Laptops allow us to take our work with us anywhere we go, but unless you own a top-of-the-range laptop, they are still quite heavy. One of the biggest problems I have when traveling is that my laptop and charger alone weigh more than my hand luggage allowance. As my laptop is a necessity, it means that I am never able to travel comfortably, and constantly worry about my laptop being damaged during the flight.
This has all changed with the creation of the Crowview Note. This device allows you turn any device you own into a laptop. You can plug in smartphones, Raspberry Pi 5s and Jetson Nanos, mini PCs, and even gaming consoles. Wherever you take your phone, you can have a laptop experience – meaning more productivity and less worry.
CrowView Note boasts a built-in 5000mAh battery that keeps itself powered and charges your phone. And it only weighs 2.53 lbs (1.14KG), so you can easily carry it in your hand luggage. But the most important feature is its durability. The screen can open up a full 180 degrees and the device itself can be thrown into any case to be carried around. Unlike expensive laptops – you never have to worry about this device. It’s a touch piece of hardware that is much less likely to get damaged.
For most mobile phones, you will get an exact replica of your phone on your screen. If your phone is sitting vertically, you’ll see a vertical image on your screen. If you turn it horizontally, you’ll get a better full-screen effect. If you want to run word processing software, you’ll need to already have it installed on your phone to access it, and if you want to surf the web, your phone will need to be connected to wifi or to your data. In effect, your device is your laptop and will only run as fast as the processor in your phone. However, if you have a phone in the Samsung range (S9 upwards), they come with Samsung Dex included. This will give you a full desktop experience on your laptop for much easier productivity.
You can also plug your Raspberry Pi 5 into it to get an even better desktop experience. You can use it for work, or install Retropie onto Raspberry Pi and use it for gaming. You can use the keyboard to control your game, or simply plug in a controller. Still on the gaming note, you can also plug in any console you own and simply use the CrowView Note as a screen.
The CrowView Note is a low-cost way to own a laptop without paying the enormous costs that come with it. Wherever your phone is, you’ll have a laptop ready to go. And every time you upgrade your phone, you get a faster laptop as well.
You can find out more about CrowView Note on their Kickstarter page.