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Comment by mumblemumble | Hacker News Reader

Every time I revisit the device, I'm just disappointed all over again that it doesn't run Windows 10.

This seems like the device that might have justified Windows 8's ill-fated attempt to unify the mobile and desktop operating systems. I see it, and what I want it to be is a dual-function device that works like a tablet when I'm on the train or whatever, but switches into a more PC-style interface when I plug in a monitor and/or connect a keyboard. When I see those dual screens, my mind immediately wants to stick an emacs window or tmux pane on each one, a bluetooth keyboard just below, and still have plenty of space for a notebook and a beverage, all within a cramped coffee shop table.

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So much this. If it ran Windows 10, I'd not only own it, I'd be excited to own it. There's just nothing exciting about anything iOS or Android is doing. They're just phones.

What's frustrating is that Microsoft is in this incredibly deep rut with their OS team and haven't been able to dig themselves out. Each successive alternative flavor of 10 has failed to launch for years, including this month's death of 10X.

As much as I'd love a Duo running Windows 10, if it had waited for a Windows OS to run on it, it never would've launched at all.

It's odd that they haven't tried shipping a RedHat/Ubuntu derivative instead then.

I mean, the issue is that their own previous attempt, Windows Mobile, was a high quality, competent OS platform. And it's largest issue was that you couldn't get Google apps on it because Google's a monopolist. Pushing a different OS that doesn't have Google app support doesn't really move the needle.

Considering Microsoft's OS has it's own (much larger) app ecosystem this seems like a pretty strange complaint.

If I understand correctly, they are referring to Windows Phone 7/8/10 which had a store and some apps, but things like Gmail and YouTube were actively blocked but Google to make life difficult for Microsoft and the consumers choosing Windows Phone. Simular things happened with Snapchat and Instagram. No first party support, and third party apps for blocked from their APIs.

Windows Mobile was kind of before the time of Google / Android apps. Neither WM or WP could run Win32 apps though, so ultimately the software ecosystem was very limited.

death of 10X, leadership would like us to believe was more so because of COVID and their concern around less consumer confidence during a pandemic. Obviously, that didn't really happen since prices are through the roof for cars, houses, gpu, gaming consoles etc.

> Obviously, that didn't really happen since prices are through the roof for cars, houses, gpu, gaming consoles etc.

Which can be indicative of supply crunch, rather than high demand.

demand being higher than expected is what causes supply crunch.

Most management people I knew were very pessimistic right around when lockdowns started in March.

The picture in the article reminds me of the GPD Win 2, which has physical buttons and runs Windows 10. The Win 2 doesn't really give the impression of a laptop or a mobile phone, more like a portable game console that runs PC software. Maybe there are some form factors in between laptops and phones/tablets that are worth exploring further.

It would be nice if the GPD hardware had better dockability. All the available docks are 3D printed by enthusiasts.

Also, the GPD has made me realize that I don't really want a tablet-style input device for ultraportable use. Having the physical knobs and buttons works better if the environment is that of a desktop PC. Remember that weird trend that started in the 2010's where every laptop manufacturer felt the need to make their screens into touchscreens? There were plenty of people I saw who would switch between the touchscreen and mouse awkwardly, as if the touchscreen was beckoning them but they realized five seconds later that navigating Windows with touch regions that small was too cumbersome to bother with. And yet the cycle kept repeating, because the touchscreen wasn't going away.

switching between a touchscreen and mouse is no more awkward than switching between a keyboard and mouse, imo

Have you seen the Surface Neo? It's a larger version of the Duo that runs Windows 10(X). Although 10X is canceled for now and development is paused on the Neo.

I would absolutely buy a device like this that ran Windows 10 and could dock, providing an experience like an evolution of the "Continuum" feature seen in Windows 10 Mobile.

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