Retro Hack Shack
In recent years, we’ve seen the release of laptops that push the boundaries of what we thought was possible. From foldable designs to modular gaming setups and even glasses-free 3D displays, we are currently in a period of exciting design experimentation.
Looking back, however, there’s a rich history of experimental laptop designs from the 1990s and 2000s that are just as bizarre and innovative.
HP OmniBook 800CT
One such laptop that stood out visually in 1993 was the HP OmniBook 800CT. This laptop featured a unique pop-out mouse instead of the traditional trackball or TrackPoint. You could eject the mouse from the side of the laptop by pressing a button on the chassis and pulling out the ribbon cable to use it. Apart from this eccentric feature, the laptop was fairly standard with its Pentium CPU, 800×600 resolution display, and Windows 95 OS.
YouTuber Retro Hack Shack provides a detailed overview of the device in the video above.
IBM ThinkPad 701
In 1995, IBM introduced one of the weirdest laptops of its time, the ThinkPad 701C. This laptop featured a fold-out keyboard that would open up like a butterfly’s wings every time you lifted the lid. It had a unique split design that hung at the side of the laptop chassis when open, providing ample typing space. Although the concept didn’t last long due to the preference for wider screens, a modder managed to integrate the Framework Laptop motherboard into the IBM ThinkPad 701, keeping the original keyboard functional with a modern PC.
Lenovo ThinkPad W700ds
Back in 2009, Lenovo introduced the “ultimate mobile workstation” – the Lenovo ThinkPad W700ds. This 17-inch Windows laptop featured Intel vPro and Core 2 Extreme processors, but the standout feature was its optional secondary display that could be pulled out from the side for added screen real estate. Despite its innovative design, the Lenovo ThinkPad W700ds was heavy and bulky, weighing 11 pounds, which limited its popularity. Lenovo has since transitioned to dual-screen laptops and integrated secondary screens into the palm rest.
Asus Taichi
Asus took a unique approach with the Asus Taichi laptop during the Windows 8 era. This convertible laptop featured a second screen on its back lid, in addition to the traditional display. Users could utilize the second screen independently to display a second window or mirror the main screen. This concept bears resemblance to modern dual-screen laptops like the Yoga Book 9i. Our original hands-on experience with the Asus Taichi from 2013 can be viewed in the video above.
Dell XPS M2010
In 2006, Dell introduced the XPS M2010, a massive 20-inch laptop that resembled a briefcase when closed. This unique laptop featured a detachable full-size keyboard with a built-in trackpad, a pop-up CD drive, 8 speakers at the front, and a subwoofer for immersive movie experiences. The XPS M2010 weighed 18.3 pounds, making it far from portable by today’s standards. However, its innovative design elements continue to inspire, as seen in HP’s recent launch of the HP Envy Move with a large 23-inch display, a briefcase handle, and a portable keyboard.
There’s still a lot of wild laptops out there
These were just a few of my favorite “weird” laptops, but the more I delved into the subject, the more I realized there are countless other unconventional designs out there. From small 7-inch laptops like the Via NanoBook to laptops with built-in liquid coolers like the Asus ROG GX700, the possibilities are endless. It’s exciting to think about the future of technology and the innovative designs that will redefine what we consider “weird” in the coming years.
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