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Microsoft announces new Surface Duo phone

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Re: Microsoft announces new Surface Duo phone

#101

Post by GordonS »

BOBOTWINSTON wrote: post #74
pier25 wrote: post #47

Personally I don't see the attractive in dual screen devices unless we reach Westworld-like devices that are super thin and can go from phone to large tablet that can potentially replace a laptop. Otherwise it's just a thick phone that converts to 2 phones... In case anyone hasn't seen Westworld: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q3dD7jOLaes

I'm excited for two reasons. I find the ability to completely "close" my phone really appealing. It feels easier to ignore it, and the screens feel more protected to me. I can also only describe the second benefit as "its like two monitors". I can watch TV on one and respond to messages/browse on another. I use a Note8+ already, so big screens for watching crap are already my preference though.

Clamshell phones let you close your phone completely, and have been around for a long time. Actually, are they still a thing?

Re: Microsoft announces new Surface Duo phone

#102

Post by leetcrew »

GordonS wrote: post #101
BOBOTWINSTON wrote: post #74

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm excited for two reasons. I find the ability to completely "close" my phone really appealing. It feels easier to ignore it, and the screens feel more protected to me. I can also only describe the second benefit as "its like two monitors". I can watch TV on one and respond to messages/browse on another. I use a Note8+ already, so big screens for watching crap are already my preference though.

Clamshell phones let you close your phone completely, and have been around for a long time. Actually, are they still a thing?

last mainstream device i can recall in this form factor was the droid 2? I think it's been a while since a major one was released, but I could be wrong.

Re: Microsoft announces new Surface Duo phone

#103

Post by hn_throwaway_99 »

mwsfc wrote: post #77

Between this and the Samsung Fold it feels like we have entered into the netbook (form factor) era* void. We're past peak smartphone development and are in this space where manufacturers are stumbling around for the next "it" device but creating nothing that is truly revolutionary. Yes, there are "some" use cases where a larger screen on my mobile device would be useful…. But by-and-large I still want it to fit in my…

> Netbooks were low-powered mobile devices (basically mini laptops) that launched in 2007 and basically disappeared (as a viable market category) after the iPad and its kind were launched in 2010.

Chromebooks are very much alive and well.

Re: Microsoft announces new Surface Duo phone

#104

Post by ijidak »

chooseaname wrote: post #82
bhauer wrote: post #6

I'm going to pick one up regardless, but if they can bring Windows 10 X to this device, and provide a docking experience that expands to approximate a full PC, the result would be fantastic.

This is still my holy grail of computing device. I want a portable device (phone) that gives me a phone style interface when portable, but when docked, a desktop-like experience. Yes, there have been efforts, but I want this to be mainstream and well thought out.

Agree! Will somebody please make this!

I want to simply have a keyboard and screen that "looks like a laptop" but the brains is actually in the phone in my pocket!

And then when I have a proper dock, I just get a larger monitor(s) and larger desktop keyboard.

But the brains are still in the phone!

The key benefit (of the dumb laptop, especially) is I still want a laptop on the go, but..

1. Why manage data flow across two separate devices. My phone becomes truth, always.

2. My phone already has always-on data. Why worry about data for two devices. (To 4/5-g subscriptions, etc.) Searching for wi-fi.

3. Better power consumption for my "dumb laptop" device. (Less processing power in the laptop, hopefully space for a bigger battery)

I would buy this in a heartbeat!

Re: Microsoft announces new Surface Duo phone

#105

Post by maxwell »

mwsfc wrote: post #77

Between this and the Samsung Fold it feels like we have entered into the netbook (form factor) era* void. We're past peak smartphone development and are in this space where manufacturers are stumbling around for the next "it" device but creating nothing that is truly revolutionary. Yes, there are "some" use cases where a larger screen on my mobile device would be useful…. But by-and-large I still want it to fit in my…

> Yes, there are "some" use cases where a larger screen on my mobile device would be useful…. But by-and-large I still want it to fit in my pocket and be comfortable navigating single handedly . Adding dual screen & doubling the device thickness is not the solution I am looking for.

I'm still waiting for a phone on which I can comfortably edit, build, and deploy code.

Re: Microsoft announces new Surface Duo phone

#106

Post by WorldMaker »

MBCook wrote: post #5
imagetic wrote: post #3

DOA

Why? If it’s running Android how is it any worse than the other folding screen Android phones? It’s not like they’re trying their own OS again.

The opposite question applies: With so many other manufacturers building folding screen or multi-screen Android phones between now and Holiday 2020, how is Microsoft's any better?

It's not like there is a lack of competitors in the Android manufacturer game.

Maybe its not necessarily "dead on arrival", but at least from what has been announced so far, it doesn't yet sound competitive in what is already a terribly (and ugly) competitive hardware market. At least if Microsoft were trying their own OS again, they'd have a better statement of why they were building the hardware. Meanwhile, doesn't the market already have enough Android phones?

Re: Microsoft announces new Surface Duo phone

#107

Post by tga »

chooseaname wrote: post #82
bhauer wrote: post #6

I'm going to pick one up regardless, but if they can bring Windows 10 X to this device, and provide a docking experience that expands to approximate a full PC, the result would be fantastic.

This is still my holy grail of computing device. I want a portable device (phone) that gives me a phone style interface when portable, but when docked, a desktop-like experience. Yes, there have been efforts, but I want this to be mainstream and well thought out.

Samsung DeX is currently the most popular (only?) implementation of that, and it's decent in my opinion -- especially if what you really need is a desktop-sized browser.

https://www.samsung.com/global/galaxy/apps/samsung-dex/

Re: Microsoft announces new Surface Duo phone

#108

Post by jetrink »

hn_throwaway_99 wrote: post #103
mwsfc wrote: post #77

Between this and the Samsung Fold it feels like we have entered into the netbook (form factor) era* void. We're past peak smartphone development and are in this space where manufacturers are stumbling around for the next "it" device but creating nothing that is truly revolutionary. Yes, there are "some" use cases where a larger screen on my mobile device would be useful…. But by-and-large I still want it to fit in my…

> Netbooks were low-powered mobile devices (basically mini laptops) that launched in 2007 and basically disappeared (as a viable market category) after the iPad and its kind were launched in 2010. Chromebooks are very much alive and well.

You're not wrong, by most definitions of netbook, but I think the parent commenter makes a very good point if you look at them in terms of their form factor. Netbooks of that era were these weird little machines with 8.9" screens and 70% scale keyboards. I remember carrying mine in a coat pocket. It was really exciting at the time to see Windows XP running on something like that. In the end, it was a bad compromise and those have disappeared. The netbooks of today are, for the most part, full size laptops.

Re: Microsoft announces new Surface Duo phone

#110

Post by sp332 »

mwsfc wrote: post #77

Between this and the Samsung Fold it feels like we have entered into the netbook (form factor) era* void. We're past peak smartphone development and are in this space where manufacturers are stumbling around for the next "it" device but creating nothing that is truly revolutionary. Yes, there are "some" use cases where a larger screen on my mobile device would be useful…. But by-and-large I still want it to fit in my…

It shouldn't double the device thickness. You can have normal cellphone thickness on one side and just enough for a display on the other.
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