Roll-up technology could be in laptop's future

When tablets hit the market in mid-2010 and became an instant hit, it immediately became clear to many that traditional laptops needed to evolve or risk becoming obsolete. As of yet, the next-generation laptop hasn't emerged, but some big developments may be underway.

One of the most intriguing concepts for the next-generation laptop is roll-up technology. This is an idea that might derail the argument that tablet computers are more portable than laptops.

Essentially, the roll-up laptop would consist of a tube-shaped body that would house the internal components of the computer, including the motherboard and speakers. The tube would also double as a storage compartment, which could carry the laptop's detachable and flexible screen.

A flexible keyboard would be connected to the underside of the tube and could be folded into the body of the laptop to make for easier carrying.

The roll-up laptop is just one of the many concepts being tossed around. More immediately, the Ultrabook™ computer seems poised to spark new life into the laptop market. Expected to be released this year, the Ultrabook is Intel's slim, lightweight take on the laptop, which stresses portability and productivity in one machine.