Kickstarter: Casetop

[DinohScene]

$250 for a keybord + screen. Many people still burn cash.

I agree.
Waste of good money imho.
But if you're rich then it doesn't matter much does it.

What an economical crisis we have.

 

[Clydefrosch]

Those things hardly work well when they're developed for just one single model of phone; I don't see it working out if it's meant for several different types.
It'd be easier and probably cheaper to buy a normal netbook.

 

[KingBlank]

This could be a good Idea, in 100 prototypes time...

 

[CyborGamer]

$250 for a keybord + screen.

And battery.

I guess I'm the only one optimistic?

I mean, I'd be all over this had I not owned a proper laptop. Majority of smartphone owners don't do squat with their smartphones except angry birds, viewing documents, and checking facebook. For me this seems like the ultimate extension for the masses. You can argue that you might as well just get a tablet, which is very valid, but as a minimalist I can understand the want just to have everything in one device.

I agree as a former owner, a netbook is more functional. But honestly for me it's a pain to manage multiple devices. I have to update my phone, my pc, my consoles, my handhelds, and god help me if I have to update my toaster someday.

I think this'll be great, especially when you consider a lot of people change their smartphones almost every year, it's like you're constantly upgrading your laptop. When I saw the Motorola Atrix, I was pretty psyched about it. This is even better consider it's compatible with multiple devices, it's just plug and play. Of course I'll reserve my opinion until the device is actually out, but it's looking good to me so far.

 

[Veho]

And battery.

I guess I'm the only one optimistic?

I would be more optimistic if it were $100. $250 is a bit much. You can get a Motorola Lapdock for $100, and that's pretty much the same thing (requires a few adapters but close enough).

 

[KingVamp]

I guess I'm the only one optimistic?

I tried, but I was soon shutdown.


Also it should be lighter than a tablet,netbook or laptop.

 

[CyborGamer]

I would be more optimistic if it were $100. $250 is a bit much. You can get a Motorola Lapdock for $100, and that's pretty much the same thing (requires a few adapters but close enough).

Yea it is a bit steep. The lapdock was actually even more expensive, but as you pointed out it's much cheaper now. I wouldn't even know where to get adapters, but couple that with a readily available HDMI slot and possible 1080p screen, maybe it might be more justifiable? Now I just sound like a salesman, so I'll stop.

 

[Taleweaver]

Rats...CyborGamer already mentioned that it's basically 250$ for a keyboard, screen and battery. Perhaps there's one or two extra things (camera and speakers?), but still...you can get a cheap laptop or tablet for that price.

It would probably be a good investment if you buy an expensive smartphone and an expensive laptop every couple years...if phones were a full alternative for laptops. But they aren't. Working with that casetop will look pretty awkward, as there is no mouse (that isn't a touchscreen, is it?). And what's with the positioning of the smartphone itself? Is it so hard to foresee that people will accidentally touch their smartphone with the base of their right hand, thus accidentally pushing some buttons (e.g. sending that sms somewhat in the middle of typing)?

 

[KingVamp]

Working with that casetop will look pretty awkward, as there is no mouse (that isn't a touchscreen, is it?). And what's with the positioning of the smartphone itself? Is it so hard to foresee that people will accidentally touch their smartphone with the base of their right hand, thus accidentally pushing some buttons (e.g. sending that sms somewhat in the middle of typing)?

Shouldn't the phone act as a mouse when connected?

 

[Taleweaver]

Shouldn't the phone act as a mouse when connected?

With that many phones supported, I guess the phone just acts as it always has. And the monitor is "just" an enlargement of the screen. In other words: at best, it'll act like those touchpads found on laptops nowadays (which already have the tendency to be in my way in the middle of the thing). At worst, it'll sometimes switch between vertical and landscape mode because it's cool like that.

 

[Janthran]

It's for if you have a phone but not a laptop. You can then use your phone as a phone and also as a laptop. You can't make phone calls from a laptop.

It's pretty pricey for what it does, but I see the purpose behind it.

Google phone lets you make free calls anywhere in the US and cheap calls anywhere else.

From a PC

 

[OJClock]

This just reminds me of the motorola atrix dock, which is pretty easy to hack for use with your phone

...and it only costs 60ish bucks on ebay

 

[The Catboy]

I recall a few phone to laptop docks before in the past and don't recall any of them being very successful.
This one looks eh to me, nothing I am honestly interested in buying and really nothing I would ever see myself using.
It would be a little more interesting to me, if you could push your phone inside of it and use a touchpad mouse. Since it looks like to me, you use the phone as the mouse, which is even more disappointing.

Scratch that, from what I've seen in this video


It just as I thought it was, just an external keyboard and monitor for your phone. It just magnifies your phone and gives it a physical keyboard, nothing special. I'm gonna pass on this one.

 

[The Milkman]

This is pretty stupid. If it was maybe, 70-100 dollars I would say ok, but 250 for a screen and keyboard (don't give me that battery crap, unless its charging your phone it should already be there.) no mouse, no real USB ports. You might as well either buy a Tablet or a Netbook at that price, both could do a whole lot more.

 

[Crimson Ghoul]

Portable bluetooth keyboards for ipads and android tablets are usually in the $60-$100 range. This is a portable large display and a bluetooth keyboard packaged neatly together. I understand the the use for it but it would have been nice if they had provided the mouse also since it has like a $40 price tag for android branded bluetooth mice

 

[jurassicplayer]

That idea from Canonical was cooler than this :/
They were talking about docking an Android phone and running Ubuntu from it (link if anyone cares).
I would totally rather go for a full desktop experience when docking a phone rather than just smartphone on a large screen with a keyboard.

 

[Veho]

(don't give me that battery crap, unless its charging your phone it should already be there.)

It charges your phone.

no real USB ports

Well that's just silly. They should have included a USB hub.

 

[Arm73]

It's true that you can buy a cheap laptop for that price.
But I can see the convenience of having all your documents, applications and games in one place (your phone ) and take it with you anywhere.
Imagine you have such a Casetop at your workplace ( the company would buy it for you ) , and when you get to work you just plug in your phone and you are ready to go.
When you leave, you take your phone with you along with all your work.
Then you get home and you plug it in your own Casetop, and keep working or being entertained on the same device basically, but without having to carry a laptop around.
Besides, different family members with their own phone could use the same Casetop, or even better, you go to an airport, plug in your phone to an airport Casetop station while you are waiting for your flight,and get your phone recharged at the same time !

I see this a viable alternative to the conventional laptop in the near future, when ( already powerful ) smartphones become even smarter, with bigger storage memory.

By the way, if the phone were to be positioned more toward the center of the keyboard, it would act more or less like a conventional mouse pad without getting too much in the way.

 

[The Milkman]

It charges your phone.

My mistake then.

Well that's just silly. They should have included a USB hub.

I'm not sure if you're being sarcastic or anything, but it does defeat the point of replacing your notebook with your phone if your unable to use external memory in anyway.

 

[Veho]

I'm not sure if you're being sarcastic or anything, but it does defeat the point of replacing your notebook with your phone if your unable to use external memory in anyway.

I'm being honest. Not including a USB hub is silly.