ThE WoRlD NeEdS MoRe gAdGeTs lIkE LG’s bRiEfCaSe tV
March 30, 2024 7:41 AM Subscribe
THE GOOD: "Unique and surprisingly fun." THE BAD: "It’s damn heavy." "Unimpressive display specs for the price." "Battery life can be an issue." "No water resistance." You can purchase one for $1197 on Amazon. It weighs 28 pounds. It can lay flat for touchscreen games like chess or when playing music. The Verge reviewer Chris Welch adds, "But it’s… it’s unique as hell."
Add your favorite line from the review that makes it obvious a literal gun was held to the reviewers head as they wrote it. Mine is, "To see any value in the StanbyME Go, you’ve got to try and appreciate the sum of its parts."
Add your favorite line from the review that makes it obvious a literal gun was held to the reviewers head as they wrote it. Mine is, "To see any value in the StanbyME Go, you’ve got to try and appreciate the sum of its parts."
I assume you keep the explosives down in the base?
posted by mittens at 7:50 AM on March 30 [1 favorite]
posted by mittens at 7:50 AM on March 30 [1 favorite]
If only there was another portable gadget that cost $1200 and weighs 28 pounds and could play videos...
posted by AlSweigart at 7:55 AM on March 30 [10 favorites]
posted by AlSweigart at 7:55 AM on March 30 [10 favorites]
you can bring it camping
If you're even thinking of taking this camping, please stay at home. And if I hadn't just gotten up and was still waiting for the caffeine to percolate through my brain, I might have LOLed at "no water resistance" (yes, exactly what I look for in a camping accessory) and "battery life can be an issue." How do you make something that weighs 28 pounds with a crappy battery? Does it turn into an Iron Man suit?
posted by Halloween Jack at 8:10 AM on March 30 [11 favorites]
If you're even thinking of taking this camping, please stay at home. And if I hadn't just gotten up and was still waiting for the caffeine to percolate through my brain, I might have LOLed at "no water resistance" (yes, exactly what I look for in a camping accessory) and "battery life can be an issue." How do you make something that weighs 28 pounds with a crappy battery? Does it turn into an Iron Man suit?
posted by Halloween Jack at 8:10 AM on March 30 [11 favorites]
If only there was another portable gadget that cost $1200 and weighs 28 pounds and could play videos...
Ah yes, the classic all-in-one CRT TV and VCR, just the thing to bring over for a social evening.
posted by Dip Flash at 8:12 AM on March 30 [6 favorites]
Ah yes, the classic all-in-one CRT TV and VCR, just the thing to bring over for a social evening.
posted by Dip Flash at 8:12 AM on March 30 [6 favorites]
For exhibition/convention booths it might make sense. The fees for renting at these places is exorbitant and traveling with a big tv/monitor otherwise is a hassle. I imagine it comes equipped for different power supply standards as well.
But as a consumer gadget? Uh, no.
posted by St. Oops at 8:20 AM on March 30 [6 favorites]
But as a consumer gadget? Uh, no.
posted by St. Oops at 8:20 AM on March 30 [6 favorites]
From the article: Pull the screen up and you can position it in either landscape or portrait orientations; the latter can be useful if you want to mirror your phone and scroll through your TikTok feed — or maybe give a presentation on the road. I rarely bothered with vertical mode...
This confused me so much. Do people give vertical presentations now? Is that a thing?
posted by oulipian at 8:44 AM on March 30 [1 favorite]
This confused me so much. Do people give vertical presentations now? Is that a thing?
posted by oulipian at 8:44 AM on March 30 [1 favorite]
This seems like something designed specifically and exclusively for the Sharper Image catalog.
posted by Navelgazer at 8:49 AM on March 30 [20 favorites]
posted by Navelgazer at 8:49 AM on March 30 [20 favorites]
For exhibition/convention booths it might make sense. The fees for renting at these places is exorbitant and traveling with a big tv/monitor otherwise is a hassle.
I’ve known exhibitors to buy a TV then sell it cheap after to avoid traveling with it. Probably makes more sense than this.
posted by Artw at 9:00 AM on March 30 [5 favorites]
I’ve known exhibitors to buy a TV then sell it cheap after to avoid traveling with it. Probably makes more sense than this.
posted by Artw at 9:00 AM on March 30 [5 favorites]
You'll want a vertical screen when you use it to emulate a vectrex machine.
posted by surlyben at 9:01 AM on March 30 [8 favorites]
posted by surlyben at 9:01 AM on March 30 [8 favorites]
Would work for commuters on the Long Island expressway into the city.
posted by Czjewel at 9:02 AM on March 30
posted by Czjewel at 9:02 AM on March 30
Fit one of these in there for maximum James Bondage
"Time to - A HA HA HA - change the channel"
posted by lalochezia at 9:03 AM on March 30 [1 favorite]
"Time to - A HA HA HA - change the channel"
posted by lalochezia at 9:03 AM on March 30 [1 favorite]
I work at a nonprofit that (among other things) runs a day service for elderly folks, and also a home visitation program for the elderly. The managers routinely go to forums, churches, HR-run events, community events, etc to promote these services (it's weirdly hard to find out about our services because real advertising costs so much, and we don't have the budget.)
