Kyle Kucharski/ZDNET
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Lenovo debuted a new proof of concept laptop with a 14-inch rotating display.
It goes from a landscape to portrait orientation by physically rotating the screen.
There are some design elements, like the fabric backing, that raise concerns about its longevity.
Earlier this year at CES, we saw Lenovo's wild "rollable" laptop proof of concept -- a computer with a screen that rolls out from under the keyboard to make a 17-inch display. It seemed like a pie-in-the-sky idea, but it was released to market this summer. I recently tried it out and found its vertical display surprisingly useful. In fact, I kind of loved it.
So when I saw Lenovo's next proof of concept laptop, I suspended my judgment that it would be something to never make it to production. The new ThinkBook VertiFlex is a 14-inch laptop with a similar concept, but instead of the display unfurling out from under the keyboard, it simply rotates, like turning a tablet from landscape mode to portrait.
Also: I went hands-on with Lenovo's white ThinkPad X9 at IFA, and it's the coolest laptop yet
The display on VertiFlex looks deceptively simple. There are no gestures or remote controls here -- you simply physically rotate the screen with your hands, and it pivots into position, seamlessly swapping between landscape and portrait mode, with the content on your screen automatically adjusting -- just like your smartphone.
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