Some swear by it: working with two screens. Even more, if possible: typing on one screen, surfing the Internet on another, and possibly a few more for music or live images from the International Space Station. Especially in the stereotypical image of programmers or stock traders, such a mission control-like computer station is worthwhile, because one screen simply does not provide enough space for all the information that has to be constantly stitched together.
The Gadgetdesk knows it: with articles or transcripts of interviews on a separate screen, writing an article on the other is considerably easier. That works fine on a desk, but with the laptop on the train, in a library or café – forget it. Laptops have one screen, it’s that simple.
Well, not in the case of the Zenbook Duo from Asus. The keyboard of this laptop is removable, revealing a full-fledged second screen. On the back of the device is a ‘kickstand’, a fold-out stand that raises the entire laptop upright. You then place the keyboard in front of this and voilà: two screens to stretch out digitally.
The Zenbook Duo is not the first laptop of its kind, but it is one of the better ones. It is a powerful device that can handle light games, for example. The two screens in question are OLED, which guarantees crystal clear quality and vivid colors. There are also two touchscreens, which can be controlled with your fingers or the supplied stylus. In addition, the Zenbook Duo has one USB port and several for USB-C, allowing users to connect almost any keyboard, mouse, controller or external hard drive.
There are also disadvantages, especially the price: € 2099. Not everyone will want to cough up that amount to enrich a makeshift workplace in a hotel or café with an extra laptop screen. Moreover, the Zenbook Duo is a heavy, thick laptop: when folded, the thing looks most like a bulky laptop from the noughties.
That detracts from the portability of this laptop. The Zenbook Duo may therefore seem to fit best in a minimalist home workplace. The power of the device is certainly on par with an average desktop computer and, when push comes to shove, fits better in a computer bag.
