There’s some debate around the premise that having multiple computer monitors can improve your productivity. Whether true or not, the suggestion is practically useless for people on the go with laptops. Yes, you can bring an extra portable monitor with you, but that’s the maximum you can probably have that’s still reasonably portable.
Unsurprisingly, there are some attempts these days to attach not just one but two monitors to a laptop while still trying to keep the bulk and heft to a bare minimum. Equally unsurprising is how it still might not be enough for some people who really want to take their productivity to the next level. This dual-monitor system tries to bring that multi-monitor desktop experience to laptop users but is probably going to earn them some odd glances and dumbfounded stares.
Designer: Base Case
Until the day we are all comfortably wearing AR glasses that can put up any number of virtual monitors in front of our eyes, we will always be at the mercy of the laws of physics. In short, the more monitors you have, the more space you’ll need to occupy, and the more weight you’ll have to carry around in addition to your laptop. That’s why those “triple screen” laptop designs try to minimize the size and weight of the additional screens at the expense of screen size.
This rather unusual design, on the other hand, makes no qualms about appearances. It offers not one but two large 24-inch monitors on the go to supplement your laptop’s measly 16-inch screen. There is no bag that will fit two 24-inch monitors, so the Base Case comes with its own. Yes, as the name so plainly points out, these two monitors are stuffed in a suitcase the size of a carry-on.
Unlike regular luggage, these “screens in a bag” have a hinge at the top and you set it sideways like a desktop dual monitor setup. Your laptop will lie beneath this contraption that’s held up high with two telescopic legs. Given the size of the unfolded Base Case, you’ll definitely want some horizontal clearance for your multi-monitor laptop setup.
Aside from the sheer ridiculousness of its appearance, there are a few things that make Base Case less than ideal as a portable multiple monitor solution. Despite its size, there is practically nothing else inside that suitcase other than the monitors and retractable cables. A decent battery would have been nice, especially since you’ll have to plug the monitors in for power. And while it does have space for storing your laptop and other items so you won’t have to carry a separate bag, pulling luggage around isn’t always feasible or convenient, especially in crowded transportation.
