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For people saying dual screen is a gimmick, have you not wanted to replicate multi-screen setup on your laptop (while traveling or when not on your desktop)? Po
by asenna 7y ago
For people saying dual screen is a gimmick, have you not wanted to replicate multi-screen setup on your laptop (while traveling or when not on your desktop)? Power users have always wanted more screen real estate!
I've been eyeing the Asus Zenbook Pro Duo[1] ever since they've been announced (currently using a Macbook Pro 2015). I usually carry around an Asus portable second screen for my laptop in my backpack and this dual screen laptop trend is exactly what I wanted! I'm definitely upgrading to a dual screen option next.
Although I have no hope from Apple, I'm still waiting to see what the next MBP iteration would be. All they need to do is stretch that stupid touchbar enough to be a respectable second screen.
[1] - https://www.asus.com/Laptops/ZenBook-Pro-Duo-UX581GV/ https://www.asus.com/Laptops/ZenBook-Pro-Duo-UX581GV/
- swiley 7y agoIt might be useful if there was a decent mobile OS that ran on it and also had an overlapping window manager. Honestly the OS is way more interesting than the hardware.
- 52-6F-62 7y agoI'm a pretty dedicated mac user but that machine has me intrigued. Still, I did laugh at some of the marketing: "Celestial Blue futuristic sense" edit: But why did they have to include Alexa. Dammit.
- GordonS 7y agoI've been scratching my head trying to think how this could be used; I guess as a folding monitor makes some sense - but I wonder how big that market would be?
- georgeecollins 7y agoI don't understand how anyone could think dual screen is a gimmick that had a DS. There were a lot of games that put those two screens to good use. I am serious.
- cameronbrown 7y agoI know it's not the same thing, but damn the Nintendo DS sold me on multi screen games. Wish there were more.
- thedaemon 7y agoIt could have done the same with 1 larger screen. But the DS is a foldable device. It's not a gimmick, it's part of the operation of the device. I use dual screens at work, because they are smaller lower resolution screens. At home I have 1 huge high resolution screen. Not having a physical separation is amazing.
- rbanffy 7y agoAngular size is key. When I'm on my desk I have multiple screens that cover about twice as much as my laptop when I'm working away from my desk. Since the screen is closer, I can increase it's density and then I have almost as much real estate as on my desk. Not sold on this reasoning.
- hug 7y agoAttaching a second monitor doesn't suddenly make your main display useless. One of the things I completely fail to understand is why most people I work with close their laptop displays when docked to secondary monitors. I have a 34" 3440x1440 ultrawide monitor at home on my desk, and I use that plus my Macbook's display. At work, I use 24x 24" 1440p monitors, and I use thoes plus my Surface Pro's 12" display. When I'm out and about, on my Macbook or on my Surface, I definitely miss the extended displays. A lot.
- jon-wood 7y agoI’m trying to work out whether that 24x monitors is a typo, and if not what you’d use them all for. I’m a huge proponent of multiple displays but anytime I use more than three the mental overhead of trying to remember which display something is on (or even finding something for every display) becomes to much.
- ken 7y ago> Although I have no hope from Apple, I'm still waiting to see what the next MBP iteration would be. You can use an iPad as a second screen for a MacBook. It still gives you a traditional keyboard and single screen when you don’t need that, and you can use just the second screen as a computing device on its own. I haven’t used this setup but I assume Apple would say this is the best of both worlds already. Is there something that you think is missing from their solution?
- reaperducer 7y agoI've done this with third-party solutions, and it's fantastic, especially when traveling. I'm really looking forward to having it as part of the next OS update.
- asenna 7y agoOne of the reasons I'm excited about a built-in second screen is, I don't need to carry another extra device. I mean even if I need to use an ipad, I'm currently slouching on my couch. I need a flat surface to keep that ipad/screen at the right angle. Sounds petty but it's just very convenient to have more real estate on your lap (or on a flight or cafe table). Also, I'm not too into the Apple ecosystem and don't own an ipad so would have to get an ipad just to use it as a second screen. I think it could work for some but an integrate dual screen solution is exciting.
- mandeepj 7y ago> https://www.asus.com/Laptops/ZenBook-Pro-Duo-UX581GV/ https://www.asus.com/Laptops/ZenBook-Pro-Duo-UX581GV/ Apple touch bar, done right :-)
- asenna 7y agoYes! Which is why I'm still wishing someone at Apple wakes up from their busy schedule of making the "Pro" laptops thinner and instead add in some actual pro stuff!
- deleted 7y ago[deleted]
- dmitrygr 7y agothat looked great, until i saw the reviews like "2 hours of battery life" and "This laptop cannot be charged via USB-C. It requires the included 230W power adapter." this is not a laptop. this is a portable desktop
- mandeepj 7y agoI'm sure that can be improved in future iterations. It's a much-needed innovation in the stagnant laptop market.
