[thfuran]

>I'd rather have something in between a laptop and a smartphone that is designed to be comfortable for carrying around in a small bag or pocket, but that also has a physical keyboard and is designed to be used productively for programming or writing for example.

Something like what? A small laptop is little more than a display attached to a thin keyboard. I'm not sure how you'd get something much smaller while retaining a physical keyboard and still being reasonably useable for programming.

[safety1st]

This happened by lucky accident: I bought a 10" Galaxy Tab, a case for it, and a bluetooth keyboard all at different times. All exactly the same size.

The case has a front cover that opens like a book and converts into a stand. There is a weak magnet embedded inside the case so that when you close it, it sticks.

It turns out the bluetooth keyboard will also stick to this magnet! So I just stick it on there when I go out, and carry them around like they're a single unit. When I want to type something I pull it off, convert the tablet case into a stand and have a very serviceable laptop-like experience. Now if only it was running a proper Linux distro instead of Android...

[poglet]

It looks like palmtop or haldheld pc's are the formfactor that is being described.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HP_300LX

[fsflover]

Librem 5 phone runs desktop Linux, and you can connect any bluetooth or usb keyboard to it thus turning it into a laptop for programming.

[brewdad]

But you’re still stuck lugging around a keyboard on the go. I guess I don’t see the appeal. If you are in the office just use a real laptop.

[fsflover]

First, bluetooth keyboards can be portable. Or, you can use a Nexdoc. Second, you can have a single device instead of a phone and a laptop/desktop.

[thfuran]

A low res five inch screen is about as suitable for work as a crt is for travel.