Toshiba announces dual-screen netbook

As odd as it may sound, it's absolutely true. Instead of a keyboard, this unusual netbook sports a second screen. Both the main screen and the bottom screen are touch-sensitive, allowing users to manipulate files and enter data. While experts are unsure of how the new device will be received by the public, Toshiba intends to bring it to the market within the next few months.

The Toshiba Libretto W100 sports two 7-inch, 1024×600 touch screens. Inside, a 1.2GHz Pentium U5400 processor and 2GB of RAM offer plenty of power, while a 64GB SSD offers minimal storage. The device comes pre-loaded with Windows 7 Home Premium.

When users need to actually type, all it takes is the push of a special button to turn the bottom screen into a virtual keyboard. Those lucky few who have gotten their hands on the device say that typing is cumbersome – the keyboard is small, and the lack of tactile feedback makes typing difficult. This is definitely not a good device for composing long emails.

When not a keyboard, the bottom screen is designed to run a special program called LifeSpace. It's designed specifically for this device, helping users move through the computer's file structure, manipulate documents, and launch programs. LifeSpace makes full use of the device's touch capabilities, and is a unique new approach to the idea of personal computing.

The price? A hefty $1,099. This is a lot more than a 'normal' netbook would cost, even one with these same specs. The extra money, of course, goes towards the dual touch screens. At the end of the day, the W100 is not designed for heavy business use, but it would be a great device for netbook gaming. The dual touch screens would give users a unique way to play slots, poker, blackjack, and other online casino games. The machine has plenty of power, and would handle anything players threw at it. The W100 seems more like a toy than a tool, though in the right hands, it could be used to win quite a lot of money gambling online.