Although this is not a table-based solution, it is a quick proof of concept that I hacked with jQuery to check if I can use the column-based accordion effect. Maybe this can give you inspiration ...
<html>
<head>
<script type="text/javascript" src="jquery.js"></script>
<script type="text/javascript">
$(document).ready(function() {
$("#table > div:even").addClass("row");
$("#table > div:odd").addClass("altrow");
$("#table > div > div").addClass("normal");
$("div[class*='col']").hover(
function () {
var myclass = $(this).attr("class");
$("div[class*='col']").css("width","20px");
$("div[class*='"+myclass+"']").css("width","80px").css("overflow","auto");
},
function () {
$("div[class*='col']").css("width","40px").css("overflow","hidden");
}
)
});
</script>
<style type="text/css">
.row{
background-color: #eee;
float:left;
}
.altrow{
background-color: #fff;
float:left;
}
.normal{
width: 40px;
overflow: hidden;
float:left;
padding :3px;
text-align:center;
}
</style>
</head>
<body>
<div id="table">
<div>
<div class="col1">Column1</div>
<div class="col2">Column2</div>
<div class="col3">Column3</div>
</div>
<br style="clear:both" />
<div>
<div class="col1">Column1</div>
<div class="col2">Column2</div>
<div class="col3">Column3</div>
</div>
<br style="clear:both" />
<div>
<div class="col1">Column1</div>
<div class="col2">Column2</div>
<div class="col3">Column3</div>
</div>
</div>
</body>
</html>