CrowView Note: A Laptop that isn’t a Laptop – It’s Way More Useful

Ever wished you could use your Raspberry Pi 5, Android smartphone, or mini PC as a laptop? The CrowView Note, which hit Kickstarter last week, allows you to do precisely that.

From a cursory glance Elecrow’s CrowView Note looks a lot like a regular laptop. It has a 14.1-inch screen, a full-size keyboard, a touchpad, USB and HDMI ports along the sides and, while you can’t see it, a built-in battery too.

But it’s not a laptop.

There’s no computer inside; no CPU, RAM, storage, or anything else. It’s a portable monitor disguised as a laptop.

You supply the ‘brains’ by connecting a PC, laptop, smartphone, or single-board computer (SBC) using USB Type-C with DisplayPort or a HDMI cable.

The conceit should sound familiar to anyone who’s heard of the Nexdock, which launched crowdfunding campaigns in 2016 and 2019 – to much success.

Elecrow’s CrowView Note is the same deal, albeit cheaper (entry-level Nexdock is $299, CrowView Note is $129¹) and a conscious design consideration to provide cable-free connection of Raspberry Pi 5 and Jetson Nano SBCs using adapter boards.

And it’s arguably the SBC crowd that the CrowView Note will find its fans. Elecrow, who make this, have produced a number of Raspberry Pi add-ons and extras over the years, including a chunky laptop where the Pi goes inside the case!

Personally, I much prefer the approach taken here. The Pi 5 connects to an adapter board and that slots neatly into the side with ports aligned and power provided by the CrowView Note’s internal battery.

Not that you need to own a Raspberry Pi 5 to use this.

You can connect any device using HDMI or USB Type-C: a PC, a laptop, a tablet, a games console, a smartphone, Amazon Fire Stick, digital camera, Blu-Ray player, and so on. If your Android or Linux smartphone has a fully-featured USB Type-C ports and a ‘desktop’ mode…

You can connect multiple input sources at the same and switch between them by pressing a function key, which is neat.

“But what about the keyboard and touchpad? How do they work?” — well, for anything that isn’t a computer, they won’t.

If you connect your laptop, PC, or smartphone to the CrowView Note using USB-C (with video) all features will work on the host OS/device automatically – keyboard, touchpad, USB port pass-thru.

If you connect your computer using an HDMI cable you will need to also connect a USB-A to USB-A cable between both devices for the keyboard, touchpad, etc to function.

CrowView Note: In Use

Elecrow sent a bunch of press outlets early production units to test. I’ve been playing around mine over the weekend.

CrowView Note is kitted out with bright matte 14.1-inch IPS display (1920×1080) fixed on a 180 degree hinge so you can fold it flat.

There’s an 84-key keyboard (US layout). It’s pleasant enough for typing, and better than my cheap bluetooth one I normally use with my Pi.

The function keys (input switch, brightness, sound, OSD, next/prev, back) at the top of the keyboard affect the monitor, not the host OS. You still use the underlying F1-12 by toggling the FN button on/off.

While the touchpad (detected as a mouse in Ubuntu but still supports some gestures) is roomy and responsive it is plastic-y feeling (the entire device is).

The built-in 2W speakers are surprisingly adequate. Not hissy and not overly tinny – fine for YouTube and a few tunes while you work – just don’t expect Dolby quality!

Powering the CrowView Note is a built-in 5000 mAh battery which powers the screen, speakers, keyboard, etc but also devices connected over USB Type-C (5V).

Arguably, battery life will be the biggest drawback is this device.

The 5000 mAh battery in the CrowView Note 14 gives me around 3 hours of constant usage paired with Raspberry Pi 5 under normal load (a few tabs open, writing this blog post, streaming Spotify CLI).

However, given that the battery isn’t huge to start with, plus the fact it’s supplying power to both the Raspberry Pi, any peripherals connected, and the built-in screen, speakers, keyboard, etc., squeaking 3 hours seems decent!

Longer battery life would be killer but the question is: would anyone using this need it? Will people sit on their couch with, Pi dangling out (oo-er), for the duration of a 1990s Ninja Turtles movie marathon? To my mind, the versatility lends itself to specific, focused tasks anyway.

Press the battery key to show the battery level as an OSD.

As this costs from $169 — MSRP, it’s currently available for $129 — the build materials aren’t premium. The chassis is entirely plastic, and while it feels pleasant, it doesn’t feel robust. I wouldn’t throw this in my backpack without some protection.

Plastic material aside, it feels well made. Rigid, smooth, no bumps, no misaligned ports, no wonky key caps, etc.

This isn’t the kind of device everyone has need for. Those who have their Raspberry Pi in a case or integrated into a fixed workspace setup won’t find the “use your Pi anywhere” gambit as appealing, since wires will still be involved.

For me?

Before: Grab my Pi, power adapter, HDMI cable, keyboard, mouse, my portable monitor, its USB A to USB Type-C power cable, and stand, find a big enough surface near a power outlet, connect everything, and enjoy computing over a spaghetti heap.

Now: Grab my Pi, plug it it in to the side of the CrowView Note 14, power the device on, and et voila: a fully-functional, wire-free setup.

Plus, the fact I can use other devices with this, e.g., as a second monitor to my laptop or game on a larger screen than my Anbernic RG35xx H handheld has makes it especially novel. Nothing I couldn’t do with a regular monitor, but far less hassle.

Of course, this is not a mass-market device. It’s not going to appeal to TikTok teen or tech-baffled elders. It’s geeky. I don’t think the idea is to rock up at the local coffee shop with this and your Pi hanging out the side.

But I really like this. I coveted the Nexdock (and its follow ups) from last decade. But the price of those always put me off: it cost about as much as a cheap, no-frills Window laptop would.

This is cheaper – and feels it – but it’s at the kind of price point that’s not that far off a USB Type-C portable monitor (I paid $119 for my 15″ one a few years ago) but the built in battery, keyboard, mouse, make this more versatile.

I think I’ve overused that word in this post — apologies.

Should this prove popular — it hit its (admittedly low) crowdfunding goal in only 28 minutes — I’d love to see an improved version down the line. A bigger battery, a backlit keyboard, and a 360-degree hinge so the keyboard can face down (as a stand) for a pure ‘screen’ experience.

Want in?

You can buy the CrowView Note on KickStarter while the campaign is live (finishes end of August) from $129 (early bird tier which is still available as of writing). Further discounts are available if buying more than one.

The Raspberry Pi and Jetson Nano adapter boards do cost $5 extra on top, but are worth it.

1. Early bird pricing; will be $169 after the campaign ends – though given Elecrow always have sales, I’d be amazed if it ever cost more… ↩︎