I want a Laptop style Monitor / Keyboard for my Desktop.

[zombienerd]

I've been waiting years for someone to design a monitor with keyboard in a laptop form factor that I could plug into a Desktop PC.  This would be perfect for bedroom gaming, couch gaming, etc.

 

My bedroom laptop died, and I resurrected my old janky lap desk idea.  I built a temporary "gaming" rig out of scrap parts I had laying around (Phenom II 955 with 16gb and a GTX 750).

 

Currently, my bedroom PC "Lap Desk" is a piece of OSB, skinned in Vinyl, with a 19" monitor screwed to it with drywall screws, and a cheap keyboard/mouse.   I've used some iteration of this type of setup for 8 out of the last 10 years.  I'm tired of having 6-7 lbs on my lap. 

 

What I really want is a lightweight LCD with a moderately acceptable keyboard attached on a hinge, with a USB cable and a HDMI/DP port. I'd even be okay if it required a wall wart for power, lol.  Is that too much to ask?

 

EDIT - I'm aware of the $400-600 Console Monitor/Keyboard combos for server racks.  Those things weigh more than my current ugly setup, and cost about 4x what they should.

 

 

 

[snoopunit]

i don't think a retail product like this exists, however it doesn't seem too far-fetched of an idea. I have a lightweight 'portable' monitor that I DIY'd using a laptop monitor and some MDF board.The whole things weighs all of like half a pound, and i've attached a clip-on usb speaker to the top to make it into a small television. It may be possible to take a used laptop and gut the internals, but i'm not sure how you would get the keyboard to work.

 

This is the video I followed to make the portable monitor. Basically, you just buy a used/replacement part laptop screen off ebay or craigslist and buy an accompanying video-out PCB that it connects to. Then all you need is a power adapter and video cables and you're good to go.    

[TheKDub]

From what I can gather, you basically want a dummy laptop that interfaces with your desktop. (Correct me if I'm wrong)

 

I'm not aware of anything like that, however you could use a laptop and Steam In-Home Streaming as a possible solution. (Game runs on your desktop, but you control it and view it with a laptop)

 

 

Alternatively, you could get a portable monitor and a keyboard then make something to have them act like a laptop.

[zombienerd]

I'm fairly decent at design, and I have no doubt I could create this product myself, I just wouldn't ever have the funds to actually have such a beast produced lol... Maybe I should start a kickfarter for it lol.

 

I am tired of Janky, and just want something simple, elegant, and purpose built that does what I want it to.  

Didn't even think of speakers, that would be a nice feature.

[zombienerd]

Just now, TheKDub said:

From what I can gather, you basically want a dummy laptop that interfaces with your desktop. (Correct me if I'm wrong)

 

I'm not aware of anything like that, however you could use a laptop and Steam In-Home Streaming as a possible solution. (Game runs on your desktop, but you control it and view it with a laptop)

That's how I was running things until my 10 year old Compaq died a few days ago.  I had in-home streaming from my primary gaming rig (specs in signature) - and had full desktop control using a dummy "game" (Notepad.exe)  in steam lol.

[snoopunit]

14 minutes ago, zombienerd said:

I'm fairly decent at design, and I have no doubt I could create this product myself, I just wouldn't ever have the funds to actually have such a beast produced lol... Maybe I should start a kickfarter for it lol.

 

I am tired of Janky, and just want something simple, elegant, and purpose built that does what I want it to.  

Didn't even think of speakers, that would be a nice feature.

Honestly a bit of vinyl wrap can make an obvious DIY project look really nice. If you watch the video I linked, you'll see the transformation it makes to the portable monitor. You may even look into using a pelican suitcase type box. I've seen a few videos of people making portable xbox/playstations with those and they have monitors/speakers built-in. 

[Wh0_Am_1]

By the point that they actually make it functional enough for gamer they may as well make a full blown laptop... This laptop would probably make for a good replacement for the your old one at a fairly decent price. (once you install crouton, or wait for the upcoming updates to chrome which will have access to other Linux distros built right into the OS.

[zombienerd]

20 hours ago, Wh0_Am_1 said:

By the point that they actually make it functional enough for gamer they may as well make a full blown laptop... This laptop would probably make for a good replacement for the your old one at a fairly decent price. (once you install crouton, or wait for the upcoming updates to chrome which will have access to other Linux distros built right into the OS.

Looking at BOM cost, a 15-16" 1080p 60fps panel w/ controller + keyboard + USB hub + chassis + 5W speakers would come in at around $150 for decent quality parts.  

 

I'm not looking for some tiny 11" screen.  I want 15-17 inches.  I'd also really prefer to not stream, and just connect directly to a desktop.  

 

The desktop I'm currently using in my bedroom is only temporary.  I plan to put together a slightly better build.  

I don't plan to go back to a laptop for this use case.  I'll either deal with my 8lb lap desk, or make something a little lighter.