Intel has unveiled an intriguing vision for the future of Ultrabooks, including a laptop with a see-through panel.
Mooley Eden, general manager of Intel's client group, took to the stage at CES saying he didn't intend to discuss processors, but user experience. "Wow is not a technology word, wow is a consumer word," Eden said. "The average consumer doesn't care about floating points," he added.
However, he said performance remained important, as people want to create with computers, not merely consume content. "Consumption is good for cows, we are humans," he said.
While many of the laptops on show fit with the already standard Ultrabook look of thin, metallic bodies similar to the Apple MacBook Air, two took a different approach.
The Nikiski features a cut out, transparent screen beneath the keyboard. When the lid is closed, the monitor displays notifications such as Windows 8 calendar events or emails through the screen. The panel is a touchscreen, and allows a user to interact with the tiles.
The notifications tiles are very similar in look to Windows 8, but a spokesperson for the firm said it had developed its own UI.
When the lid is open and the user is typing, the screen detects their hands and recognises that the user is trying to type, keeping the cursor in place.
There was no word on when the device would be available, however, and it wasn't immediately clear who the manufacturer was.
Another piece of hardware that took a different approach was a convertible Ultrabook that can be used as a tablet or as a full laptop.
The keyboard slides out from beneath the touchscreen display, and the display pivots upwards for easier typing.
This article originally appeared at pcpro.co.uk