I'm proud of the level of quality we provide, which is why I am there. It's pro-rated pay, and often free for low income people. This dead-simple plug 'n' play device would be perfect for the people making the rounds exhibiting our services (they are social workers and are generally not super tech-savvy). Easier to transport than a regular TV (regardless of weight) and you can just plug a laptop or tablet into it and let it loop video. Showing actual video of our facility is a HUGE incentive for people to check us out. We have a nice, clean, sunny building, and there's always group activities going on for the older folks to socialize. No televisions! Instead there's music, games, arts & crafts, holiday celebrations, singing, dancing, exercise classes, breakfast, lunch and snack. But without seeing actual video of what the environment is like, people are legitimately skeptical.
This device would be perfect for us. We don't need top-end picture quality, and the sturdy case makes it really attractive for lugging it in and out of gymnasiums, rec centers, libraries, in and out of cars, etc. Probably out of our price range, but I'd like to see more tech like this.
posted by SoberHighland at 9:19 AM on March 30 [23 favorites]
I'm proud of the level of quality we provide, which is why I am there. It's pro-rated pay, and often free for low income people. This dead-simple plug 'n' play device would be perfect for the people making the rounds exhibiting our services (they are social workers and are generally not super tech-savvy). Easier to transport than a regular TV (regardless of weight) and you can just plug a laptop or tablet into it and let it loop video. Showing actual video of our facility is a HUGE incentive for people to check us out. We have a nice, clean, sunny building, and there's always group activities going on for the older folks to socialize. No televisions! Instead there's music, games, arts & crafts, holiday celebrations, singing, dancing, exercise classes, breakfast, lunch and snack. But without seeing actual video of what the environment is like, people are legitimately skeptical.
This device would be perfect for us. We don't need top-end picture quality, and the sturdy case makes it really attractive for lugging it in and out of gymnasiums, rec centers, libraries, in and out of cars, etc. Probably out of our price range, but I'd like to see more tech like this.
posted by SoberHighland at 9:19 AM on March 30 [23 favorites]
Basically, it's a more expensive, less useful version of a Vanguard console travel case (which I do own.)
posted by NoxAeternum at 9:25 AM on March 30 [1 favorite]
posted by NoxAeternum at 9:25 AM on March 30 [1 favorite]
The only comparable portable monitor that's 27" in size and touchscreen goes for around $911 and that's without an external battery pack or briefcase which presumably would make up the rest of the cost. There's definitely some very specialized, sales-related use cases for this. I think if you were to genuinely try to review this thing you would be looking for ease of travel and setup compared to similar products in their protective casing.
Which makes me think this is very much a 'stunt/troll' review piece where a reviewer looks at business-specific products, pretends to be surprised and wilded out by how his framework of consumer use reviewing is inappropriate, and the site gets a ton of clicks/ad impressions/discussion (and posts on link aggregators like MetaFilter in the vein of OutrageFilter).
Which reminds me - I should go outside and enjoy the sunshine probably
posted by paimapi at 10:12 AM on March 30 [8 favorites]
Which makes me think this is very much a 'stunt/troll' review piece where a reviewer looks at business-specific products, pretends to be surprised and wilded out by how his framework of consumer use reviewing is inappropriate, and the site gets a ton of clicks/ad impressions/discussion (and posts on link aggregators like MetaFilter in the vein of OutrageFilter).
Which reminds me - I should go outside and enjoy the sunshine probably
posted by paimapi at 10:12 AM on March 30 [8 favorites]
Wonderfully written article, but I am still baffled at the "use case" for this - wouldn't a large tablet suffice for any such need?
posted by davidmsc at 10:15 AM on March 30 [2 favorites]
posted by davidmsc at 10:15 AM on March 30 [2 favorites]
I wondered what LG's sales material would present as use cases, so I looked at their site. I ended up watching the sales video that puts the monitor at a campsite and the beach. They don't mention any business environment in which you might use this product. They do mention the board game angle, though. The site mentioned tailgating, which might also be a reasonable use.
Metafilter has more creative ideas than LG's marketing team.
posted by betaray at 10:18 AM on March 30 [5 favorites]
Metafilter has more creative ideas than LG's marketing team.
posted by betaray at 10:18 AM on March 30 [5 favorites]
Metafilter has more creative ideas than LG's marketing team.
One of the least surprising statements possible.
posted by The Manwich Horror at 10:51 AM on March 30 [7 favorites]
One of the least surprising statements possible.
posted by The Manwich Horror at 10:51 AM on March 30 [7 favorites]
In 1978 we had a portable television. It probably weighed the same as this thing. You pushed down on the top and a black and white screen (probably 3 inches or so) would pop up. When I was recovering from a car accident in the ICU my mom brought it to the hospital so I wouldn’t miss that week’s episode of Battlestar Galactica. Since no one had a VCR at that point.
