I'm not being glib here, but after experimenting with many such solutions over the years, I've found that the best solution for me is to always carry a cheap, paper notebook--like one of those black/white-spotted composition notebooks with cardboard covers and unlined paper--that is about the size of my laptop lid. I just slide the laptop and notebook together into whatever backpack or bag I'm using for the laptop.<p>I always have a variety of pens and pencils with me, and writing/drawing with high-quality pens & pencils on real paper is better and more convenient in every way than writing on an equivalent-sized whiteboard surface. I then have 100 pages I can keep or give away instead of one that I have to delete and reuse, and without all the mess. Plus, I always have a couple of pens in my pocket, even when I don't have my laptop, so I never end up with a whiteboard but no markers.<p>The only time I've found whiteboards more useful than paper are when I needed a very large surface. If a small surface is good enough, paper works better for me.
Actually, this just gave me a crazy idea... what if laptop manufacturers included something low powered like a boogie board device on the outside of the screen, which could write / save directly to some small internal storage of the laptop, and then the resulting notes could be accessible via the laptop when turned on? Kind of like.. a poor man's tablet on the outside of a laptop? I wonder the cost of that vs. touch screens / digital pens.
I think it's a terrible idea. First, marker ink would be smudge all over backpack. Second, it's on the other side of the laptop! You wrote an algorithm on sketchcase and want to implement it. Well, now you have turn your laptop around every time too see it.
I think this is a really good idea, but if you look on eBay you can buy a 200cm by 45cm (~ 78.7 in by 17.7in) vinyl whiteboard sticker for $5. You could buy this, trim it down and use it on a handful of laptops at a significantly cheaper cost. There are lots of other listings for "whiteboard vinyl sticker" but here is the $5 one:<p><a href="http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Vinyl-Wall-Sticker-Removable-Whiteboard-Decals-200X45CM-/361620804352" rel="nofollow">http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Vinyl-Wall-Sticker-Removable-Whi...</a><p>Also, I wonder if a "whiteboard magnet" would stick well to a mabook or aluminum bodied portable - wouldn't leave any residue: <a href="http://www.ebay.com/itm/17-x-11-Dry-Erase-Magnetic-Refrigerator-Flexible-White-Board-Planner-Message-/222314810254?hash=item33c2fecb8e:g:Dk8AAOSw4GVYKfWR" rel="nofollow">http://www.ebay.com/itm/17-x-11-Dry-Erase-Magnetic-Refrigera...</a>
Stickers on laptops usually make Jony Ive sad, and he's sad enough already being locked in that white room with one set of clothes.<p>But this one is much better, because it occupies the entire laptop!
When I had a non-unibody Macbook Pro, I would actually doodle with a dry-erase marker directly onto my (glass) screen. This was handy for making small annotations as I was pondering designs, PCB layouts, etc.<p>Unfortunately for my screen-doodling habit, new MacBooks have some kind of coating (AR? Oleophobic?) that causes the marker's fluid to bead up, ruining the effect.
I think this is pretty neat and love all things whiteboard but the one annoyance is that I now need to carry around a whiteboard marker and eraser (if you don't want crap all over your fingers from erasing). Note: I don't think you can solve that problem.<p>And now I probably am carrying a backpack which makes paper + pen better. I think the #1 benefit of a whiteboard is the size. I can draw huge diagrams and everyone in the room can see and not have to huddle around a piece of paper.<p>I still think it is interesting....
You can get a quart of chalkboard paint for $15.<p>You can even recycle broken laptops by painting the screen!<p><a href="http://www.target.com/p/devine-color-by-valspar-1-quart-chalkboard-paint-coal/-/A-16654685" rel="nofollow">http://www.target.com/p/devine-color-by-valspar-1-quart-chal...</a>
Hasn't this been created already? <a href="http://gizmodo.com/the-best-laptop-sticker-turns-your-computer-into-a-whit-1685194189" rel="nofollow">http://gizmodo.com/the-best-laptop-sticker-turns-your-comput...</a>
This has been around for awhile now and you can actually order them today: <a href="http://www.drawattention.co/" rel="nofollow">http://www.drawattention.co/</a> (aside from them being sold out...)
