Computers

AOC releases 15.6-inch portable USB display

AOC releases 15.6-inch portable USB display
AOC's E1649FWU 15.6 inch USB display
AOC's E1649FWU 15.6 inch USB display
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AOC's E1649FWU 15.6 inch USB display
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AOC's E1649FWU 15.6 inch USB display
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AOC's E1649FWU 15.6 inch USB display
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AOC's E1649FWU 15.6 inch USB display
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AOC's E1649FWU 15.6 inch USB display
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AOC's E1649FWU 15.6 inch USB display
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AOC's E1649FWU 15.6 inch USB display
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AOC's E1649FWU 15.6 inch USB display
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AOC's E1649FWU 15.6 inch USB display
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AOC's E1649FWU 15.6 inch USB display
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AOC's E1649FWU 15.6 inch USB display
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Recent days have seen the release of AOC's catchily-named E1649FWU display. Its name isn't important. What is important is that this is a portable 15.6 inch 16:9 LED display with a maximum resolution of 1366x768 at 60 Hz. Most impressive is that the e-fwoo (as I'm calling it) is solely USB 2.0-driven, which means a single cable, connected plug and play to your computer, for video signal and power.

AOC is pushing the portability hard. There doesn't seem to be any official word on the precise weight, but Gizmag gathers it's in the order of 2 pounds. It has a built in, rotatable stand for both landscape and portrait orientations. As an added draw, the display knows which way round it is and adjusts the picture accordingly. It draws a meager 8W of power so, although we think this will noticeably affect your laptop battery life, it shouldn't empty it before you can say "Powerpoint." All in, portability does not appear to be an idle boast.

Speaking of Powerpoint, AOC suggests that presentations could be a terrific use of the e-fwoo (no, I'm not backing down), and for once the marketing spiel may just be on to something. Thinking back to my dark, corporate past and the endless hours lost trying to get laptops talking to projectors, I reckon a salesman that had been able to whip out an e-fwoo would have walked out with an eight-figure business deal, just out of sheer gratitude. But I can envisage many more uses for this as a secondary display on my own desk, and it may be that flexibility, not portability, is the E164 ... the e-fwoo's best feature.

The final need-to-know specifications are these: The E1649FWU has a 5-millisecond response time, a 500:1 (50,000,000 dynamic) contrast ratio and a typical brightness in the order of 200 - 250 cd per meter squared. The display does not include built-in speakers, but since your computer likely does, it's probably a smart move on AOC's part on grounds of cost, weight and size.

AOC recommends retailers price the E1649FWU at US$139. We've seen USB-powered displays before, but AOC's offering strikes a compelling balance between performance and portability. You can see a video of the display in action on AOC's Facebook page.

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4 comments
4 comments
devo1d
I\'d like to see more portable external displays. With smartphones becoming amazing convergence devices, screen size if the one compromise that\'s hard to conquer. For me, 7-9 inches is the size I\'d like for reading/browsing/watching but I\'m not going to use that as a phone or to take photos! To be able to hook up a smartphone that still looks and feels like a phone with an external screen to read ebooks, watch movies etc. would be great. If one could make it touchscreen then web and other stuff becomes possible too - perfect! The Asus Padfone is already there with that concept but you have to go with their phone because it runs the tablet. Personally, I wouldn\'t go for a 4.3 touchscreen phone to hook up to a 10 inch touchscreen. I\'d choose smaller phone with a keypad and a great camera, and there would be a choice of tablets - from 7 inches upwards.
Jean Lacombe
should it Works with nokia maemo5 ?
James Coogan
Could this work with a HD video camera with a USB-out as a large screen monitor?
99gusPuppet
I would like to see more kinds of these. 16:9 is great and having an accelerometer to flip the display would be great and if it were touchscreen that would be even better. Adding speaker/microphone jacks would be nice. Also a power jack. A wireless option would be dynamite. NFC would be cool. Some way to add options would be super. Maybe a USB router so other devices can be attached.
I imagine using these with a module like the Raspberry Pi , or the MBED or the SheevaPlug. This would make the iBod ( body computing ) much more easy. 99guspuppet