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People have been turning netbooks into tablets almost as long as netbooks have been around. But Insanely Wind forum member c0ff33 is working on one of the most ridiculously complicated tablet mods I’ve seen to date. He’s already managed to add a touchscreen, flip the display to it rests on top of the keyboard and use the netbook in tablet mode — while dual booting Windows 7 and OS X 10.6.2.But the next step is to add a mechanism allowing him to slide the screen up and reveal the keyboard beneath.

There are plenty of cellphones and small UMPCs with slide-out keyboards. But if c0ff33 pulls this off, he may have one of the only 10 inch tablets with a slide-out keyboard around.

And there’s probably good reason for that. A slide-out keyboard makes a lot more sense on a handheld device that you use your thumbs to type on while holding it with both hands. I’m not really sure how you’re supposed to use a nearly-full sized keyboard that slides out under the screen. It seems like the only comfortable typing position would be lying in bed or on a couch with your feet up and the tablet propped on your thighs. You know, kind of like the position Apple keeps showing in its iPad videos. I mean seriously, where are that guy’s legs even resting?

Anyway, the MSI tablet hack is still a work in progress. And whether it’s useful or not, it’s certainly impressive. You can find more details at the Insanely Wind forum.

via Netbooked