cool - but pointless.We've already got the convertible laptop format which can twist its screen around so it becomes a tablet when closed. Isn't that better than having just a tiny window ?
Plus, this concept will force the laptop to become thicker - just because more footprint is sacrificed for a big thick piece of glass.
Malih - Friday, January 13, 2012 - link
I can see this happening if they can make it as thin as an ultrabook, and with decent battery life.if it's too thick or too heavy then it's of no use, flipping a 5 pounds (and up) laptop to use that small glass view after closing the lid will not be comfortable.
ssj4Gogeta - Saturday, January 14, 2012 - link
Unless they use OLED screens, they'll be wasting power keeping whole of the screen on when only half of it is usable. So why not just make it a convertible?