Science

Asus unveils radical new laptop with TWO 4K screens that turns the touchpad into a second display


Asus unveils radical new laptop with TWO 4K screens that turns the touchpad into a second display

  • The ZenBook Pro Duo features a 14-inch 4K display and a 15-6.inch OLED screen
  • The secondary display can be used to draw doodles, manage apps and more
  • Asus hasn’t released pricing or availability but expects it to launch later this year 

Asus has added a new laptop to its lineup that puts a fresh spin on the dual-screen device trend. 

The ZenBook Pro Duo takes some inspiration from the Touch Bar on Apple’s MacBook Pro by putting a 14-inch 4K display just above the keyboard. 

While it’s certainly not a replacement for the main 15.6-inch display, the ‘ScreenPad’ is designed to accomplish quite a few tasks, serving as a toolbar to hold your app icons, a mini drawing tablet for quick doodles or a way to easily multitask between apps.  

Scroll down for video 

Asus revealed the ZenBook Pro Duo at the Computex tech conference in Taipei. 

The firm has yet to announce pricing or availability for the device, but said it expects to launch the ZenBook toward the end of this year. 

Even with the futuristic dual-screen design, the laptop has many familiar features that users need. 

There’s a keyboard below the ScreenPad, as well as a standard touchpad to the right of it that can transform into a number pad with just a few taps.

The webcam supports Windows Hello face recognition so that users can unlock their device by scanning their face, instead of entering a password. 

Early hands-on tests of the device have mentioned that the keyboard can feel a bit cramped, since it’s competing with a 14-inch secondary display above it. 

For similar reasons, several testers noted that the touchpad can be awkward to use because it’s crammed into the corner of the laptop.   

Asus has added a new laptop to its lineup that puts a fresh spin on the dual-screen device trend. The ZenBook Pro Duo a 14-inch 4K display just above the keyboard

Asus has added a new laptop to its lineup that puts a fresh spin on the dual-screen device trend. The ZenBook Pro Duo a 14-inch 4K display just above the keyboard

Asus debuted the ZenBook Pro Duo at the Computex conference in Taipei. The firm didn't announce pricing or availability, but said it expects to launch the device by the end of this year

Asus debuted the ZenBook Pro Duo at the Computex conference in Taipei. The firm didn’t announce pricing or availability, but said it expects to launch the device by the end of this year

That said, there are some compelling use cases for the ScreenPad.

Users can turn the display into a secondary screen for multi-tasking, running three different app windows at a time in the smaller display, so that users can, for example, keep chatting with their friends while running a video game full-screen on the main display. 

It can serve as a control panel for the computer, letting users close out of whatever windows or apps they have open all at once. 

Additionally, it can be used as an extension of the main display, so that whatever window you have open displays continuously into the secondary screen. 

Users can turn the display into a secondary screen for multi-tasking, running three different app windows at a time in the smaller display, so that users can, for example, keep chatting with their friends while running a video game full-screen on the main display

Users can turn the display into a secondary screen for multi-tasking, running three different app windows at a time in the smaller display, so that users can, for example, keep chatting with their friends while running a video game full-screen on the main display

As The Verge pointed out, this could make for a bit of a disorienting user experience. 

Despite this, the ZenBook Pro Duo is being released at a convenient time when many other gadgetmakers are experimenting with screen shapes and styles.

Earlier this month, Lenovo showed off an as-yet-unnamed laptop with a folding screen. 

It features a 13.3-inch all-screen display in the interior that can shift between ‘laptop mode,’ where half of the display turns into an on-screen keyboard, or ‘tablet mode,’ where it becomes a full-screen display. 

WHAT IS LENOVO’S FOLDABLE LAPTOP?

The Chinese tech giant is bringing bendy screen technology to a totally new gadget, releasing what it’s calling the ‘world’s first foldable PC.’

Laptops can already fold in half, but instead of a screen and a keyboard, the interior of Lenovo’s as-yet-unnamed PC features a 13.3-inch OLED display that, when unfolded, transforms the device into a sizable tablet.  

‘This is not a phone, tablet, or familiar hybrid; this is a full-fledged laptop with a foldable screen,’ the company said in a statement. 

The device is ideal for consumers who are on the go and want the benefit of a full-screen tablet, but with all the computing power of a standard laptop. 

When it’s in laptop mode, an on-screen keyboard appears to let you type emails, write documents and more. 

Users can also connect a Bluetooth keyboard to use with the device when it’s folded open, to make use of the screen’s maximum real estate.  

Similar to the Galaxy Fold, the laptop latches closed magnetically and has a small gap where the hinge is located. 

Users can fold it in half to read their favorite book in bed, unfold it and stand it up using the built-in kickstand to watch their favorite videos hands-free, or use it as a full-screen tablet to take notes during a meeting at the office. 

When folded in half, it becomes about the size of a large hardcover book. 

Lenovo says it’s pretty lightweight, too, weighing in under 2lbs.   



READ SOURCE

Leave a Reply

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this site, you accept our use of cookies.