Laptop manufacturers are wasting an opportunity!
RunnerPack wrote 04/25/2024 at 13:58 • -2 pointsThe lid of a laptop is a huge, mostly wasted, blank space. Sure, it's a good place to affix stickers for geek cred and a few extra kFLOPS ;) but what we hardware hackers want more than that is, obviously, MOAR HARDWARE!!!!1111oneoneone
It would be so easy to route a few power lines and data pairs from the chipset's root hub(s) along with the display power/data, and expose them through some kind of low-profile connector along the hinge side of the lid. It could even be an FPC with some well-labeled, HASL-tinned (or ENIG, if you're feeling fancy) pads, covered by a protective film. Peel the film off, solder on your USB-based hardware, attach it to the lid with your adhesive of choice, and Bob's your uncle!
Speaking of mechanical mounting: how about an array of threaded inserts with standardized spacing, for cleaner (un)installs?
Hey, Framework guys and gals! Whaddaya think?
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What an intriguing idea! Adding more functionality to the laptop lid could definitely enhance its versatility. It's always exciting to see innovation in hardware design.
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I disagree with the idea, that there is space in the lid. The size of the laptop is given by the screen size. So adding things to the side of the screen increases the size of the laptop. The thickness of the lid is also determined by the thickness of the screen. So anything added there is adding to the thickness of the laptop. Yes, one could put flat connectors on the top/back of the lid. But anything connected there is super exposed and easily damaged or knocked off.
The reason why connectors are one the sides (and sometimes at the back) is that there is space on the inside (if you can get the internals small enough). They are also mounted to a much stronger part of the chassis as there is an edge both on the top and the bottom. The lid is typically pretty flimsy - especially the huge unstructured top/back.
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"I disagree with the idea, that there is space in the lid." You're free to disagree, but I didn't actually say anything about there being space *in* the lid. The whole idea is to attach things to the *surface* of the lid. Making such attachments robust and non-intrusive to the user is his own responsibility and, I would argue, part of the fun!
Besides that, kelvinA already mentioned available commercial products that refute most of your arguments. If done correctly, it shouldn't impact the average user, yet add value for those of us who want more expandability.
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Like USB pogo pads on the lid? Like something similar to some Aliexpress laptops that have a removeable camera, just its on the back plate of the lid similar to an iPad?
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I'm not familiar with such laptops, but that sounds like one possible embodiment. I was going for more of a simple, rough'n'ready system, made for people who know which end of a soldering iron to hold, but an open standard for a quick-attachment port (using off-the-shelf and 3D-printed parts) would also work. I don't like the way the iPad's camera lens pokes out, though. I think it would be a step backward if it added a bunch of junk sticking out of the lid (unless and until someone chooses to put something there, of course).
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