Engadget: Samsung's 14-inch transparent OLED laptop (video) hands on

Engadget writes: "If you thought the XPERIA Pureness was wild with its meager 1.8-inch transparent screen, wait'll you get a hold of Samsung Mobile Display's prototype 14-inch notebook -- complete with what's being touted as the world's first and largest transparent OLED prototype. When the thing is off, the panel is up to 40 percent transparent (as opposed to the industry average of below twenty-five percent)."

[conjurdevil]

that looks sweeeettt n pricy....I wish they had a transparent keyboard too but I know thats not possible considering the motherboard , HDD n stuff is inside.

[ChozenWoan]

True, but could you image every surface of your house being able to display video and be used as an interface. I'm thinking mostly of Stark's house in Ironman.

Can't wait to see it displaying a 3D image... now that would be trippy. =)

[Raf1k1]

This does look cool but how practical is it?
Unless it's able to display a proper white colour every colour you look at will be tainted by the colour of the objects behind the screen. A game like Mirror's Edge or Portal just wouldn't look the same.

edit: 2.2 has the right idea. There's a place for this kind of tech. I just don't think laptops is that place.

[execution17]

:( but i'm broke goddamn college :(

[beardpapa]

I guess you can't watch pr0n in a college library w/o other people watching along, or I guess you can no longer chat w/ someone "privately"

I'm thinking they should pack two transparent OLED screens. The outer screen w/ the lid open will display whatever color or opacity, while the inner screen displays the image. That way, people can actually work with the thing and get some privacy.

On the flip side, add a touch sensitive layer to the outer screen, so when the lid is closed, the outer screen can display the image with the inner screen being the background, hence it could be used as a tablet.

Of course, expect this kind of computer to be rendered useless since I expect the "lid" to crack, break, scratch easily. Yikes! Paperweight.

[ShinRyuHadoken]

Agree with you Raf1k1. Its not practical. You can not properly read cause the transparant screen.

[Lets-Game]

impressive tech but totally pointless and unpractical.

[reaferfore20]

Impractical for a computer. But window ads for businesses could benefit from a screen that can be seen from both sides.

[The Meerkat]

Or a heads up display inside your glasses.

Or car windscreens

[diatom]

hi tech beer goggles?

[Andronix]

See-through screens can be used as a heads-up display in car, planes, trains whatever. All the info you need, speed, fuel etc, without having to look down. A great idea. But one other use is pretending you are working on your laptop whilst secretly spying some hottie through the screen. I'm not saying that I'd do it, but someone will...

[quadalupeupe]

very cool tho

it reminds me of stuff i see in movies where they have those see-through glass screens they move around

[jerethdagryphon]

military aplications you can put the hud right onto the canopy less looking around hell you could putt cameras in the rear and display on side

[Azurite]

Looking forward to stuff like this in the car, bus, train, taxi (list goes on).

It can be used for lighting up the streets and show commercials at same time.

Shops could have their windows show mannequins that change clothes regularly.

Many possibilities with OLED-tech and its future offsprings.
What's shown today is just a glimpse.

[smartmart]

this kind of device will be seen more often considering the global trend toward augmented reality. nice!

[ULTIMATE_REVENGE]

You could technology like this in so many ways. I've always wondered that in order to achieve the a transparent display the pixel would have to be transparent and therefore not being able to give out colour but it looks like Samsung have some how manage to produce both transparent pixels that also display colour images.

Next thing you know we'll have 3D Ultra HD thin transparent TV's lol.

[ULTIMATE_REVENGE]

woops! double post (^_^)

[fllysurfer]

Here come the introduction of a role of useless characteristics to appear "Levels of transparency" .... omg...

[CrippleH]

It's more of an experimental implementation, it's to test out the technology. Don't expect these to come out.

[kaveti6616]

It's impressive because I'm just now being reminded of Mass Effect and Minority Report. The game and film both feature characters working with transparent screens to perform tasks. I didn't really think about the tech before, but now I don't have to feel bad about it not existing because it does. YAY!!! It really looks cool.

[Akagi]

Ok, I'm sure that's what everyone wants, a transparent screen when you're on porn.

[DitkaKenobi]

Car Windshields were the first thing to come to mind when I saw this. How great would it be to have an active display on your windshield, sticking a big arrow over your destination. Or highlighting the road and other cars actively at nighttime. The future is much closer than I thought it would be.

[kewlkat007]

"Minority Report" future.

[CryWolf]

Yo thats freaking Awesome! when are laptops going to look like that cause I really want one now, finally the future is almost their looking close to Minority Rport type of gadgets.

[Letros]

Samsung has been aiming at OLED screen laptops in 2011 for awhile now, whether or not it will ship with this transparent substrate I'm not sure, can easily swap it out for an opaque one.

[Domer25]

Lol, made my morning, anyways this is just too cool. Forget the impracticality, it's rather mesmerizing.

[ATi_Elite]

very very nice. this is going to make laptops more sexy. this technology is leading to something bigger and better. getting closer to the Minority Report Technology>

Plus this will help with Eyefinity. (When the price comes down)

[micro_invader]

lol, Imagine trying to watch porn on that thing. That would create some unavoidably awkward situations.

[ktchong]

on a starship.

[PS360WII]

now that's a good 'look what I got' product. Pretty fancy but not if you want a clear picture I'd suppose

[Scenarist]

This is some vicious sh!

[oldsnayke]

I am starting to see this idea be incorporated more and more. Imagine what 20 years will bring.

[BYE]

That's cool, I always wanted a navigation system integrated into the windshield of my car.

[RBdrift]

Holy Schnikes Batman!!!

[Mantiz]

If they could make it Opaque from the standard viewing angle but completely transparent from everywhere else that might be the ticket.

[DigitalAnalog]

Question:

Is it transparent looking from the opposite side?