Braz de Pina, a Principal Product Designer at Microsoft, has showcased a strikingly compact laptop concept that blends playful design with practical functionality. De Pina, who is known for creating imaginative hardware designs in his spare time, first shared the idea over a year ago through his personal website, Behance profile, and Instagram page. Despite being an older project, the design has recently attracted fresh attention from technology enthusiasts who may have missed it the first time around.
The concept, named the a_77, began as a simple 3D model of a small keyboard. Over time, De Pina expanded on the idea by adding a screen, ports, and other features, eventually shaping it into a fully realised laptop design. While the a_77 is not an official Microsoft product, its aesthetics and features draw inspiration from the company’s Surface line, offering a unique interpretation of what a future compact laptop could look like.
Distinctive features and a bold design approach
The keyboard is central to the a_77’s design. It features a 65 per cent layout with a row of function keys at the top, an oversized escape key, and a bright orange power button for added visual flair. A dedicated Copilot key is positioned next to the spacebar, a nod to De Pina’s work at Microsoft, while a ThinkPad-style pointing nub below the Enter key provides an additional way to control the cursor.
Speakers are integrated into the lower edge of the chassis to maximise space, while fan vents are strategically placed along the sides and back of the device. The laptop also features four USB-C ports, split evenly across its two edges, making it easy to connect accessories and charge the device without the need for bulky external chargers.
The display further sets the a_77 apart. Rather than sticking to traditional 16:9 or 3:2 aspect ratios, De Pina opted for a tall, touch-enabled screen reminiscent of an enlarged smartphone display. This unconventional format, combined with the laptop’s small size, makes the device feel approachable, portable, and ideal for on-the-go use.
A playful alternative to conventional laptops
The most distinctive feature of the a_77 is its bold and playful design language. The device swaps out traditional metallic finishes for a plastic build in vibrant colours, including yellow, blue, and white. The colourful casing, combined with its minimalist footprint, gives the device a character rarely seen in current laptop designs.
De Pina’s concept has captured attention for its originality and practicality, demonstrating that laptops can combine personality with functionality. While the a_77 remains purely a design project with no plans for commercial release, it offers a glimpse into how the next generation of laptops could evolve to strike a balance between style, portability, and performance.
