Sharp Netbook Has Touch Screen Trackpad

By now we’re all pretty jaded when it comes to the introduction of a new netbook. The hardware specifications of each are the same day in and day out, but Sharp’s just unveiled on that has our attention.

The Sharp Mebius line has always been one with a reputation for being sexy. Sadly, Mebius notebooks haven’t had much exposure in the western world, but we’ve always appreciated them from afar.

Sharp has just shown off the PC-NJ70A, which from the specification sheet appears to be the same old boring Intel Atom 1.6 GHz inside a 1024 x 600 10-inch form factor. The PC-NJ70A does have one striking differentiator though, and that’s an 854 x 480 4-inch touch screen LCD where normally a trackpad would go.

Such a concept has been dreamed up before, but with the multi-touch sensitive devices (mostly phones) filling the market, it seems that a touch screen trackpad is more possible and practical than ever.

Akihabara News went hands-on with the PC-NJ70A and posted a video demonstrating what the tiny screen can do. It appears that screen is of a high enough resolution for it to run its applications completely within it.

Could this thing be turned into the biggest Nintendo DS in the world? Only time will tell.

Marcus Yam
Marcus Yam served as Tom's Hardware News Director during 2008-2014. He entered tech media in the late 90s and fondly remembers the days when an overclocked Celeron 300A and Voodoo2 SLI comprised a gaming rig with the ultimate street cred.
  • tayb
    Wow. And they said Windows backers couldn't design cool laptops? I remember there being a MacBook Pro mock-up with a multi-touch display like that. How many simultaneous inputs can it accept at once?
    Reply
  • greenskye
    as long as it accepts 2 maybe 3 simultaneously at the minimum, I'd be happy. I have a MacBook Pro and I'm jealous :)
    Reply
  • Hatecrime69
    jeez, the trackpad is the same res as my eee pc's main screen, from the video clip it looks like it can at least handle 2-3 touches at once (from the piano demo on it)

    Japan gets all the cool stuff :(
    Reply
  • I wonder what programs will make use of a LCD in the trackpad..
    To me it's kind of a variant of the touchscreen, only now you have a dual monitor. I'm sure the trackpad won't be used for watching movies!
    Reply
  • tacoslave
    i would give my left nut for that thing
    Reply
  • outacontrolpimp
    greenskyeas long as it accepts 2 maybe 3 simultaneously at the minimum, I'd be happy. I have a MacBook Pro and I'm jealous
    if i had a macbook pro, id be jealous of everything too.
    Reply
  • dmuir
    Bummer... I was just in Akihabara this past weekend and didn't see it :-(
    Reply
  • jcombalicer
    http://ashinomori.blogspot.com/2009/04/cold-fusion-ever-so-hot-science.html

    Please read this...

    Okay dismiss this, dismiss everything...
    We completely understand this. It ok to argue.

    Its healthy to pour out sentiment, by doing this we know that their are little scientist in every one of us.

    And we will always give the benefit of the doubt...

    but maybe someday, we will also be able to learn and accept the .........
    Reply
  • Silluete
    Damn... now i really need one. time to cut off some expense.
    Reply