Neat form factor, but no stylus support when you fold it down with a screen out? Students would love that. I'm pretty dubious of the longevity of such a complex looking mechanical hinge though.
On MacOS, you can install whatever you want. On iPadOS, Apple's the rentier middleman with the App Store.
If the iPad could run MacOS, I'd search for a lightweight stand (like Roost or Nexstand K1), and use my own keyboard. Closer to ultralight computing. For a 2nd monitor, I'd use another iPad with Sidecar.
I bought it mainly out of curiosity (and I needed a newer laptop) and am now having fun trying to configure Linux on it. Got Ubuntu running well on it, but KDE doesn't seem to have any touchscreen calibration tools, so for the moment, I'm ignoring them and just using a trackball instead.
It came with Windows 11 on it, but I half expected it to have some custom software to use one screen as a touch keyboard, but it was just the standard Microsoft software. I considered dual booting it, but there's really only one or two things that I ever use Windows for (e.g. CheckPoint firewall configuration).
Edit: Forgot to mention that there's an issue with the Bluetooth keyboards if you want to use full Luks encryption with Linux - you really need a USB keyboard (I've also set a power on password which also requires a USB keyboard).
From my limited tinkering with the touchscreens, they both present as ID_MODEL_ID=abcd and ID_VENDOR_ID=1234.
Yeah, I got it with the (Bluetooth) keyboard stand but without the stylus as I never use one (I've got a collection of about 5 unused styluses from other devices). I'm still in the process of setting it up, but I'm pleased with the performance for web browsing (I got the 32GB ram with 2TB disk model) and the build quality is great. Delivery was surprisingly quick - 5 days after ordering to the UK.
Just weighed it and the laptop itself is 1.2kg and the optional keyboard/stand is 0.53kg. So, heavier than a similar size single screen laptop, but not excessive.
You may want to talk to who-t or others if you have an interest in touchscreen calibration tools, or possibly try kde under x11: https://who-t.blogspot.com/2024/06/?m=0
Thanks - I'll see if I can find some tips there. Currently, I've got the screens rotated correctly (for me - both landscape) and the bottom screen recognises touches but in the wrong place and orientation. The standard KDE touchscreen and touchpad controls don't recognise that there's any device attached.
"But if you know AceMagic, it's probably because of their Mini PCs—or because of the malware that was discovered inside of some of its Mini PCs (AceMagic has responded to this)."
Oh good grief. This is exactly the type of thing that fuels my desire to never buy any of these unknown brands. Confirmation bias or whatever you want to call it, but all of these fly by night brands you find online like Amazon just have my spidey senses tingling every time I see them. Especially with their suspiciously low prices, I'm always wondering how they'll have me paying for it in the long run.
Looks like impossible to use it with just the one screen, as you are then looking at the back of the display. Don't think this is gonna be a great success. The other 'folding'/double display laptops seem to have a more practical layout.
I've also seen external (touch) monitors that come attached with a hinge to fit on normal laptop for similar effect. It seems very attractive but so far been a bit sceptic about the real-life experience to try one out.
This would be really nice if you put them both in portrait orientation. The only time I want landscape is when I am watching video content, and I don't need a keyboard for that.
I've been rocking an Asus zenbook duo(first gen from like 2020) for a few years now. Well... Since 2020. It has to be said, in the case of the zenbook, there's a lot of compromise in terms of user experience. The small screen is useful on the go but I do use a desktop computer 95% of the time. I'm ignoring the fact that the linux drivers are a bit of a pain in the ass. The bigger problem is the fact that although you gain some additional screen area, the keyboard is a bit awkward but nowhere nearly as awkward as the trackpad. It is practically unusable so you need to carry around a mouse with you.
Setting those things aside, I have mixed feelings about adding more hinges to laptops. In my experience the hinges have always been the Achilles' heel of laptops. Also any additional screen adds up a fair bit of weight which seems trivial until you end up stranded on an airport for 20 hours and have to figure out how to take a nap on the bench while your stuff is secure(looking at my dumb younger self who decided to buy a 17 inch Sony laptop at the end of my first year in university). And the extra screen means your battery life will suffer. I mean yeah, I have 4 monitors on my workstation and when it comes to work, they actually make sense: one for a terminal and logging, one for actual code, one for documentation and one to manage chats and music. But when it comes to laptops... I'm not so sure anymore.
> I'm ignoring the fact that the linux drivers are a bit of a pain in the ass.
I find it reassuring to know said drivers exist at all. I have a Duo, and at some point in the future want to sack off Windows, I've not got around to checking Duo compatibility with Linux.
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[1] neither my desktop nor "spare laptop that goes out with me where it might get (more) damaged so I don't want to take the good one" are going to see an upgrade to Win11 (the Duo came with 11 and couldn't switch).
Well I'm the one that patched the driver for the bottom display brightness control for kernel >= 5.8. There's a good community around these laptops so long term suffering is pretty unlikely :P
with folding screens now possible, my fantasy device is a transformers-ish laptop that has a large height, where the laptop screen and keyboard folds into thirds so it's closer to a cube/rectangular prism than a flat square plate.
It's clever, but the ergonomics seem bad. Laptop screens are already vertically too low, requiring you to awkwardly tilt your head down. With this, you have to also turn your head pretty far to the side. Hello neck pain.
If you use this, you should set the laptop up on a stand or at least an adjustable height desk and use an external keyboard. With two screens it's not very mobile already so no sense using the built in kb too much
If it's only useful when docked, then just using an external monitor seems better. Yes, you have to buy the external monitor, but presumably this dual-screen laptop costs more than a normal laptop too.
