The first laptop without a screen that supports augmented reality Spacetop G1
A laptop without a screen! It may sound like a fantasy, but Sightful has defied the norm and launched a unique laptop called Spacetop G1 that completely lacks a traditional screen.
A look at the first laptop without a screen
Sightful has teamed up with augmented reality glasses leader XReal to develop a headset that displays all of the device's visual elements, a move that represents a major shift in the somewhat outdated clamshell laptop design.
We also saw a sleek 90-second ad that showcased the device's capabilities, showing users relaxing by the pool while gazing through sleek black Ray Ban-like glasses. These glasses can be stored inside a special ledge at the bottom of the device, where a traditional laptop screen would normally be.
Will the augmented reality laptop catch on?
Despite the promising potential of the Spacetop G1 , it's too early to say whether it will be a success. Augmented reality technology is still in its early stages, and the Spacetop G1 represents a niche concept of an idea that has yet to be proven. Additionally, the hefty price tag of $1,900 may deter all but the most adventurous users looking for the latest technology.
AR laptop with restricted glasses and limited applications
There are also important practical considerations. First, you won't be able to run any Windows (or Mac) apps natively on the device. The Spacetop G1 runs a custom Android operating system, which means it shares more features with tablets or smartphones than a traditional laptop.
Furthermore, is this really an augmented reality device in the literal sense? Reviewers have praised the current XREAL headset for being lightweight, but it doesn’t interact much with the real world beyond displaying app windows hanging in front of you, and many have found that the headset works best when used with side-mounted glare blocks or electrochromatic dimming built into the headset itself, making the setup more like a virtual reality device.
“The concept of an AR laptop is certainly an interesting idea, but I foresee problems with its implementation, especially since it is (or if it is) based on Android,” Emily Wang, co-founder of mixed reality headset company VITURE , told Laptop Mag. Wang also questioned the device’s near-$2,000 price tag. While that’s only half the cost of Apple’s Vision Pro VR headset — which has been heavily marketed as a productivity-focused desktop computer — it’s still expensive.
“For many users, what they get may not be worth what they have to sacrifice to get it,” she added. After all, as Wang points out, for the same amount of money, users can connect the AR headset to a regular Macbook or Windows computer for much greater flexibility.
In short, while the Spacetop G1 is unlikely to be a smash hit, it is an interesting attempt at creating a comprehensive augmented reality experience. Companies still have a lot to prove and convince countless consumers that a pair of glasses connected to a keyboard represents the future of getting work done on the go around the world.
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