Duex arrives, the first secondary screen for laptops
If you are used to working with a double screen at your desk, we do not need to tell you how comfortable it is. Having two screens allows you to have more data in view and gain productivity, since you spend less time switching between tabs or windows when performing your daily tasks.
The problem arises when trying to do the same with your laptop. And it is that unless you are lucky enough to have an additional monitor where you work, generally you will not be able to enjoy these advantages. At least, until now. And thanks to Duo, the invention of Mobile Pixels, it has never been so easy to have a second screen on your laptop. A screen that you can use comfortably and take it wherever you want, without being a bother.
the duex project
In order to solve this problem, the American company Mobile Pixels launched the Duo project, later renamed Duex. The main idea was to create an additional screen for the laptop that we could take anywhere and that would be comfortably attached to the surface of the computer, thus eliminating complicated supports.
With this idea, this company launched itself to several incubators of new projects such as Indie Go Go or Kickstarter, which soon showed the approval of the general public regarding the project. As much as to accumulate financing of around two million dollars, compared to the 700,000 dollars that the company had set as the maximum objective necessary for development.
Her CARACTERISTICS
Taking a look at the technical characteristics of the device and its appearance, we could say that we are talking, more or less, of a “super vitaminized” tablet lacking in additional functions. Something that can be seen with the naked eye, since this device has a screen size of 12.5 inches, so seeing everything clearly is easier. You won’t have to strain your eyes trying to see the secondary screen.
But in addition to its size, the image quality generated by this screen is also up to par. Specifically, this screen has Full HD 1080P resolution, so if your laptop’s screen has this same resolution, you won’t have any problems seeing everything clearly while using the device.
Finally, and regarding its connectivity, the product includes a USB port for its connection. This makes the product compatible with all types of laptops from any manufacturer, without the need for external power or additional cables to obtain either the power or the output connection necessary to work. A connectivity that makes both the installation and the synchronization with the laptop extremely simple. Additionally, the product includes a Type-C to Type-A cable adapter, so you don’t have to worry about compatibility with different equipment.
A comfortable and easy to place screen
Another strong point of this product, beyond its features, is how easy it is to place the screen in the position that suits us best. To achieve this, the product is accompanied by a special support that is fixed to the lid of our laptop and that allows the second screen to be placed comfortably and safely.
The installation process has been designed to maintain the safety and stability of the product, using adhesives with magnetic properties that will hold the screen. This screen is mounted on a mobile frame, so once it is placed on the cover, we only have to pull it to place it on the side of our screen and start enjoying the advantages it offers us.
As if this were not enough, this second screen can also be placed in the so-called presentation mode. Thus, it is enough to turn it over to place it visibly on the lid. An operating mode that turns a laptop into a point of sale computer or that can be useful for making all kinds of presentations, to name a few functions. So the versatility of this product is more than demonstrated.
Price and availability
At this point you may be wondering how you can get hold of this device. In this regard, we have to give you some bad news and some good news. The bad news is that despite the large amount of money that the product has raised, it has not yet reached the market. This arrival was scheduled for last summer but it has been delayed. The good news is that at the time of writing this article, at the beginning of March, the company was already starting to ship the product, so it will be available to the general public in a short time.
Regarding its price, according to the manufacturer’s website, it is around 245 dollars for the conventional model, which increases to 288 dollars if we want to include a desktop support. A price equivalent to about 220 and 260 euros respectively, depending on the version you want to buy.
the alternative
It is possible that after knowing the price of this device your desire to get one of them has dissipated. If this is your case, there is a somewhat cheaper and simpler alternative, for which you will only need a tablet and a suitable application such as Air Screen Portable Display, although there are many others.
This application is responsible for properly managing the signal that goes to the tablet from the main unit, so that you can configure its output in the way that suits you best. In fact, you can configure whether you want to place it to the left or the right of your main monitor, as well as other interesting details to personalize the experience. Something that can be very interesting to try if you are really interested in spending your money on this invention or not.