- dmix 7y agoI'm happy to see that Asus managed to find a way to keep the Escape key even while taking up way more space than Touchbar. Apple has no excuse. Still I'd personally rather use efficient tiling software + tabbing between spaces than have to look down at distractions. I'm amazed no major OS developer has tried to deliver this as an advanced mode. It's the type of thing that would benefit from direct OS integration. Most of the MacOS tiling software have occasional awkward moments with Spaces and fullscreen mode.
- augustl 7y agoI've never been more happy with a desktop environment than when I used i3. The sloppy window management in macOS combined with the scarce selection of laptops (of which none are really good in my opinion) has led me to try win10 as my development environment. i3-like on Windows would have been great!
- pitaj 7y agoYou may want to check out FancyZones https://github.com/microsoft/PowerToys/blob/master/src/modules/fancyzones/README.md https://github.com/microsoft/PowerToys/blob/master/src/modul...
- keymon-o 7y agoNot a full feature i3-like software, but I was amazed how it implements almost all features I like about i3. https://www.workspacer.org/ https://www.workspacer.org/ It was mentioned in a FancyZones thread a few months ago.
- hoistbypetard 7y agoThank you for pointing that out. I have to use Windows 10 often enough to wish for something like that, and had been looking, but FancyZones was the closest I'd found yet.
- TeMPOraL 7y ago
- scarface74 7y agoThere have been USB powered portable monitors for years that would let you get a dual screen experience. With iOS 13, there is built in support for using an iPad ($329 10.2inch screen) as a second display.
- mav3rick 7y agoReally ? So lugging a USB monitor vs having on a device. Which one would most users prefer ? Don't say "oh the external can be of higher res". Portability is a big win.
- scarface74 7y agoHow much lighter is a second screen attach to the device than an iPad - which weighs 1.07 pounds or the iPad Mini that weighs 2/3s of a pound?
- mav3rick 7y agoAre you adding the weight of the bag you now need to carry for the screen ? Or will you lug it in hand with a USB cable ?
- scarface74 7y agoDo you usually carry a laptop without a bag? How do you carry your laptop cord now? How snug is your laptop bag that you can’t put an iPad in it? Also, the iPad connects to your Macbook using WiFi. If you have an iPhone, you probably are already carrying a lightning cord - the same one that the non-pro iPads use.
- mav3rick 7y agoWhy stop at the 2nd screen ? Why don't you carry your processor, cables and monitors together everywhere.
- 7y ago
- rifung 7y ago> For people saying dual screen is a gimmick, have you not wanted to replicate multi-screen setup on your laptop (while traveling or when not on your desktop)? Power users have always wanted more screen real estate! Can't say I have multi-screen.. but I have wanted more screen real estate. One thing I think could happen is to make laptops that let you fold the screen out, thus letting you have a larger screen while still maintaining a small physical footprint.
- shriek 7y agoHonestly, I'm actually looking forward to VR headset just for this. If I can get rid of my multi-monitors with just 1 headset then not only will it be more portable but also give me more real estate. Of course, the compromise in picture quality is still a deal breaker for me.
- deleted 7y ago[deleted]
- mixmastamyk 7y agoHmm, at that point might as well just remove the keyboard and use an external when you really need one.
- chrischen 7y agoIPad OS 13 and the next MacOS support Sidecar, which lets you use an iPad as a second monitor.
- stephenr 7y agoComparing a screen in front of the keyboard at a weird angle to the main screen to “multiple monitors” when “on the road” is like suggesting McDonald’s to a home cooked meal “when on the road”.
- asenna 7y agoThe comparison is between a laptop having just the one screen VS a laptop with another screen squeezed in irrespective of the angle. As long as I can have my terminal down there or my Lightroom film strip or a Youtube podcast open, that's a lot better experience than just one screen. Yes, it's a compromise from an actual desktop environment, but still a huge step up from not having any extra screen.
- stephenr 7y agoportable displays are a thing that exists, and don’t force you to strain your neck or eyes to be useful.
- asenna 7y agoYes, and I carry one around in my backpack all the time. But it's not convenient in many situations. As I posted elsewhere: > One of the reasons I'm excited about a built-in second screen is, I don't need to carry another extra device (second screen or iPad). I mean even if I need to use an ipad, I'm currently slouching on my couch. I need a flat surface to keep that ipad/screen at the right angle. Sounds petty but it's just very convenient to have more real estate on your lap (or on a flight or cafe table).
- buboard 7y agoI haven’t used multiple screens in years. They tire me and dizzy. Ultrawides ftw
- ct0 7y agoonce you have an ultrawide setup, dual screens seem inferior
- Stevvo 7y agoWith the Zenbook, if the increased productivity let's you get more work done, it might pay for itself quickly.
- agumonkey 7y agoThe only issue I have with folder / dual screen, is that it's not .. ultra ergonomic on the go. Unless you're really not moving or near stationary.
