It has two major downsides right now. There's no win32 support, so there's not much to run on the desktop, which MS is going to address by bringing x86 emulation to arm. Secondly, the hardware isn't quite powerful enough, which limits the max. resolution and the ability to multitask, which the new qualcomm 835 based phones with 4+ gb of ram should address.
It is impressive, but I haven't found a use for it. After all, when you have a laptop, why use it to run apps from your phone?
This is exactly why x86-emulation-on-ARM (http://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2016/11/x86-em...) is a very exciting project from Microsoft.
As mobile chips continue to improve, emulating x86 becomes a viable way of tapping into the huge Windows ecosystem of applications when not running on battery power.
I think this is Microsoft's last shot of becoming relevant in the mobile space.
You could combine it with something like a nexdock to also turn it into a laptop. Would be cheaper than getting a phone, and a desktop pc and a laptop, and it would avoid all those nasty issues with keeping devices in sync.
The qualcomm 820 already performed at core m levels, and the 835 is 25% faster, so it should be fine if paired with enough ram and storage.
The problem isn't power. Phones have been powerful enough for about 5 years (since around iPhone 4s, as a means of dating it).
Android was out at that point, but could barely do video out by blanking the phone screen. Forget about operating it via other means. And i don't think iPhone was doing much better.
One reason why i feel the focus on those platforms reset mobile device progress by a decade.
Speaking to retailers recently, demand is for office apps usable on touch. i.e. if it can possibly done without a keyboard, people will do that. From listening to users, they will moan and complain about touch "productivity" apps... but will choose it.
Personally, I switched entirely to a phone a year ago... though with a bluetooth keyboard.