MSI Shows Off Dual-Screen Notebook, eReader

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Earlier this month at CES, Taiwan’s MSI showed off two concept “eReaders” that were similar to a notebook form factor, except instead of a physical keyboard and screen, they had two touchscreens. MSI called the concept devices “eReaders”, although they were running Windows 7. A on-screen keyboard can even be pulled up on the bottom screen.

The computers will feature netbook-like specs, including Intel Atom processors. Despite being called eReaders, they were shown running stock Windows 7. It isn’t clear if MSI plans to add a specialized Linux OS optimized for eBook reading later, or if it’ll come with Windows 7 (this of course, assuming that this CES concept ever comes out).

The two screens can work together in interesting ways. It can work like a tablet PC, with one of the screens acting in a fashion similar to a second monitor on a desktop would. When used like this, the MSI concept was shown being used in both ‘landscape’ mode and ‘portrait’ mode. The other way the screens were shown, is with the bottom panel acting as a digital on-screen keyboard and trackpad.

MSI had two flavors of the concept dual-screen netbook at CES, a model with dual 10-inch touchscreens, and a smaller model that featured two 7-inch screens, only one of which was a touchscreen. All touchscreens are capacitive and multitouch capable, which is a must in this sort of application.

No word on pricing or release dates. As with all sort of proof-of-concept gadgets that are shown off at CES, there is a probability that this thing might never even come to market, and considering MSI’s history as a OEM manufacturer, it might come to market under somebody else’s name.