Porsche Book One - elegant lines
27.2.2017
Translation: machine translated
Porsche presented a new 2-in-1 notebook at Mobile World Congress 2017. The Porsche One design breaks with current notebook fashion and reappeals to the corners. Under the bonnet there's a lot going on. We've already tested the device for you.
As the name suggests, at Porsche Design it's all about design. So the video blogger and I weren't surprised to be invited to the press conference at the architecturally daring W Hotel by the sea. The hotel seems to share the same design philosophy as Prosch design: clear lines and simple shapes. The designers from Zell am See in Austria present the new 2-in-1 notebook that's hard to find on google yet goes by the sweet name of Porsche Book One.
The laptop, which is also a tablet hides its game well. The Dual Core Intel i7 7500U processor delivers between 2.5GHz and 3.5GHz of power. A 16GB LPDDR3 RAM and a 512GB SSD store data quickly. The Intel HD Graphics 620 delivers a resolution of 3200x1800 pixels on the 10-point multitouch screen. In short: like the cars of the same name, the Book One is not only elegant, it's also very fast. The Book One is ready to use in exactly 10.8 seconds. Ready to use includes loading all drivers and background processes, not just until the home screen loads.
The features of a 2-in-1 laptop
A closer look at the device shows that Porsche didn't just focus on the design, but also thought about the distribution of connections.
For 2-in-1 laptops all the intelligence, i.e. everything that makes a computer a computer, is hidden behind the screen. Why? Because when in doubt, the screen must be able to function without a keyboard if the latter is removed. For traditional laptops, all the intelligence is usually tucked behind the keyboard so that the weight of the device is put firmly on the keyboard to prevent it from tipping over when it's open.
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Having the USB connections and adapter in the screen or tablet part would therefore be simpler. However, Porsche Design is playing it minimalist and functional. On the tablet part itself, so the screen part of the laptop, there's just a USB C port for power and data transfer and a 3.5mm jack. In addition to the 25 watt-per-hour (Wh) battery installed in the tablet section, a 45Wh battery is also installed behind the keyboard. Together, they should provide a day's autonomy.
Another problem encountered by 2-in-1 devices is their slightly out-of-this-world look when in folded mode - when the screen is turned and sits on the back of the keyboard. As with other devices in the past, designers at Porsche Design have looked to the famous sports car for inspiration. The hinges look like serrated wheels, and the result is decent. The screen and keyboard sections are identical in closed and retrouné mode.
Loyal to the design
Like every design studio, Porsche Design looks after its own design. That means two colours and sharp corners. The studio's objects are therefore generally recognisable by their severe look. Straight lines, sharp angles. Black and white - often replaced by metal - and a few red details. There's no room for fuss or decorative elements at Porsche Design.
Since its foundation in 2003, Porsche Design has ventured into many areas. Among other things, they have published kitchen knives, coffee machines, hard drives, perfumes and suitcases.
The Porsche Book One is no exception when it comes to design. On the contrary. Where other laptop manufacturers rely on rounded edges and design, Porsche Design relies on sharp edges. The clean lines remain true to the studio's original idea: ideas come from functionality, without fuss. Also supplied with the Porsche Book One is a stylus that distances itself slightly from the studio's traditional design. In 2013, among other things, the designers launched a fountain pen that underlined the studio's minimalism. The Porsche Design P'3135 Solid feels like it's made from a single piece of titanium.
The stylus on the Porsche Design Book One looks more like a traditional stylus.
With this, the designers are also taking into account the recurring wish of digitec customers to have a stylus with their touchscreen laptop. Of course, there are styli from third-party manufacturers that perform the same function, but it's nice to see that a company with design as a priority is putting products on sale that go beyond appearance and the minimum necessary. The stylus is made by Wacom, has 2048 pressure points and is powered by a AAAA battery. It is claimed to provide around seven months' battery life at three hours' use a day.
Exclusively at digitec
Why am I talking about a new laptop when I'm at an exhibition that's mostly concerned with smartphones and other smart accessories? Because not only do I like the Porsche design, but also, because digitec will, for the time being, be the exclusive distributor. The other factor is also that Stephanie Tresch and I are certainly the first Swiss people to have had the chance to test the device.
The Porsche engineers have kept their promise. In hand, the device is light and solid. And yet, the power of the computer is quickly felt. Typing is also very easy thanks to the keyboard. The attachment of the tablet to the keyboard is very solid, and the two parts cannot be separated so easily. Then there's the stylus, which is very light and comfortable to hold. In short, the Porsche Book One is a real pleasure to use. From infrastructure to design to use, the Porsche Book One is a real success.
Certainly, the product won't be free for all that. But if you want a laptop that has something under the bonnet and a sleek style, The Porsche Design Book One will make your day.
Journalist. Author. Hacker. A storyteller searching for boundaries, secrets and taboos – putting the world to paper. Not because I can but because I can’t not.
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