A laptop is, like cell phones and MP3 players, a pretty solitary device; you might show something on any of these things to your friends once in a while, but 99% of the time it's just you in front of it, or vice versa.

A Boston-based startup called Litl is releasing a laptop-like device called the Webbook that is, by virtue of its physical design, inherently more social. For starters, it's got a hinge that enables the keyboard to go all the way around, lending it the form factor of an easel.

With its screen exposed, the litl webbook is now ideal for passive or "lean back" web activity like enjoying photos, listening to music, or consuming news, weather, and other web content.

The litl was designed to enhance home web use, with a bright screen featuring a revolutionary 178-degree viewing "cone." Most traditional computers are designed for a single user, but the litl's unique screen technology allows a group of people to clearly view the screen at the same time.

The Webbook also has a scroll-wheel-type-thingy embedded in the hinge, so you can physically change internet "channels," but if you don't feel like using something as antiquated as a physical dial, there's a remote control as well.

Interestingly enough, the device is basically OS-free, at least from a user standpoint--there's no logging in, because the device is always on. There's no hard drive to crash. And it takes care of its own maintenance, downloading patches and implementing them automatically.

Learn more about the $699 device here.