- zx2c4 7y ago> have you not wanted to replicate multi-screen setup on your laptop (while traveling or when not on your desktop)? P Remember the Thinkpad W701ds? With its retractable second screen, this was a thing of beauty: https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_fill,f_auto,fl_progressive,g_center,h_675,pg_1,q_80,w_1200/18moyjw4sse9njpg.jpg https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_fill,f_a... https://i.ytimg.com/vi/msJwcKy4PQQ/maxresdefault.jpg https://i.ytimg.com/vi/msJwcKy4PQQ/maxresdefault.jpg https://static.bhphoto.com/images/images1000x1000/1276679060_703333.jpg https://static.bhphoto.com/images/images1000x1000/1276679060... https://live.staticflickr.com/1707/24571574422_aeeb09181f_b.jpg https://live.staticflickr.com/1707/24571574422_aeeb09181f_b....
- deleted 7y ago[deleted]
- skrebbel 7y agoWow, that looks extremely cool. I wonder if it's a problem that there's no natural palm rest while typing though.
- asenna 7y agoThey have a palm rest that comes with the laptop as seen in some of the pictures: https://au.pcmag.com/laptops/62235/hands-on-the-twin-screen-asus-zenbook-pro-duo-is-a-laptop-from-the-2020s https://au.pcmag.com/laptops/62235/hands-on-the-twin-screen-... Not ideal, but it's something.
- OkGoDoIt 7y agoI use Duet for my iPad to get a 2nd screen for my laptop. It’s not perfect but it works. If I used a Mac I’d be excited to try the new “sidecar” second screen function Apple just unveiled. But of course it doesn’t work with a PC. Anyway this setup gives me the best of both worlds. I get a nice trackpoint and keyboard, one really good display at all times, and a second display when I really need it. My iPad is thin and lightweight enough that I always have it with me in my laptop bag anyway. Only downside is Duet Display can be a bit resource intensive.
- NikolaNovak 7y ago- You'll take my dual and triple monitor setup from my home office and work-office over my cold dead body - But... on the go? Yes, I want the biggest possible screen, but also the best possible keyboard+trackpoint. So the new Surface Neo feels less than ideal. I am open to possibility that a breakthrough in UI will make this attractive, and/or that brand-new, unimagined-today use-cases will come up; but today, I don't see how / for what I'd use dual screen with soft keyboard: 1. When I'm consuming media, portability is key AND I can only really focus on one screen (book, show) at the time 2. When I'm creating, I need a fast, comfortable, efficient method of inputing data. Today it's keyboard+trackpoint (when on the go), and I cannot imagine a useful way to type on dual screen that doesn't also make one of the screens pointless. So for me, today, transformable tablets (with hardware detachable keyboard, the way Asus Transformer used to be) is the sweet spot. But I'm eager to be proven wrong over the course of time. I fear this may be a Catch-22 device, if insufficient software/use-cases are available by the time hardware comes out, and it just fizzles out... Conversely, what Asus is doing where I can have my cake and eat it too (second screen AND hardware keyboard, though it doesn't look great and no trackpoint), feels like the way to go / immediately useful / good transition device.
- devicetray0 7y agoI worked in tech consulting, and my colleague actually had a very thin ~23" (IIRC) portable LCD screen he somehow carried with him on planes. It had a foldable kickstand so he could set up a dual-screen on any hotseat desk in seconds. It was brilliant, and I briefly considered the same, but my backpack was already heavy enough. I've heard of folks doing this with the MBP + a iPad Pro, but idk how well that works.
- mthoms 7y agoIt works very, very well with the "duet" app. Duet supports Windows/Mac along with any recent iPad (or even iPhone). The upcoming version of MacOS supports this natively but it's not clear to me yet how it will compare with Duet.
- 7y ago
- powersnail 7y agoAlways wanted to have a relatively light-weight dual screen laptop. Asus Zenbook Pro Duo is too over-powered with that GPU and large body. I want something light and preferably fanless. However, while the Surface is certainly light-weight enough, it is too small when you type on the keyboard. Being just barely larger than a large phone is insufficient, in terms of both screen space and keyboard space. I can't type on so small a keyboard without giving myself wrist pain. It just doesn't seem like a serious laptop replacement.
- puranjay 7y agoMultiple windows is crucial for my work, but every time I've used them, I've also had access to a standard sized keyboard. I can't imagine doing a lot of things without a keyboard that require multiple screens
- knoke 7y agoI started seeing the TB as a missed opportunity for a second screen but with the Golden Chaos touchbar replacement (a preset for Better Touch Tools) I see it as my computer's Apple Watch The touchbar is totally under-utilized by Apple. Golden Chaos demonstrates that it just needs a new and appropriate sign language and immediately gets much more useful. With Golden Chaos I use my touchbar to see my current email count, whats playing plus media controls, calender, time, weather, battery – and if I press a modifier key a whole universe of shortcuts opens up. My only addition - and the most heavily used function - is a button to push my current window to the other monitor. So my touchbar effectively is my tool to utilize my second screen more easily.