Damn, I never though that Vista can lead us to such a nice technology like this dual screen system found on Asus new W5Fe laptop series. This notebook, codenamed Newport, will have an external display built into the top of the lid – just like the secondary screen we used to see on a clamshell handset nowadays. Thanks to PortalPlayer Preface technology, or officially known as Windows SideShow, users can use the external display to scan emails, access a calendar, check network connections and monitor downloads without having to turn on the machine. It’s all because SideShow, a Vista-only technology, that makes it possible to access the laptop even while turning off or hibernating. Furthermore, it is also possible to access flight departure information, movie show times, alerts, play games, movies, images and MP3s through the secondary screen.

The second screen installed on Asus W5Fe laptop itself is accompany by its own power switch, a four-way directional pad with a central selector button, and a menu button for choosing which task you want to perform. No words on either pricing or availibility yet, but I guess the company will soon release it after Vista officially launched.

[ Source ]