I dont get the indicators that its a new product. These guys look like they have been doing this since 2014: <a href="http://www.drawattention.co" rel="nofollow">http://www.drawattention.co</a>
Instead of waiting, you can just order a small Writeyboard now which is exactly the same thing.<p><a href="http://www.Writeyboards.com" rel="nofollow">http://www.Writeyboards.com</a>
What I'd like to see is a stealthy monitor with case (or just a universal case for monitor or laptop). The case, fully open, could latch open and the back flat side would be a whiteboard or even clalk board. Kinda like an artist's portfolio case, but for devs.<p>In addition the case, if laptop size, would be semi drop proof. The point being, I'd travel more by bike if I didn't hear a fall would total my hardware.<p>Finally, big ask here, make it insulated. Leaving my machine in a cold car while snowboarding means I generally like to wait a bit til the machine comes back to room temp.<p>Yes. I've seen hardened cases (a la for DJs & musicians) but they're often overkill, AND I want the outside to serve a purpose (I.e., whiteboard).<p>Keep it in the $100 range and you have a winner.
I think it's a neat idea but personally, I'll stick to a legal pad. I use them quite a bit, but not enough to justify switching to something like this and then taking photos of my work.
Ive been using my laptop like this for years. I just bought some white plastic film you use to protect text books with and stuck it to the back of my Thinkpad. Works great for todo lists. I also agree that they should build a laptop like this where every free surface can be written on as a white board. It is surprising just how much I use this.
I liked the roadmap on the OA's page.<p>Others have mentioned the stick-on dry wipe vinyl whiteboards that are available. For walls there is also 'magic whiteboard' - a roll of plastic material that sticks to the wall using static electricity.<p>I'd mention the 'mini-whiteboards' sold for use in classrooms - usually A4/Letter size. These are about 2mm thick and can be used as clipboards as well with a suitable bulldog clip. My final idea would be to get a map case like the one that hikers use to keep their maps dry and put completed whiteboards in that for reference.<p>Personally, I prefer paper/pen &c
We used to make whiteboards at a printing company I worked for. It was mainly just white SAV (self adhesive vinyl) with a laminate over the top.<p>Ten dollars is an awful lot to pay for that, when you're talking about just a laptop size. You'd be looking at much less than a dollar in materials.<p>Edit: Though the fella obviously recognises this, and has a DIY on the page... And I can see people buying them for the convenience element. Still though...
Or you can use a laptop with touch screen and/or a digital pen...<p>And Google and microsoft have note taking apps that makes your hand writing searchable.<p>Edit: wow, some people on HN <i>really</i> dislike touchscreens...
Ideally, this could be done on the screen itself. Using a 2-in-1-laptop like Lenovo Yogas you can position the screen directly in front of you, and it has a touchscreen (obviously).<p>I guess the problem is that even with digital pens, haptic feedback and maybe precision are not up to par with the real thing. But those things might improve a lot in the next 10-20 years, there seems to be a decent amount of research going on for the former.
I used to have a similar whiteboard stick on my old MacBook back in 2011 - it was really useful as long as I remembered to bring a whiteboard marker with me to meetings. It'd be nice to have an eink boogieboad like wrap instead but the problem with those it's it's erase all or nothing so, I'm sticking with ordering a new whiteboard wrap from here as they're so cheap.
For the past five years I've been working at white-veneered desks - and for the vast majority of that time I've actually been using my desk as a dry-wipe board. It doesn't make too much of a mess when it rubs off on my hands, and it's a fantastic way to quickly sketch out a to-do list or draw a diagram for a colleague.
I wonder about the low-tech use case of :<p>writing on this wb surface on laptop, then re-covering with clear plastic to make it semi-permanent [ preventing wipe off with handling / slipcase / backpack ]<p>Does the original peel-off wb material cover would re-adhere ? .. if so, handy.
Just what I want to do - draw private info on the back of my laptop and lug it around. Anybody got a way to print CC numbers onto my shoes?<p>(IOW: I think it's a cool hack that fails to consider actual implications outside of the immediate problem solved.)
Cute. But impractical, not to mention messy. They should allow you to put your company's logo on it, as it would be a cool alternative to branded coffee cups, pens and mouse pads.
Cool idea, but you might want to revise your messaging:
"I could make one for them but making them by hand is REALLY time consuming."
"Handcrafted by Charles Han"
Fascinating. Other people has come to the same conclusion I see. Here's mine posted on reddit a few days ago : <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/5q8evm/comment/dcxeuf3" rel="nofollow">https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/5q8evm/comment/d...</a>