Maybe it’s time to give your laptop a haircut and live like it’s 1982 again.
What Is a Slabtop?
A slabtop is a headless laptop, with MacBooks being popular choices for this throw in of conversion.
A headless computer generally refers to a computer that has been designed for use without a monitor.
Normally, this involves remote access software or a text-based interface like SSH.
This results in a slab computer that houses all the components in the base.
CalDigit USB-C Gen2 Dock includes an HDMI 2.0b and DisplayPort 1.4, allowing you to run two 4K displays at 30Hz or mirror dual 4K displays at 60Hz.
There’s also a battery inside, a keyboard and trackpad on top, and connectivity via built-in ports.
All you’re missing is the display and webcam.
Why Bother With a Headless Laptop?
In the case of a MacBook, these repairs can be costly, especially if you go through Apple.
For non-MacBook models, repairs can be cheaper, but spares may be hard to come by.
Many laptops with damaged displays are available on second-hand marketplaces at drastic markdowns.
A laptop with a smashed screen may still be a perfectly good computer.
You’ll be amazed how freeing a laptop can feel once you’ve taken the weighty display away.
Slabtops are portable and self-contained.
It’s also something you might enjoy leaning into, as a sort-of nerdy flex.
Amonitor with USB-C inputis another good solution, if you have one.
Once you’ve connected your laptop to a display, it should function as normal.
Getting started with a headless laptop isn’t always a smooth process.
This will mirror the missing display to whatever it is you’ve got connected.
Installa remote access tool like TeamViewer or TigerVNCand you might never need to connect a display again.
This is especially important on Apple’s ‘opening the lid turns it on’ M1 or later machines.
On top of this, you’ll need to be comfortable reconnecting anything you remove to complete the process.
On a MacBook, this can mean disconnecting essential components like the Wi-Fi antennas.
Since every laptop is different, it’s impossible to provide precise instructions for every model.
iFixitis a great resource for this.
Your ultimate goal should be a clean headless laptop, free of unsightly ribbon cables.
You may also be voiding any remaining warranty by opening it up.
In the case of a MacBook, this means you’ll be turning it on all the time.
You could probably work around it with some sort of case, but it’s worth keeping in mind.
Take a look at marketplace or spare parts websites and you might be able to restore full laptop functionality.
Of course, not everyone wants a laptop with a display.
A slabtop is certainly a unique, freeing, and fun bit of kit.
It’s a conversation starter, and it’s probably not something you already have lying around the house.