That was cutting edge tech!
posted by Ishbadiddle at 10:51 AM on March 30 [6 favorites]
That was cutting edge tech!
posted by Ishbadiddle at 10:51 AM on March 30 [6 favorites]
Is this something I'd need to have a briefcase to understand?
posted by mittens at 11:17 AM on March 30 [15 favorites]
posted by mittens at 11:17 AM on March 30 [15 favorites]
The "Unique" bit hints that the reviewer's never seem one of the myriad portable console flight cases. They have a built in screen, speakers and power distribution, and places to lock down your console and controllers.
posted by scruss at 11:37 AM on March 30 [1 favorite]
posted by scruss at 11:37 AM on March 30 [1 favorite]
When I heard mention of table top gaming, a space in which many people are very insistent about building or paying thousand for tables with embedded displays, I expected something slightly more flat than ... a display jutting out of an open suitcase.
I am baffled and I hate it.
posted by seraphine at 12:19 PM on March 30
I am baffled and I hate it.
posted by seraphine at 12:19 PM on March 30
I think the "unique" bit hints that the reviewer was straining to find something good to say about this ridiculous, impractical gizmo.
posted by AlSweigart at 12:26 PM on March 30
posted by AlSweigart at 12:26 PM on March 30
The theater company where I used to work had a lobby presentation we would put on a TV screen and lug around to various venues we rented for performances. We broke two of them in transit and setup in as many years. Honestly this would be kind of perfect for that use if it looked just a little less like a briefcase when deployed. I could see this used for a lot of those types of traveling presentation situations, and it's definitely priced for a business expense rather than an entertainment one. I have no idea why they're positioning it as the later.
posted by Phobos the Space Potato at 12:26 PM on March 30 [1 favorite]
posted by Phobos the Space Potato at 12:26 PM on March 30 [1 favorite]
Laptop too useful or lightweight? The answer is here!
posted by jordantwodelta at 12:33 PM on March 30 [1 favorite]
posted by jordantwodelta at 12:33 PM on March 30 [1 favorite]
If only there was another portable gadget that cost $1200 and weighs 28 pounds and could play videos...How about a tablet and a case and a half of beer?
posted by Gilgamesh's Chauffeur at 1:44 PM on March 30 [3 favorites]
Y'know ... when your eyes get older, and you have to stare at a screen all day, you start to run out of options, and this doesn't seem so weird.
posted by credulous at 1:48 PM on March 30 [1 favorite]
posted by credulous at 1:48 PM on March 30 [1 favorite]
This confused me so much. Do people give vertical presentations now? Is that a thing?
Use case for vertical video on a portable monitor: Teleprompter or song lyrics. I was thinking about using a portable external monitor I have (Asus Zen screen) for exactly that soon.
posted by limeonaire at 3:40 PM on March 30 [1 favorite]
Use case for vertical video on a portable monitor: Teleprompter or song lyrics. I was thinking about using a portable external monitor I have (Asus Zen screen) for exactly that soon.
posted by limeonaire at 3:40 PM on March 30 [1 favorite]
Have I accidentally fallen into a timeline in which neither laptop or tablet where invented?
posted by evilDoug at 6:57 PM on March 30 [5 favorites]
posted by evilDoug at 6:57 PM on March 30 [5 favorites]
Suitable for vanlife perhaps?
posted by seawallrunner at 9:19 AM on March 31
posted by seawallrunner at 9:19 AM on March 31
I could see this being moderately popular with rich consumers if they'd gone with Android or ChromeOS or businesspeople if it was built around a decent i5 and 16GB of RAM and running Windows. WebOS is a pretty bizarre choice for a device like this, other than the fact that some bigwigs have to cover over the fact that they way overpaid for it. I was a WebOS user back when HP owned it and it was nice for the time but the dearth of apps now for it is terrible. The games that exist for it look like bad first or second generation iPhone apps and there's no business apps like Zoom or Teams or PowerPoint.
As far as convention use, you can get Pelican cases for 27" monitors for a lot less than this. You don't get the lackluster battery and they can't be taken in carryon (but neither can this). Or as someone mentioned above, get a couple cheap TVs from Best Buy or whatever and give them away as door prizes after the show.
posted by Candleman at 9:20 PM on March 31
As far as convention use, you can get Pelican cases for 27" monitors for a lot less than this. You don't get the lackluster battery and they can't be taken in carryon (but neither can this). Or as someone mentioned above, get a couple cheap TVs from Best Buy or whatever and give them away as door prizes after the show.
posted by Candleman at 9:20 PM on March 31
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posted by Easy problem of consciousness at 7:48 AM on March 30 [1 favorite]