Unique laptops try dual screens, DIY repairs
Like mobile phones, laptop makers are rethinking the standard form factor.
Here’s a look at several unique laptops I’ve encountered recently—with everything from dual screens to foldable screens and even user-replaceable parts! (I know, what a concept!)
This is an ultraportable laptop with two 14-inch 3K OLED touchscreens.
You can use it in dual-screen mode, with its built-in Bluetooth or an on-screen virtual keyboard.
There’s also a lie-flat sharing mode, or you can prop it up in desktop mode thanks to a built-in kickstand!
And yes, you can also use it as a regular laptop.
A recent Engadget review calls it the first dual-screen laptop worth buying.
It starts at $1500 dollars.
I spotted this one at CES 2024 Las Vegas. It’s a bit bulkier and more expensive, but it gives you many of the same features.
The difference here is that the laptop is one giant foldable screen..
You can use it as a regular laptop or remove the keyboard to create one large 17-inch screen. Or, you can have two 12-inch screens. Built-in software smarts help you snap your windows to just the right layout for you.
There’s even a built-in kickstand.
This one starts at $5000 dollars, probably because of that foldable display tech.
Remember the days when you could actually pop out the processor on your desktop and put in a new one?
How about a laptop computer you can repair or upgrade yourself?
That’s what Framework is doing with its 16-inch laptop.
“Ultimately, the problem is that we are just piling up e-waste around the world as we churn through these devices that aren’t designed to be upgradeable or repairable,” said Nirav Patel, CEO of Framework.
Framework’s laptops let you customize just about every component you need. And, since they are modular, you can easily swap them out for repair.
Machines start at $850 dollars.
New this year: all laptops in Samsung’s Galaxy Book4 series have a touch screen.
The top-of-the-line model has a new Intel Core Ultra 9 processor inside, which adds an NPU. That’s a Neural Processing Unit, which is meant to handle AI asks locally instead of in the cloud so responses are faster.
The screen is big, bright, and incredibly sharp. The keyboard includes the new AI key you’ll start to see on lots of computers at this point. It brings up Microsoft CoPilot, their AI assistant. I wonder if they’ll ever let you program it to bring up an AI assistant of your choosing.
Somehow, Samsung managed to keep the entire package super lightweight, too.
Bonus points if you have a Samsung phone, it’s going to sync very nicely with this laptop.
The Galaxy Book4 Series starts at $1100.
Bottom line: Laptop makers are trying new form factors in an effort to convince people to buy new machines or upgrade. That physical AI key will be a key way to convince folks they need something new.
Keep in mind that Microsoft will no longer support Windows 10 as of October 14, 2025. This means drivers and apps won’t get updates, and there will be no more security patches. This means you should plan an upgrade to Windows 11 at some point or think about a new computer yours is getting kind of old.
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
