14 DAY TRIAL // Virtually all PC suppliers have, at one time or another, come forth and revealed a certain product concept that, while not overly likely to gain traction, is, nonetheless, interesting. There have been beer-dispensing computer cases, dual-screen laptops and a variety of other unusual inventions. Some of them may eventually become useful, depending on how technology advances. In the meantime, however, there is nothing stopping said companies from experimenting with other designs.
Micro-Star International decided that it was time for its SketchBook concept to turn a few heads. Though it wasn't able to provide a suitable model for testing, the idea behind it is that, by using an integrated graphics tablet and a stylus, artists and students, among others, would be able to draw more accurately than is allowed by touchscreen devices.
Basically, the SketchBook is a sort of small form-factor laptop, whose keyboard can be flipped in order to allow access to the aforementioned tablet. Unfortunately, the company did not say anything about the insides of this mobile electronic, though this is unsurprising, considering that it is still very much in concept stage.
Exactly how accurate and responsive the input would be is also unclear, because the model that MSI showcased wasn't functional. Still, at the very least, the SketchBook should be able to behave like a regular netbook the rest of the time.
According to bit-tech, this newcomer will sit somewhere in between devices with external digitizing tablets and Wacom's Cintiq range, in terms of performance, while being most useful on the go. There is no knowing when it will launch, if ever, but such details, or at least some semblance of specifications, should be revealed at Computex.
“It certainly looks like the sort of thing that wouldn't be out of place at a coffee shop, while providing a much more professional finish than the traditional back of a[n] envelope,” the report states.