The only major PC maker with a similar dual-screen product is Lenovo, with the

Praised by Computerworld 's reviewer, the would nevertheless lose to the Spacebook on weight (11 pounds), screen real estate (one 17-inch LCD paired with a 10.6-inch secondary screen), and even price (the cheapest W700ds configuration starts at about $3,200 online.)

Mobile workstation-class notebooks "historically cost $10,000 to $20,000," Enderle said. But the market has collapsed in recent years after "many engineers moved to high-end gaming notebooks that gave them the same performance at a lower price."

At $3,000, the Spacebook is still a "relatively good deal" for its specialized audience, he said.

But if gScreen can generate enough sales volume to deliver its laptop at $2,000, it could compete effectively in the premium notebook segment, thus "opening up the market a lot for itself," Enderle said.