![]() ![]() This feature is genius-level multi-tasking that I wish other device manufacturers would adopt. For example, If you flick your finger to extend Outlook across both of the Duo’s displays, it will show you your inbox on the left while allowing you to read one selected email on the right. Fortunately, Microsoft has optimized its own Android apps, like Outlook, OneDrive, and OneNote. Remember that not every Android app will take advantage of dual screens. OneNote is optimized for use with a stylus. I’ve used Microsoft OneNote, part of the Office Suite, for keeping track of everyday goings. It’s a pocket-sized device with about the dimensions of a classic Moleskine notebook. The Duo makes a superior digital notepad partly because it’s so handy. For example, I can browse the web, and while reading an article, I can take notes on items of interest - ditto for times when I’m reading emails and there’s something I don’t want to forget. The double screens are also great for taking notes. Instead of hauling out a bigger machine, I can slip the Duo out of my pocket and take down my thoughts. The smaller screen makes it very handy to jot notes that I might have on the go. In practice, it turns out that taking notes is a far better experience on the Duo than on a full-sized tablet or laptop. It works out of the box with Microsoft’s ubiquitous Surface stylus, one of which I happened to have around for use with my full-sized Surface Pro 7. The best use I found for the Duo is taking notes. I didn’t do formal tests, but I’d estimate I get four to six hours of light web browsing and email before a low battery indication. And unfortunately, battery life is lacking on this gadget. The Duo is so thin at 4.8 millimeters that it’s hard to imagine where Microsoft squeezed in a battery. It still works fine, but I should have installed the included rubber bumpers that detract from the sleek look but hopefully offer a little more protection. Within hours of unboxing the gadget, I dropped it on the floor, and the glass casing cracked. One problem with all that glass, though, is that the Duo is more fragile than I expected. The exterior is made of white painted glass with a matte white frame that pairs nicely with the stainless-steel double-barrel hinge and Microsoft logo. The Duo has two separate, conventional 5.6-inch Gorilla Glass-enclosed AMOLED panels that are bright and colorful. I’m a big fan of the Microsoft hardware design aesthetic, and I was delighted to find that the Duo looks like a mini version of my Surface Pro. The 360-degree hinge is perfectly balanced and will keep the Duo open at any angle you choose. In your hand, it’s a slim and light device with a glass front and back. The design and ergonomics of the Duo are stunning and hard to capture in pictures. I rediscovered how nice it is to see two pages at a time, and it’s replaced my dedicated Kindle device. Thanks to the app’s support of dual displays, it feels like reading more like reading a physical book than any other electronic device I’ve tried. My favorite use for the Duo is reading books on Amazon’s Kindle app. That’s a considerable savings over the approximately $1,500 price when the Duo was first released. I picked up a brand new first-generation model recently on Amazon for about $300. One huge point in the first-generation Duo model’s favor is the price. For entertainment, it’s fun to watch a YouTube video on one screen while browsing eBay auctions on the other. Or, I can research an article with Chrome in the left-hand tab while taking notes in Word on the right-hand screen. While I’m working, for example, I can have Slack running on one screen and email on the other. It’s easy to launch two applications simultaneously on the Duo. Why I’m still using the Galaxy Z Fold 3 instead of 2022’s best flagships I used the ROG Phone 6’s two wild gaming accessories - here’s which you should buy I’m worried about the red iPhone 15 Pro, and you should be too ![]()
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