Every year, Fujistu holds a design contest for new and innovative gadgets, smartphones and other tech products. In 2012, one of the winners was a line of smartphones and tablets. It was called Bento Box.
Designed by Rene Lee, Bento Box is three inner-working smartphones, Bento Book, Bento Pad and Bento Phone in a specially made dock. The holder also connects all the phones together. So when all the phones are in the dock, they form a laptop. Bento Book as the screen, Bento Pad as the keyboard or scroller and Bento Phone as any extra add-ons like a clock or metronome. The great thing is, they can work without each other. So if you go on a trip, or need to take one of the smartphones, but other people in your family ALSO want one, you can share them. The only problem is if it comes out, it will probably cost a fortune, because you’re basically buying 3 different smartphones and a case.
First, lets start off with Bento Book. Bento Book is about the size of a laptop monitor, which is much bigger than an iPad. It can be used for reading, writing, recording music using Bento Pad as the piano or just surfing the web. So far, the designers haven’t released how it’s going to be set up, what software it’s going to be using or any special features.
Bento Pad is a key part to Bento Box. Without it, you either would have to use the small Bento Phone as the keyboard or even resort to awkwardly typing on the Bento Book. It also solves the problem Apple has of buying keyboard/cases, like you have to with iPads. Alone, Bento Pad is very interesting. It’s shape may make it easier to hold, and revolutionize racing and shooter games.
Bento Phone is about the size of a iPhone 4. By itself, Bento Phone is more or less your average smartphone. But when it’s in the dock, it becomes part of the laptop. It could be a zoom when you are sketching something, page flipper when you are reading something and other useful widgets.
When Bento Box comes out, my guess is it will be a hit. The only problem is, it’s not made by a big producer like Apple or Google, so there may be some software problems or features the critics don’t like (for instance Apple’s Siri). Still, when it comes out it will be high on my list for potential buyings.
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Wow, very cool. I have never seen this before anywhere. You’re right though, the price point could be a problem. But it’s cool as a concept at least.