{"id":5287,"date":"2010-11-24T00:23:34","date_gmt":"2010-11-23T23:23:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/michael-hoepfl.com\/digital-world\/gadget-show-notebook-with-a-touchscreen-keyboard\/11-2010\/"},"modified":"2026-08-13T13:05:43","modified_gmt":"2026-08-13T11:05:43","slug":"gadget-show-notebook-with-a-touchscreen-keyboard","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/michael-hoepfl.com\/en\/digital-world\/gadget-show-notebook-with-a-touchscreen-keyboard\/11-2010\/","title":{"rendered":"Gadget Show: Notebook with a Touchscreen Keyboard"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Some people may already have dreamed of this: a sub-notebook with a touchscreen instead of a keyboard \u2013 essentially two displays that fold together like a book. It was not long ago that Microsoft abandoned a similar concept called Courier<\/a>. Acer has now taken a similar approach with the Iconia.<\/p>\n\n

In the Engadget video below, you can briefly see the virtual keyboard. An interesting detail: not only a keyboard but also a touchpad is displayed, even though both screens are touchscreens. That is actually rather pointless, but it makes clear that Acer positions the Iconia unmistakably as a notebook rather than as a sub-notebook, ultraportable, tablet or whatever these devices are currently called. According to initial reports, typing on the virtual keyboard is surprisingly usable.<\/p>\n

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The Acer Iconia \u2013 notebook with two touchscreens, one serving as the keyboard<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

I preferred Microsoft\u2019s smaller Courier concept and am curious whether the Iconia will actually appear next year. However, I do not believe this concept will eventually replace the keyboard on every laptop. Ultimately, keyboards were not designed for this kind of use. What do you think?<\/p>\n\n

For nostalgics, here is another clip of Microsoft\u2019s Courier concept study:<\/p>\n\n

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