Startup revives the shape of the iconic 21:9 Toshiba laptop that was too ahead of its time — Vitalink has a 4K touchscreen and a backlit keyboard

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VitaLink foldable keyboard hides a 13-inch 4K display inside its frameUltrawide 2.4:1 screen revives productivity ideas explored over a decade agoDual USB-C ports handle power, video, and data simultaneously everywhereVitaLink has revisited the "ultrawide" computing idea once explored by Toshiba's Satellite U845W, with its new foldable keyboard, pairing portability with an unusually stretched workspace concept again.Like the earlier 21:9 Toshiba experiment, this device uses extra horizontal space for multitasking rather than conventional notebook proportions.Its 3840×1600 touchscreen adopts a 2.4:1 ratio, echoing ambitions that many regarded as premature when Toshiba tried similar ideas years earlier.Revisiting an abandoned ultrawide ideaThe resemblance to Toshiba's earlier approach appears deliberate, although VitaLink shifts emphasis from media playback toward productivity workloads and creation tasks.When folded, VitaLink measures 20mm thick, weighs 1200 grams, and occupies little more room than a large paperback novel.Its CNC-machined aluminum body opens through a 180° hinge, creating a workspace measuring roughly 34 by 15 centimeters when deployed.That arrangement allows the screen to sit above the keyboard, giving the accessory a footprint comparable to many compact notebooks.Unlike many portable keyboards sacrificing usability for compact dimensions, VitaLink uses 3.27mm key spacing and 0.8mm key travel throughout.The company says those measurements improve comfort during lengthy sessions, although wider testing remains necessary before such claims become settled.The backlit keyboard supports three RGB lighting modes, ranging from static illumination to animated effects that prioritize appearance over practical usefulness.The integrated display reaches 298 pixels per inch, covers 100% sRGB, and supports ten-point multitouch interaction for navigation purposes.Toshiba's 14.4-inch Satellite U845W attempted something similar in 2012, using a 1792×768 display built around a 21:9 format.That machine gained praise for multitasking and movie playback, although its keyboard and unusual proportions limited broader commercial success afterward.More recently, Bapaco adopted another variation of the concept through a 12.3-inch 1920×720 touchscreen integrated into a keyboard computer.Its unusual 16:6 layout demonstrated that manufacturers continued revisiting the same philosophy despite earlier skepticism from the wider market.A keyboard accessory trying to become more than one thingThis device features dual USB-C connections that support video, data, and up to 65W charging through a single cable linked to another device.Compatibility extends across Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, tablets, and handheld consoles without requiring additional software installation before operation begins.When connected to another laptop, the accessory functions as a secondary display while simultaneously supplying a full keyboard interface for work.The company also promotes it as a business laptop companion where additional screen space could reduce dependence on external monitors.When attached to gaming hardware through USB-C, the device effectively becomes a portable 13-inch laptop-style display alternative.The device supports eight keyboard layouts, including US Windows, US Mac, German, Japanese, UK, French, Nordic, Italian, and Spanish variations.Additional layout charges range between $10 and $30, reflecting separate engraving requirements and smaller production quantities for manufacturing purposes.VitaLink is in crowdfunding on Kickstarter with a starting pledge of $299, below a quoted retail figure of $658 for early supporters.The campaign has attracted 997 backers who pledged $325,523 despite an original funding objective of only $3,825.Shipping is scheduled for September 2026, with delivery charges between $18 and $33 depending on destination and regional logistics.