the concept of Working from home has been completely redefined in the last few years. As long as there is Wi-Fi and a computer, many people Technically Work from anywhere. But for those who are used to clicking multiple monitors or roaming around at a standing desk, working away from home requires juggling a multitude of peripherals to be productive.
But what if you didn’t have to squat over a dark, tiny laptop screen in a coffee shop? Now you can harness the power of multi-monitor setups with augmented reality (AR) glasses and keyboards.Created by a new company called good viewSpacetop, founded by former Magic Leap execs, does just that. As the world’s first AR laptop, it offers the convenience of a virtual 100-inch screen and the ability to view as many windows and apps as you need to get your work done wherever you are.
It can be purchased for $2,000 through an invite-only early access program. We plan to ship the prizes to the winners in early July. Anyone can apply, but Sightful says it’s specifically looking for “enthusiastic early adopters” who provide feedback that the company can use to improve the experience.
Update May 18: A previous version of this article stated that Spacetop has a Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 processor. It has a Snapdragon 865. I’ve revised the story to reflect this.
fun and basic
I’ve only used Spacetop for a short amount of time, and I’m surprised by how little it does. It’s glasses attached to a full-size keyboard with a wired touchpad. Weighing in at 3.3 pounds, he’s only slightly heavier than his MacBook Air at 2.7 pounds, and is compact enough to easily slip into a backpack or tote.
To bring Spacetop to its current form, Sightful tapped existing hardware from NReal (known for its AR glasses) and Wistron (an electronics manufacturer that partners with laptop brands such as HP and Dell). However, the company has spent time customizing the device and adding thoughtful features to enhance the experience.
We went through many iterations to ensure that these glasses could be worn comfortably for long periods of time without leaving marks on the face, catching hair, or ruining makeup. The headset is also optimized for viewing content up close, such as reading text. The right arm has a physical button that controls the brightness of the display.
AR glasses with prescription lenses can be ordered at no additional cost (accessible by invitation only). The Spacetop ships with a pair of magnetically attached custom ground lenses. I usually wear AR and VR headsets over my glasses, so I was happy to test the device with lenses that matched my prescription.
