''After a series of legal wrangles derailed the 2003 release of the Xentex Flip-Pad, a dual-screen laptop with independently-pivoting screens, former Xentex founder and CEO Jeff Batio has climbed back on the horse and is preparing to launch an updated version. The If Convertible is a mobile device that flips and folds to transform from a dual-screen ultrabook to a tablet, with one screen also detaching to serve as a smartphone.
A decade of technological advances has allowed Batio to shrink the size of his concept from a bulky laptop with two 13.3-inch displays to a much more compact device sporting two 7-inch displays.
In ultrabook mode, the device looks like two undersized laptops placed side by side that share a common, full-sized keyboard. In this mode, the screens can be used to form one display, or two independent displays. One of the displays can also be flipped around to face the opposite direction, which could come in handy for presentations or two-player games.
Rotating the screens and folding the split keyboard allows the If Convertible to transform into a tablet, while the right screen – or "Slingshot" – becomes a smartphone when detached from the base. The left display remains attached to the keyboard base at all times.
The choice of CPU and GPU is also yet to be finalized, but Batio says the base will be powered by a multicore x86 processor, while the detachable Slingshot will pack "the fastest multi-core processor in a mobile device." The base will run Windows 8 (an Ubuntu version will also be available), while the Slingshot will run on Android.
When folded up for transport, the If Convertible weighs under 1 lb (0.45 kg) and measures 6.1 in (155.5 mm) wide and 4.3 in (107.9 mm) long. In ultrabook mode with the screens folded down, the device stands 0.5 in (12.7 mm) high at the rear, tapering down to 0.3 in (9.5 mm) at the front. From this, we can calculate that the device will measure somewhere around 0.8 to 1 in (22.2 to 25.4 mm) deep when folded up.
Whether the If Convertible's unique design and detachable Slingshot are enough for it to hold its own against today's competitors is something that we'll be watching with interest.
Batio has founded a new company called Idealfuture to produce the If Convertible and has launched a crowdfunding campaign on Indiegogo to help make it a reality. Tiers range from US$649 for an Ubuntu/Android model, $799 for the cheapest Windows/Android model, up to $1,299 for a Windows/Android model with choice of finish, carry case and protective cover. Even if the campaign goal isn't reached, Idealfuture will collect all funds pledged and says it guarantees to fulfill all orders by July 2014''.
Source: Gizmag
