Ben Heck Creates ''Coach Section'' Laptop

Famed PC modder Ben Heck has modified a laptop that should make coach seating a bit more easier.

Called the Coach Section Laptop, the laptop mod addresses the problem where a passenger seated in the next row ahead reclines the seat back and thus reduces a normal laptop's physical viewing space. Coach seating is minimal at best-- reclining seats eat a good chunk of what little space the airplane can accommodate. The laptop screen typically starts to fold unless you drag the entire device closer to your face.

But the Coach Section Laptop eliminates the folding screen problem by detaching the LCD from the main laptop body and lifting it up and out using sliding aluminum arms. The user can then use knobs to lock the screen into the desired position and continue to type underneath the screen. Heck said that the only thing it's missing is a cup holder for your half can of soda.

The mod itself is based on a generic, off-the-shelf Toshiba Satellite notebook. The only drawback is that cord connecting the LCD screen to the laptop remains out in the open and can get in the way. Heck actually wanted the cord to be longer, however he said that had it extended even more, signal degradation would occur. "I’m sure a company could build it into the arms with no trouble," he said.

Of course, the mod wouldn't be complete without the Heck stamp of approval. "The back of the LED-lit screen is also illuminated, which I used to make a glowing "heck" logo, which is automatically 10,000X cooler than a glowing chuck of half-eaten fruit," he added.

To see the Coach Section Laptop mod, check out the video below:

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Kevin Parrish has over a decade of experience as a writer, editor, and product tester. His work focused on computer hardware, networking equipment, smartphones, tablets, gaming consoles, and other internet-connected devices. His work has appeared in Tom's Hardware, Tom's Guide, Maximum PC, Digital Trends, Android Authority, How-To Geek, Lifewire, and others.