Any thoughts on Microsoft's new dual screen devices?

[WelshBloke]

Specifically the Android powered Surface Duo.

Microsoft’s dual-screen phone will live or die by the apps

Will the past repeat itself?

www.theverge.com

I really want to like the form factor but theres a few things that put me off.
It looks awkward as hell to use in portrait if you are trying to use the keyboard.
How are the cameras going to work? Youd have to have it open to see the screen plus use the (presumably existing) rear camera.
Carry it folded with the screens outermost so you can see any notifications but risk smashing it or carry it closed and have to open it to see anything.

 

[Zaap]

So far dual screen and folding devices seem half-baked. I admire the attempts at innovation but personally have no desire to transform my halfassed phone into a half-assed tablet-sorta-thing.

Much rather use a well designed smartphone, and a good tablet (currently the iPad is only serious contender) for tablet stuff.

I haven't yet seen a killer use.demonstrated for any folding/dual screen/awkward devices.

Probably it's a bit too early to realize the potential, some quantum leap in flexible screen quality that isn't here yet.

 

[WelshBloke]

So far dual screen and folding devices seem half-baked. I admire the attempts at innovation but personally have no desire to transform my halfassed phone into a half-assed tablet-sorta-thing.

Much rather use a well designed smartphone, and a good tablet (currently the iPad is only serious contender) for tablet stuff.

I haven't yet seen a killer use.demonstrated for any folding/dual screen/awkward devices.

Probably it's a bit too early to realize the potential, some quantum leap in flexible screen quality that isn't here yet.

I'm ok with the two screens that Microsoft are using, it's just the more I think of it the more awkward the whole form factor seems. That said I'm not massive on tablets either.

 

[darkswordsman17]

I think they seem interesting but there's a lot of reasons I probably won't consider one. Microsoft's pricing, track record of supporting niche devices if they don't sell well, and by the time they're out we'll probably see similar products from others (already have really, none of which got anywhere so far), possibly someone figuring out a way to do a foldable phone where it converts into a full on tablet, although I actually like the dual screen setup, but I think its a little too limited on these devices. If it had a color e-ink display it'd be a lot more interesting. The Lenovo laptop that had I think like an OLED (or maybe just LCD) and e-ink for the 2nd display is interesting too, where one display for certain uses and the other for different ones. Or maybe one being a transparent OLED and they use it to do like hologram projection or something (really one just being transparent OLED would even have some uses.

Which the hardware itself is another aspect that will likely get me to pass. I am guessing it'll be ok in most respects but kinda meh (for instance on camera quality), which will exacerbate my "interesting but not enough to get me to buy" feeling.

This is a device that I think would benefit from pairing with other smart devices (watch, earphones) for notifications and things like that. Which if you have it out, I'd guess you'd have on screen facing down with the other up at an angle or possibly in tent mode.

Honestly, I just think this is too late. They should've done the Courier years ago. Without Apple making a similar device this will never take off either. And I'm not sure Apple has any interest in the foldable phones (I haven't heard about any, although I'm sure they've probably played with them some). Maybe that would change.

 

[Ravynmagi]

I love the idea of having a phone in my pocket that unfolds into a tablet. But foldable screens are definitely not ready for this task yet. And I think it’s smart that Microsoft is doing dual screens side by side instead for now.

The foldable screens are not very durable and only fold one direction. So on the Mate X you are stuck with the screens always facing out when closed and the Galaxy Fold always have the screens inside when closed (there is a weird extra small screen on the outside).

I love the flexibility of the Duo to be able to have it completely closed and screens protected, opened up like a tablet, or folded all the way around in a phone form factor with screens on both sides.

At first I wasn’t sure why there was only one camera until someone pointed out that you just flip the phone around to other screen as a view finder and take pictures that way. So the phone only needs one really good camera. Though the device is very thin so not sure how great of a camera they can put in there.

I think the device is just beautiful. The dual screens and hinge allow the device to fold flat, unlike the hinges on foldable displays. I wish the Surface Book folded like this.

Microsoft showed of some nice uses for the dual screens with their own apps. And they are presenting this device a year early to get other developers working on their own app designs to take advantage of the two screens. I love the idea of using one screen as controllers and extra info while the game plays on the top screen. And if you ever used your keyboard on your phone in landscape mode, you know what a joke that is, but with this device you can have a nice sized keyboard on one screen and having a full screen for your app. This would be great for my remote desktop app as well, having my remote computer on one screen and my keyboard and virtual mouse on the other screens. I can imagine quite a few scenarios this device would shine in.

I honestly didn’t even think about this when I first saw it, but people did complain about the bezels and now I do see it. But I’m not really too bothered. I understand there has to be some bezels because of the hinges and camera. Though it does seem there is a little room to trim the bezels down some. But sounds like the design probably isn’t changing much at this point. And it’s not an issue for me.

I’m really hoping the price isn’t too scary. And I don’t see why it should be. Definitely will be over $1,000 easily. But hopefully no where near the $2,000 Galaxy Fold price. It’s basically just a phone with an extra display, no complicated new screen tech or folding mechanism like the Fold and Mate X. I hope the price is around $1,200.

I love that Microsoft is working with Google and Samsung to integrate Windows and Android together. Excited to see where this leads.


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