Samsung's SDI division today unveiled a demonstration computer it says represents the future of notebooks. The system uses a newly-developed 12-inch AMOLED (active matrix organic light-emitting diode) display that would match the resolution of a same-size LCD at 1280x768 but produce a much better picture: the inherent nature of the technology produces a contrast ratio about "20 times" higher than that of an LCD, Samsung claims.

Besides the improved picture quality, the self-illuminating screen's lack of any need for a backlight also allows for an extremely thin display. A new silicon oxide manufacturing process should also make actual production AMOLED screens much more affordable at similar sizes than earlier AMOLED and regular OLED displays, which are often used for much smaller devices for cost reasons.

Samsung's example notebook also sports a unique design that emphasizes the thickness of the display, including a touch-sensitive keyboard and a unique portfolio-like design.

The demonstration unit isn't planned to represent a future Samsung portable but rather what the Korean company's AMOLED screens will do for notebooks as a whole, including both Samsung's own as well as from other computer makers that use its panels. Samsung already uses AMOLEDs on a handful of cellphones and cameras but has alluded to bringing the technology out to computer displays and other larger products sometime during 2009.