Hey,
Not all “smart” tech makes life easier.
Some of it just adds more steps, more noise, and more decisions you didn’t ask for.
Inside:
a deep dive into a laptop idea that looked gimmicky… until it wasn’t
and a YouTube video that shows where Windows laptops are finally getting interesting and where they still fall short
Let’s dive in👇
😏 ASUS Zenbook Duo: This Looked Gimmicky Until I Used It
Most “weird” laptops fail for the same reason:
They try to solve a problem nobody actually has.
Extra screens usually mean:
more cables
more weight
more setup
more things to forget at home
So when I first saw the ASUS Zenbook Duo, my assumption was simple:
This is clever… but unnecessary.
Turns out, that assumption didn’t last very long.
Source: Tom’s Guide
🧩 What This Actually Is (Without the Spec Sheet)
At its core, the Zenbook Duo is a dual-screen laptop with a removable keyboard.
You can use it:
like a normal laptop
like a dual-monitor setup
in portrait mode
docked at a desk with the keyboard off to the side
The key difference is this:
👉 The second screen isn’t an accessory.
👉 It’s part of the computer.
Which means no cables.
No setup ritual.
💡 The Moment It Clicks
The first time this made sense wasn’t at a desk.
It was working remotely in a café, then later at the gym.
I took the keyboard off. Propped the laptop up.
Suddenly I had a second screen… everywhere.
Email on one screen.
Notes, timelines, or a browser on the other.
This isn’t a laptop trying to be flashy.
It’s a laptop trying to replace a portable monitor.
And it does it really well.
🔁 Why the Second Screen Actually Matters
If you’ve ever:
edited video or audio
worked with timelines
managed multiple windows
presented something to someone sitting across from you
You already know the value of extra screen space.
What surprised me is how natural this feels once you stop thinking of it as “two screens” and start thinking of it as one flexible workspace.
Rotate it, split it, use it vertically. Dock it at a desk and keep working while the keyboard sits somewhere else.
Source: Yahoo
🎧 The Stuff I Didn’t Expect to Be This Good
A few things genuinely caught me off guard:
The keyboard is actually nice to type on
The speakers are comparable to a MacBook Pro
Audio production handled real-world projects without breaking a sweat
Docked, it works brilliantly as a semi-desktop setup
This is one of those rare Windows laptops where nothing feels obviously compromised.
⚠️ The Honest Trade-Offs
This isn’t a perfect machine and it’s definitely not for everyone.
A few things to be aware of:
It’s heavier than a typical laptop
Battery life is good, but not Mac-level efficient
Using the trackpad with the keyboard off feels a bit odd
Writing on the top screen with a stylus causes some wobble
If you want the lightest possible travel laptop, this isn’t it.
🎯 Who This Is Actually For
This is a great laptop if you:
work with multiple windows all day
travel but still want a second screen
edit, produce, or manage complex workflows
already considered buying a portable monitor
It’s probably not for you if:
you value minimalism above all else
you want the lightest bag possible
one screen has always been enough
This isn’t a “best laptop for everyone.”
It’s a brilliant laptop for a very specific type of person.
What’s your current setup missing most?
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▶️ The MacBook Air’s First Real Competition?
In this episode, I spend real time with the ASUS Zenbook A14, powered by the Snapdragon X Elite chip and come away genuinely surprised.
Not just by the performance.
But by how MacBook-Air-adjacent the experience finally feels.
In the video, I cover:
what it’s actually like living with a Snapdragon laptop day to day
where Windows finally feels smooth and where it still doesn’t
battery life vs performance trade-offs
Mac vs Windows, without the tribal nonsense
whether this is a real alternative… or just another almost
If you’re curious about where Windows laptops are actually catching up and where Apple still has the edge — this one’s worth your time.