MSI SketchBook laptop flips keyboard to reveal graphics tablet

If you are someone who uses your laptop for producing artwork then there’s probably a graphics tablet sitting in your bag. But that may not be the case for much longer if MSI’s SketchBook concept makes it to market.




The SketchBook looks just like a normal laptop, but it has a hidden feature. Flip the keyboard over and there’s a large graphics tablet driven by pen input. Check out the video above to see how the mechanism works.



In order to make the concept work MSI have moved the trackpad to directly under the screen on the right hand side of the laptop, and made it circular. That’s not great news if you are left handed or prefer the standard positioning of the trackpad below a keyboard.



There is no news on whether this will make it past concept stage, how much it would cost, or when it could become available. Engadget Spain’s initial reaction was it looked a bit retro and was fairly chunky.


Any artists reading this who use a graphics tablet can correct me if I’m wrong, but I thought the keyboard was an integral part of the creation process when using a package like Photoshop. You use the tablet to draw and the keyboard for shortcuts. Am I right?


If so, MSI’s idea is flawed from the outset and would mean you need to carry a separate keyboard around to plug-in and use. For quick sketches the keyboard flip may be a good way to cut down on the gadgets you need to carry around, but I doubt any serious artist would swap their separate tablet for one of these.



A better idea would be a slide out tablet surface so the keyboard remained accessible and the trackpad could remain below the keyboard.

Stealth launches paperback novel-size mini PC

Stealth has this month introduced its smallest, and what must be one of the tiniest you can currently buy.


It’s called the and measures just 102 x 155 x 37mm. Here’s the spec breakdown:

• Up to Intel Core 2 Duo T9400 @ 2.5GHz

• Up to 4GB RAM in 2 SO-DIMM slots

• Onboard Intel 4500MHD graphics chip (128MB shared memory)

• Up to 500GB SATA drive or SSD option available

• Windows 7, Vista, XP options available as well as Ubuntu

• Integrated Gigabit Ethernet and Realtek HD audio

• 2x USB 2.0 ports, 2x COM ports, Mic and headphone ports

The components are housed in an aluminium chassi that weighs 1.2lbs and around 4lbs when all hardware is installed. Power is through DC meaning there’s a separate power supply to plug in the back.

For such a small unit the price is not cheap and starts at $955 without an OS. Select the fastest chip, 4GB memory, and a 500GB hard drive and the price goes up to $1,420.

Read more at the

This is a tiny machine, but I don’t think many people are going to pay nearly $1,000 for one. The base model ships with a Celeron chip, so there’s clearly a big premium being applied for having such a small unit.


I don’t think that much power is required when constructing a very small unit. I still use my and it’s by no means as small as the LPC-100, but it only cost $350 to build and is perfect as a machine for surfing and office duties.

Stealth.com is marketing the LPC-100 as “more processing power per square inch than any of the small form factor computers.” That’s fine, and it may find a niche market, but I don’t think most consumers will be interested in this. Now, switch out the Celeron for an Atom chip and lower the price $500, and you’d have a desirable machine.

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