Buzz
Unique and avant-garde design, but will it become familiar in the future?
1. This dual-screen laptop will revolutionize the computer market like never before.
Unique and avant-garde design, but will it become familiar in the future?
Laptop models have undergone an 'evolutionary' phase between 2012 and 2013 when Microsoft introduced the Windows 8 operating system with many new features (but also heavily criticized by users). This operating system paved the way for transforming laptops into tablets, blurring the boundaries between these two types of products.
And it seems like laptops are about to undergo another 'transformation' as Asus recently unveiled a line of laptops called Asus ZenBook Pro Duo, featuring a 15.6-inch OLED screen on top and an additional 14-inch 4K secondary screen just above the keyboard - a laptop with dual screens. The machine also boasts high-end specifications including the latest 9th generation Intel Core i7 or i9 chip, Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060 GPU, 32GB RAM, and 1TB internal storage.
This product was unveiled in May, but so far we still don't know the official release date and price. However, Asus is not the first company to experiment with laptops featuring multiple screens; other companies such as Intel, HP, Lenovo, and Razer have also showcased various concept models with different designs.
The system on the Asus ZenBook Pro Duo is called the ScreenPad Plus, with the secondary screen resembling an enlarged version of the TouchBar on Apple's MacBook Pro. This unique design initially raises doubts about the usefulness of the second screen.
However, the more I use the secondary screen of the ZenBook Pro Duo, the more 'reasonable' it becomes, and I wish all other laptops on the market had it. Unlike the Razer Project Linda, which requires a smartphone to be docked into the laptop shell to create dual screens, and the MacBook's TouchBar, the secondary screen of the ZenBook Pro Duo is much more practical.
There are several ways users can utilize the secondary screen of this laptop: use the second screen to run different apps alongside the main screen or turn it into an 'extension' for apps from the main screen. For me, the first usage method is much more practical; I can use the top screen for primary tasks while the secondary screen is handy for checking emails or chatting with colleagues.
Switching apps between the two screens is also very easy; users just need to click and drag them from top to bottom or vice versa, similar to moving regular windows. The secondary screen also comes with pre-installed app-splitting software so users can open 2 or 3 apps with equal-sized windows.
I've also tried using the secondary screen as an extension for the main screen, making apps longer and containing more information. This method works perfectly, but it seems less useful than the first method.
With its sturdy design, high-end specs, and equipped with two screens, the Asus Zenbook Pro Duo becomes the best desktop replacement laptop on the market today. Weighing 5.51 pounds, it's heavier than the MacBook Pro 15-inch or the Dell XPS 15 - both highly popular laptops nowadays but lack as many features as offered by Asus.
On the flip side, the machine's design also comes with a drawback that users have to accept. Due to the bottom part accommodating a screen, the keyboard of the Asus Zenbook Pro Duo has to be pushed downwards. During usage, I only place the machine on a desk so this isn't a big issue for me. But for those who often use laptops on their laps or on airplane trays, this design might necessitate a change in usage habits.
The Asus ZenBook Pro Duo is a product that demonstrates the determination to change and create new designs by manufacturers. Similar to Asus, Intel has also introduced a laptop with two screens called Honeycomb Glacier, which can 'lift' the main screen upwards. Or the Razer Project Valerie, unveiled in 2017, used a smartphone as a touchpad. Similar changes are also happening in the smartphone market, with Samsung and Huawei both launching foldable screen models.
It's still unclear whether dual-screen laptops like the Zenbook Pro Duo can win over users' affection, which largely depends on the price point set by the manufacturer. Users will also have to weigh whether the benefits of the second screen can 'compensate' for the extra cost compared to single-screen models. However, even if the Zenbook Pro Duo isn't successful, I firmly believe it will serve as a platform for the continued development of laptops in the future.
