Lapdesk PC

[Tmt97]

Just curious if anyone has built a lapdesk PC before? I've seen people build their PC into a normal sized desk, but I was just thinking a lapdesk might be cool idea. I actually have a touch screen that I salvaged out of an all in one computer, and if I can figure out how to adapt the connector to HDMI or something, it would be perfect for the top of a lapdesk PC. It could almost be like a giant tablet with desktop capabilities.

[LogicalDrm]

Aka laptop. They aren't called laptops for no reason.

[Tmt97]

Just now, LoGiCalDrm said:

Aka laptop. They aren't called laptops for no reason.

Well no not really. To start it would be bulkier. If you think they are the size of laptops, google lapdesk, depending on which one you look at, they are usually significantly larger to accommodate a laptop, mouse, and sometimes a keyboard and storage. It would also have normal desktop components, and need to be plugged into the wall, so not mobile like a laptop. The screen would be significantly larger.(atleast the one I'm thinking of using that I salvaged from an all in one is larger) So bulky, not mobile, and custom made... In other words: nothing at all like a laptop.

[martward]

Why? What's the advantage of such a system compared to a laptop?

[LogicalDrm]

48 minutes ago, Tmt97 said:

Well no not really. To start it would be bulkier. If you think they are the size of laptops, google lapdesk, depending on which one you look at, they are usually significantly larger to accommodate a laptop, mouse, and sometimes a keyboard and storage. It would also have normal desktop components, and need to be plugged into the wall, so not mobile like a laptop. The screen would be significantly larger.(atleast the one I'm thinking of using that I salvaged from an all in one is larger) So bulky, not mobile, and custom made... In other words: nothing at all like a laptop.

Googling lapdesk gets me tons of pics about lapstands for laptops. For me it feels like you are after some kind of couch gaming system. Which would be murder for your lap for starters. PC hardware is heavy, even when heavy parts aren't on your lap.

[Tmt97]

30 minutes ago, martward said:

Why? What's the advantage of such a system compared to a laptop?

Not sure why were comparing it to a laptop. It is not a laptop, nor is it meant to compete with one. A laptop is a mobile computer with a built in battery, screen, keyboard, and trackpad, designed to be taken wherever you go, but usually with less computing power than a desktop. The lapdesk PC I am suggesting, is 100% a desktop PC the same way a normal desk PC is. The primary reason is the same reason you would want to build a computer inside a regular desk. Its just a convenient, unique, and creative place to store it. If I want to use my PC while sitting on a recliner or my couch or in bed even, I can have my computer inside of the lapdesk that I'd use for my keyboard and mouse anyway. Plus in my case, if I install the touchscreen I have into it, then the only wiring I'd have to worry about is the power cable, since the keyboad and mouse would come with me, and I'd have the screen built in. And as long as I put feet on it, or a flat base I could easily sit it on my normal desk and just have it work as a slightly raised section for my mouse and keyboard. Yes you could take a laptop to all of these places, but it's not going to have the processing power of your desktop. And since this is still a desktop PC made of desktop parts your probably not gonna take it outside your house(i dunno why you would...). To try to compare this to a laptop completely misses the point.

[Tmt97]

2 minutes ago, LoGiCalDrm said:

Googling lapdesk gets me tons of pics about lapstands for laptops. For me it feels like you are after some kind of couch gaming system. Which would be murder for your lap for starters. PC hardware is heavy, even when heavy parts aren't on your lap.

Well couch gaming could be one application for it. I know its heavy, I got 5 hard drives in my desktop, yet I've still managed to install parts, and work on the internals while its sitting on my lap and I havn't felt any particular discomfort after about an hour or two doing so. Thats just me anyway. Keep in mind I have an ATX case. Its not like I got a lil mini-itx system.

[LogicalDrm]

45 minutes ago, Tmt97 said:

Well couch gaming could be one application for it. I know its heavy, I got 5 hard drives in my desktop, yet I've still managed to install parts, and work on the internals while its sitting on my lap and I havn't felt any particular discomfort after about an hour or two doing so. Thats just me anyway. Keep in mind I have an ATX case. Its not like I got a lil mini-itx system.

Even still. When you can get gaming or professional grade laptops with i7, 16gigs, 512gb ssd and 980m, why would you need desktop style laptop? I can understand it as experiment/special thingy. But not seeing much else reasoning behind it.

[Tmt97]

51 minutes ago, LoGiCalDrm said:

Even still. When you can get gaming or professional grade laptops with i7, 16gigs, 512gb ssd and 980m, why would you need desktop style laptop? I can understand it as experiment/special thingy. But not seeing much else reasoning behind it.

Again, you keep trying to compare it to a laptop. This is NOT a laptop lol. Nor is it a desktop style laptop. It is a desktop style desktop, the only difference is that it would be built in a case designed to sit comfortably on your lap. And honestly your argument could be applied to any computer. Why even have a desktop at all? I guess we should all give up our desktop PCs in favor of professional grade laptops right? When I proposed this idea, I never intended it to be a thing used as a laptop. Its not something you would bring on a plane, or use in the car, or fit in a suitcase. Its intent isn't to be portable at all. It's just meant to be a unique case for your PC, that can double as a lapdesk for your mouse and keyboard. Just gives you the option of having your rig centered around a couch, recliner, or bed if you'd rather work there than at a desk.

[manikyath]

well, i've been playing with the idea of making a desktop computer with a battery in the same way as a laptop has a battery.

 

if i ever get to do it, it'll probably be with the guts of a UPS that can report somewhat intelligently over USB.