Why isn't there screen separable laptops?

notsoeasy · 16th October 2007, 3:58 PM

I was wondering..
It's time for upgrade for your laptop, and you feel it's such a waste to throw away perfectly good lcd screen just to get an upgrade.

If there was some kind of standard for connecting laptop body and the screen (hardware & software wise) like you do with PCs, so that you'd be able to just buy the body and connect it to existing screen, (regardless of size) that would cost you less and good for the environment.. wouldn't it?

Or you'd be able to replace just the screen if you feel like a bigger screen..

Now why isn't there such standardization?

Thomas505 · 16th October 2007, 4:16 PM

So that Laptop manufacturers force you to buy a whole new laptop, which they make more money off of. Also, I doubt all the laptop firms will come up with a single standard that allows a customer to buy a competitors screen and attach it to your body - they would make less money.

SLATYE · 16th October 2007, 4:34 PM

Intel has started the "VBI" system (Verified By Intel). Essentially, it defines a set of standards which, if followed, result in laptops which can have parts swapped over pretty easily. The HDD and optical drive are obvious ones, but VBI also sets out standards for the LCD, battery, keyboard, and power adaptor. Presumably if it ever becomes popular they'll try to take it further.

Obviously there are limitations. You can't just take a 13.3" laptop and put a 15.4" LCD on it. That'd require upgrading the LCD power supply circuitry, it'd require different hinges on the base of the screen, and you wouldn't be able to rely on the body of the laptop protecting the screen when closed. However, theoretically if the screen on my laptop (which is a VBI model) died, I could find an Asus S96J (also a VBI model) and use the screen from that instead.

ghettro · 18th October 2007, 9:54 PM

Pretty much every laptop screen is tailored to fit the laptop body it's meant to go on as it also forms part of the chassis and the hinge design defines where ports, vents and outlets will go as well as the overall form factor and thickness. Also each laptop has it's own latching system, different clearances for keyboard/trackpad/mouse etc so it wont touch the screen when closed which all affect the screen and hinge design. Add to this that there are so many sizes of laptops all for different markets.

Why would you want to fit a 15" screen to a 13" laptop? not only would the screen be exposed on it's edges but it will take the same space as a 15" yet have the form factor restrictions of a 13" laptop body (heat, space, battery size). Also there would have to be a standardised hinge. This also has to include some kind of connection port between the screen and body which also has to fit within the design of the standardised hinge which will allow for it to be attached/detached without disassembling the laptop (this means you will need clearances so you can actually get at it) Also manufacturers will have to not only modify their tooling but their inventory so people can order headless laptops which will push prices up. All this compromise for almost no gain to appeal to pretty much no market. It might be justified if LCD's were 50% of the cost of the laptop but sadly LCD's are bloody cheap these days and are only going down in price.

Intel is actually discontinuing VBI in mid 08 and from what I understand it's more about internal components like batteries, connectors etc rather than form factor.

From the thread title I thought you actually meant detaching the screen and see the display remotely streaming the display signal to it wirelessly, like hang it up on the wall and have the body on the desk. That would be more feasible as the compromise you are introducing actually may have some gain, although you still would have a proprietary hinge design. The thing about laptops is that every mm of space counts. On a desktop space isn't an issue so you can have everything modular and interchangeable.

16th October 2007, 3:58 PM	#1
notsoeasy Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 40	Why isn't there screen separable laptops? I was wondering.. It's time for upgrade for your laptop, and you feel it's such a waste to throw away perfectly good lcd screen just to get an upgrade. If there was some kind of standard for connecting laptop body and the screen (hardware & software wise) like you do with PCs, so that you'd be able to just buy the body and connect it to existing screen, (regardless of size) that would cost you less and good for the environment.. wouldn't it? Or you'd be able to replace just the screen if you feel like a bigger screen.. Now why isn't there such standardization?

16th October 2007, 4:16 PM	#2
Thomas505 Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Yo Mumma! Posts: 485	So that Laptop manufacturers force you to buy a whole new laptop, which they make more money off of. Also, I doubt all the laptop firms will come up with a single standard that allows a customer to buy a competitors screen and attach it to your body - they would make less money. __________________ Gaming Computer: E6400@3.44ghz(currently-work in progress), Gigabyte P35-S3L, 2g Apacer DDR800, Galaxy 8800GTS 320M.

16th October 2007, 4:34 PM	#3
SLATYE SLATYE, not SLAYTE Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Canberra Posts: 21,040	Intel has started the "VBI" system (Verified By Intel). Essentially, it defines a set of standards which, if followed, result in laptops which can have parts swapped over pretty easily. The HDD and optical drive are obvious ones, but VBI also sets out standards for the LCD, battery, keyboard, and power adaptor. Presumably if it ever becomes popular they'll try to take it further. Obviously there are limitations. You can't just take a 13.3" laptop and put a 15.4" LCD on it. That'd require upgrading the LCD power supply circuitry, it'd require different hinges on the base of the screen, and you wouldn't be able to rely on the body of the laptop protecting the screen when closed. However, theoretically if the screen on my laptop (which is a VBI model) died, I could find an Asus S96J (also a VBI model) and use the screen from that instead. __________________ Main system: Pentium-D 805 \| 1GB (2x 512MB) PQI DDR400 \| Gigabyte 8I865GMK-775 \| Xtreama Radeon 9800Pro with Zalman ZM-80HP-D \| 320GB WD SATA HDD \| Antec SmartPower 2.0 500w Laptop: Compal EL80 \| C2D T7200 \| 320GB Fujistu HDD \| 2GB DDR2-667 \| GF Go 7600

18th October 2007, 9:54 PM	#4
ghettro Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 394	Pretty much every laptop screen is tailored to fit the laptop body it's meant to go on as it also forms part of the chassis and the hinge design defines where ports, vents and outlets will go as well as the overall form factor and thickness. Also each laptop has it's own latching system, different clearances for keyboard/trackpad/mouse etc so it wont touch the screen when closed which all affect the screen and hinge design. Add to this that there are so many sizes of laptops all for different markets. Why would you want to fit a 15" screen to a 13" laptop? not only would the screen be exposed on it's edges but it will take the same space as a 15" yet have the form factor restrictions of a 13" laptop body (heat, space, battery size). Also there would have to be a standardised hinge. This also has to include some kind of connection port between the screen and body which also has to fit within the design of the standardised hinge which will allow for it to be attached/detached without disassembling the laptop (this means you will need clearances so you can actually get at it) Also manufacturers will have to not only modify their tooling but their inventory so people can order headless laptops which will push prices up. All this compromise for almost no gain to appeal to pretty much no market. It might be justified if LCD's were 50% of the cost of the laptop but sadly LCD's are bloody cheap these days and are only going down in price. Intel is actually discontinuing VBI in mid 08 and from what I understand it's more about internal components like batteries, connectors etc rather than form factor. From the thread title I thought you actually meant detaching the screen and see the display remotely streaming the display signal to it wirelessly, like hang it up on the wall and have the body on the desk. That would be more feasible as the compromise you are introducing actually may have some gain, although you still would have a proprietary hinge design. The thing about laptops is that every mm of space counts. On a desktop space isn't an issue so you can have everything modular and interchangeable.