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Sure, Apple offers an optional keyboard accessory for the iPad. But it’s a two piece solution that you can’t easily rest on your lap. Enter the LapDock, a third party contraption that offers the shell of a laptop including a space for a keyboard and… well, not much else. But there’s room to insert an iPad which functions as the brains of the computer, not to mention the display.

The LapDock is just a design prototype for now and isn’t available for purchase. And while it might make it easier to use the iPad and Bluetooth keyboard on your lap, it doesn’t offer any of the other functionality you would expect from a full fledged laptop such as USB ports, a webcam, or the ability to run desktop apps that weren’t designed for the touch-friendly iPad or iPhone.

Since there’s no touchpad or mouse (and the iPad wouldn’t know what to do with one even if you had one), you’d have to tap away at the keyboard and then reach up to the display to navigate — which in my experience is more awkward than it sounds. But hey… you’ve got to give these guys credit for thinking outside inside the box, right?

There’s no word on pricing yet, but the LapDock folks plan to announce more details soon.

You can check out a video of the LapDock prototype after the break.

via Engadget