Not really my cup of tea, would prefer the GPD Duo when it launches.
https://gpd.hk/gpdduotechspecs
That's a proper workstation, only thing I don't know is if the sdcard slot is fully recessed.
Nice to have the second screen as an input monitor as well.
Feels like if you want (need?) dual screens you've transcended the laptop and would be better served with a docking/desktop setup. I struggle to think of situations where I need the extra real estate (and have the space & power) that's not one of 2 fixed locations.
I have two PackedPixels and when I was still running around with a 14" laptop , it was great to have a little extra screen real estate without needing a backpack large enough to house a 16" laptop. Which is what I use now. With much regret I sold my ThinkPad 25 because the hardware is no longer adequate and I am using the ThinkPad X1 Gen 4 for the time being, I will upgrade next year again. Luckily the Greenroom136 Rainmaker M can house the X1E4 if barely while still being personal item sized.
This seems to be designed for left-handed people. To use this like a desktop you need enough space on the left of the laptop for the second screen and enough on the right for your mouse. Something like this with the second screen on the right would provide more utility in cramped spaces (for the majority).
It "makes more sense" to use a tablet as a second display when you need it. You just have to set up a headless display and use moonlight/sunshine. But then again, I couldn't tell you how to set up a headless display in Windows, in X11 it's 3 commands to set up and 2 to toggle on/off.
Indeed, I use my android tablet as a second screen for a Windows laptop and love it. No idea about headless displays though, I found the app superDisplay so just connect via usb cable and it all works like magic.
I've actually got a little clip thing that attaches the tablet to the side of my laptop screen so I can dual screen easier. Setup also works for watching Netflix on a tablet while using the laptop on a bed or couch... Only downside is the tablet pulls charge from the laptop so you get less battery life especially if the tablet isn't fully charged to start.
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[ 3.1 ms ] story [ 108 ms ] threadHere's the official page: https://acemagic.com/products/acemagic-360-horizontal-dual-s.... Video demos some neat screen-mirroring to both sides when folded all the way back, so two people can talk face to face but both see what's on the screen.
Apple could put MacOS on the same hardware and sell it as a new product, if their goal was to make money.
Kind of niche devices both though, and expensive.
If the iPad could run MacOS, I'd search for a lightweight stand (like Roost or Nexstand K1), and use my own keyboard. Closer to ultralight computing. For a 2nd monitor, I'd use another iPad with Sidecar.
I bought it mainly out of curiosity (and I needed a newer laptop) and am now having fun trying to configure Linux on it. Got Ubuntu running well on it, but KDE doesn't seem to have any touchscreen calibration tools, so for the moment, I'm ignoring them and just using a trackball instead.
It came with Windows 11 on it, but I half expected it to have some custom software to use one screen as a touch keyboard, but it was just the standard Microsoft software. I considered dual booting it, but there's really only one or two things that I ever use Windows for (e.g. CheckPoint firewall configuration).
Edit: Forgot to mention that there's an issue with the Bluetooth keyboards if you want to use full Luks encryption with Linux - you really need a USB keyboard (I've also set a power on password which also requires a USB keyboard).
From my limited tinkering with the touchscreens, they both present as ID_MODEL_ID=abcd and ID_VENDOR_ID=1234.
Oh good grief. This is exactly the type of thing that fuels my desire to never buy any of these unknown brands. Confirmation bias or whatever you want to call it, but all of these fly by night brands you find online like Amazon just have my spidey senses tingling every time I see them. Especially with their suspiciously low prices, I'm always wondering how they'll have me paying for it in the long run.
I suppose you'd have to make sure it was turned off to not be broadcasting your screen to the world.
- Just look at the back of my laptop instead of the projection/TV.
- You want to see more? Sure, let me tilt it. Now I see less. Perfection!
Personally, I havent understood this design and think it may be better to reuse an old tablet if one really needs a second screen.
Setting those things aside, I have mixed feelings about adding more hinges to laptops. In my experience the hinges have always been the Achilles' heel of laptops. Also any additional screen adds up a fair bit of weight which seems trivial until you end up stranded on an airport for 20 hours and have to figure out how to take a nap on the bench while your stuff is secure(looking at my dumb younger self who decided to buy a 17 inch Sony laptop at the end of my first year in university). And the extra screen means your battery life will suffer. I mean yeah, I have 4 monitors on my workstation and when it comes to work, they actually make sense: one for a terminal and logging, one for actual code, one for documentation and one to manage chats and music. But when it comes to laptops... I'm not so sure anymore.
I find it reassuring to know said drivers exist at all. I have a Duo, and at some point in the future want to sack off Windows, I've not got around to checking Duo compatibility with Linux.
----
[1] neither my desktop nor "spare laptop that goes out with me where it might get (more) damaged so I don't want to take the good one" are going to see an upgrade to Win11 (the Duo came with 11 and couldn't switch).
https://www.razer.com/concepts/project-valerie
Nice to have the second screen as an input monitor as well.
I've actually got a little clip thing that attaches the tablet to the side of my laptop screen so I can dual screen easier. Setup also works for watching Netflix on a tablet while using the laptop on a bed or couch... Only downside is the tablet pulls charge from the laptop so you get less battery life especially if the tablet isn't fully charged to start.
Laptops are pretty set in stone. Call me a fanboy but if Apple or Dell didn’t try it 20 years ago, it probably wasnt a good idea.
I’d rather broaden my choices to all the single screen laptops and just get one of those portable monitors.