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Smart phones are getting more laptop-like, with larger screens, powerful muti-core processors, and snazzy operating software such as Apple iOS and Google Android. But ClamCase is making the case—or at least the peripheral—that could give full-size laptops or ultrabooks a run for their money.
The company is working on the ClamBook, an Apple Macbook-like device that will physically connect to any smart phone and offer users a mobile computer-like functionality. The device—to be released this holiday season for a still undisclosed price—is essentially a dock that gives your phone a larger 16:9 screen, a full keyboard, a multi-touch track pad, and power to recharge the phone's batteries. The ClamBook will still allow an attached smart phone to function for voice calls.
We've seen such computer-like setups before—mainly in the Motorola Atrix last year. We found the Atrix to be a capable smart phone, but lacking as a quasi-laptop. (The Motorola Atrix 2 tested well in our smart phone Ratings. But we did not test the phone for our laptop Ratings.)
We have yet to see how useful the ClamBook will be in making your smart phone into a laptop replacement, as well as how pricey it will be. And if you really want to carry a larger portable device, you can choose from sleek ultrabooks and low-powered netbooks—which are already a dying breed, it seems.
What do you think? Does this smart-phone peripheral make sense? Would you buy one?
Sources:
ClamBook [ClamCase]
ClamBook Powered by Your Smartphone press release [via PR Web]
Clambook Turns the Laptop Into a Smartphone-Powered Peripheral, Cats Herd Sheep [PC World]
—Paul Eng
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