Mike Cane just sent the link to a Register posting on something so bizarre that it must be seen to be believed: a 19″ laptop that folds over onto itself. I think you will agree with me that the first reaction to seeing this is something along the lines of “WHY?”

An intrepid eBay seller has posted a Xentex-brand prototype laptop that that has a hinge down the middle, allowing it to literally be folded in half. Although this won’t detract from the machine’s weight, and make the laptop twice as thick, the ability to ‘fold’ your laptop away is unique. - The Register

It’s a fat little beast!

The hinge also means the laptop’s screen is split into two 13.3in panels, but extra hinges at the bottom of each screen allow them to be independently rotated. So, two people could be watching the screen from either side of a table, although only one person would have control of the keyboard. - The Register

Because it will be gone in 90 days, I am reposting the auction text and pictures here for posterity:

Xentex Dual 13.3″ Screen Laptop Prototype

I purchased this a few years back as a project but it just ended up sitting in my closet. This is a rare Xentex Dual Screen Laptop. Each screen is 13.3″ and one pivots so that one can be facing you and the other one facing the person sitting on the other side of the laptop. This was a prototype and is missing some parts but does turn on so I have no doubt someone can make this work with the right skills.

This has to be the worlds largest laptop when unfolded which measures about 19.5″ across when you unfold it. This company had a great idea on the hinging concept because the entire laptop folds twice making it very portable.

The keyboard is functional and it does type and you can enter the bios but I have not been able to go past that since I do not have a hard drive cable (which appears to be a custom cable with 1mm pitch) and I do not have a CD Rom for the unit. I have tried to getting it to boot of an external USB CD Rom but it would not detect that. The small plastic latches that hold the screen in place when it is all folded up are broken but does not effect it that much. Trackpoint is missing from the middle of the keyboard but the touch pad should work but have never booted to windows to confirm.

The touch pad also duals as some sort of signature pad and the pen is included.

NOTE: This is being sold AS-IS (read entire Ad!)

Any questions ask before the end of the auction….

Includes laptop & AC Adapter only [tape measure not included ]

(there is a battery in the unit but not sure if it works or not so no guarantee there)

As I write this, the auction is only at $611. Let me know if you are the winner, as I would love to hear what you do with it.

Link: Incredible folding laptop untucked on eBay
Link: eBay auction for Xentex Dual 13.3″ Screen Laptop Prototype