Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Microsoft has turned the Surface Duo into a handheld Xbox

theverge.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

21–30 of 144 posts

Re: Microsoft has turned the Surface Duo into a handheld Xbox

#21

Post by al2o3cr »

neogodless wrote: post #9

What's pretty clear is that the small form-factor multi-screen device needs a compelling story to establish value and utility. The Surface Duo looks like a very cool device that I would probably never use over a phone with one good screen, more power and a great camera. Similar to tablets, I personally just reach for the phone or the laptop or my TV, and never a tablet. But a Duo released with some more power and som…

This seems to be the ongoing story with Windows Phone / Surface: interesting and well-made hardware, let down by mediocre software and UX.

Re: Microsoft has turned the Surface Duo into a handheld Xbox

#22

Post by slezyr »

whazor wrote: post #19

Get a Razer Kishi or Backbone (seems better for iPhone) for your current phone. Much better experience as you have actual buttons.

Or just use your XBox GamePad with the phone clip

https://cdn-reichelt.de/bilder/web/xxl_ws/E910/8BIT_XB-CLIP_...

Re: Microsoft has turned the Surface Duo into a handheld Xbox

#24

Post by neogodless »

al2o3cr wrote: post #21
neogodless wrote: post #9

What's pretty clear is that the small form-factor multi-screen device needs a compelling story to establish value and utility. The Surface Duo looks like a very cool device that I would probably never use over a phone with one good screen, more power and a great camera. Similar to tablets, I personally just reach for the phone or the laptop or my TV, and never a tablet. But a Duo released with some more power and som…

This seems to be the ongoing story with Windows Phone / Surface: interesting and well-made hardware, let down by mediocre software and UX.

I'll disagree with UX on the Windows Phone. I miss it to this day.

The problem was 100% insufficient ecosystem support. Friends having social apps I simply couldn't get my hands on (and third-party apps that worked great getting blocked by official sources.) And bank apps that required Android/iOS - the convenience of mobile check deposit can't be overstated in the U.S.!

The Surface UX (Windows 10) has improved massively since Windows RT / Windows 8. So I don't think that's to blame, either. But software/ecosystem is everything. And it's what Windows 10 excels at, but every locked-down Windows has failed at.

Re: Microsoft has turned the Surface Duo into a handheld Xbox

#25

Post by mumblemumble »

neogodless wrote: post #9

What's pretty clear is that the small form-factor multi-screen device needs a compelling story to establish value and utility. The Surface Duo looks like a very cool device that I would probably never use over a phone with one good screen, more power and a great camera. Similar to tablets, I personally just reach for the phone or the laptop or my TV, and never a tablet. But a Duo released with some more power and som…

Every time I revisit the device, I'm just disappointed all over again that it doesn't run Windows 10.

This seems like the device that might have justified Windows 8's ill-fated attempt to unify the mobile and desktop operating systems. I see it, and what I want it to be is a dual-function device that works like a tablet when I'm on the train or whatever, but switches into a more PC-style interface when I plug in a monitor and/or connect a keyboard. When I see those dual screens, my mind immediately wants to stick an emacs window or tmux pane on each one, a bluetooth keyboard just below, and still have plenty of space for a notebook and a beverage, all within a cramped coffee shop table.

Re: Microsoft has turned the Surface Duo into a handheld Xbox

#26

Post by neogodless »

LegitShady wrote: post #20
neogodless wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There's something like that called the Aya Neo[0]. It runs Windows. It runs emulators. It's reasonably powerful and compact. And it has hardware buttons. It's also a bit pricey if you think of it as a portable game device, and it also probably falls down a bit on battery life comparisons. Would you want a gaming Surface to have two screens and touchscreen buttons, or hardware (perhaps as a Surface keyboard-like magne…

It's too much money, so it doesn't matter. They've priced themselves out of relevance.

For most people and use cases, I agree. If you get it as a combo tablet/gaming/tiny laptop, it's not a bad price. The OS allows you to do all those things, and the screen is acceptable for some of them.

But personally, yeah, I want a 15"+ screen for laptop usage, and I don't really have interest in a tablet, so there's not enough value here for the money.

Re: Microsoft has turned the Surface Duo into a handheld Xbox

#29

Post by johnvaluk »

neogodless wrote: post #24
al2o3cr wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This seems to be the ongoing story with Windows Phone / Surface: interesting and well-made hardware, let down by mediocre software and UX.

I'll disagree with UX on the Windows Phone. I miss it to this day. The problem was 100% insufficient ecosystem support. Friends having social apps I simply couldn't get my hands on (and third-party apps that worked great getting blocked by official sources.) And bank apps that required Android/iOS - the convenience of mobile check deposit can't be overstated in the U.S.! The Surface UX (Windows 10) has improved massi…

I wish Microsoft had continued to develop Windows Phone as an alternative to Windows, instead of trying to incorporate some features into Windows as Metro, which met with inevitable backlash. I would have loved to see it evolve into a tablet/touchscreen laptop platform on its own merits.
Post reply on HN