Microsoft Posts Surface Duo Briefing

Posted on August 14, 2020 by Paul Thurrott in Mobile, Android, Microsoft Surface with 21 Comments

Earlier this week, Microsoft invited select journalists, bloggers, and MVPs to attend a virtual briefing for Surface Duo. That briefing is now available on YouTube, and if you’re interested in the device, it’s worth watching.

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Comments (21)

21 responses to “Microsoft Posts Surface Duo Briefing”

  1. oscar999

    Dark clothes and sneakers. The Apple envy are strong in this one.

    2 years ago
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  2. SenorGravy

    Wow! This is the first in depth look at the device that I've seen and...it looks really compelling. Nice job, Microsoft! I actually want one now.

    2 years ago
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  3. steam960

    The presentation sold me for my company! I am just hoping that my favorite MS Store apps for Windows will still work on this device and that moving from the PC in my office to out the door on a Duo will work as well as moving my experience from Duo back to my PC apparently does. Another question is how long will the Duo be the only game in town; will HP or Samsung surpass Surface as far as slick hardware?

    2 years ago
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  4. Chris Blair

    It's a well-done video, especially because it was done live. As noted by others, Panos is a bit on the gushy side but believable. And the other members of the team do a great job. Back to the product, I'm pretty sure I won't buy one because of the price. But note I said pretty because I want to buy one and at least try it. There is value in a two-screen phone (or whatever they want to call it) that is the size of a normal phone. The glass screens should be more rugged than the plastic screens used on current generation foldables. And it should be more pocketable than a supersized phablet. So if it goes on sale later in the year ... we'll see.

    2 years ago
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  5. christianwilson

    I'm glad I watched that. I kind of get it now. I'm not sure I would want to replace my phone with this but I could see this form factor replacing a tablet in my life.


    I know Panos gets some criticism for his over enthusiasm but he came across very genuine here. He really believes in this thing. I like to see that enthusiasm because it means if they make another one, it's going to be even better.

    2 years ago
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  6. openmisere

    I get that it's expensive, and the lack of NFC is a pain, and the battery might be very underwhelming. BUT - I'd spend more than $1,500 on a good laptop, so why not on a good phone - or mobile device if you like? Hopefully it is good - it's certainly innovative. And there are already phones out there that are in this price range. My phone / mobile device goes everywhere with me, is a much more personal device, and one I rely on a hundred times a day - which is not the case with my laptop. My biggest concern is would the battery get me through an average usage day? Sure, I'd rather buy the 3rd gen of this device, but if no one buys the 1st gen, there will never be a 3rd gen.

    2 years ago
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  7. earlster

    After watching this, I will from now on only refer to him as Panos 'Pathos' Panay. This was a bit heavy on the emotion side for me.



    2 years ago
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  8. Vladimir Carli

    It’s an interesting device fo sure. I’d love to give it a try and it would even fit well in my workflow. But there are to giant problems: it’s a gen 1 product, god only knows how many issues it may have. Secondly, but aggravating the first problem, the cost is exorbitant. I don’t know how many people can justify the expense of 1500 dollars. Given the price is not for enthusiasts, given the gen 1 status is not for executives. The risk is that they will sell very few and it will die because it didn’t really have a chance

    2 years ago
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  9. ngc224

    Anyone else think of Panos as Offer Shlomi, “The ShamWow Guy”?


    “You following me, camera guy?”

    2 years ago
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  10. redstar92

    Liked the presentation. It felt real despite the gushing.

    2 years ago
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  11. cavalier_eternal

    Who decided to let Panos wing it for his parts? The other folks presenting were polished and solid which only makes Panos look even more like the amateur hour. This is just awkward.

    2 years ago
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    • openmisere

      In reply to cavalier_eternal: When I watched it, all I could think was that Panos' 'winging it' bits were totally planned and scripted and deliberate.


      2 years ago
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      • cavalier_eternal

        In reply to openmisere:

        If it's deliberate then that is even worse of a decision. I watched the first few minutes again and it feels like he is struggling without having a crowd to get any feedback from. For someone that is used to presenting to a crowd that is a totally understandable thing. Still think they could have polished it though.

        2 years ago
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    • murray judy

      In reply to cavalier_eternal:

      I had a different reaction. His presentation came across as sincere and honest with lots of passion for the device. I'd much rather watch this than a slick video.


      You also have to keep in mind that the target was a small group selected from the tech press, not the masses. He was trying to draw them in personally as partners.

      2 years ago
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      • Paul Thurrott

        It is fascinating how divisive this guy and is presentation style are. But "sincere and honest"? Wow. Please never believe that of any marketeer. He may or may not have something good to sell, but he absolutely only has a thing to sell. That's what this is: A sell job. Also understand that the target was NOT a small selected group. The target is you and everyone else: Microsoft was always going to release this video publicly.
        2 years ago
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        • cavalier_eternal

          In reply to paul-thurrott:

          Divisive is probably a bit strong. But really, what pitch person from a major company isn't? People either really dug or hated the way Steve Jobs presented same with Tim Cook, Larry Ellison, Mark Zuckerburg, dude from Amazon who's name escapes me at the moment. No reason to think Panos is going to be different. It's part and parcel of being the mouth piece of a big company.

          2 years ago
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          • Paul Thurrott

            Not at all. Some people LOVE the guy and his presentation style. Others are really put off by it. This is very different from Jobs, Cook, etc.
            2 years ago
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            • murray judy

              In reply to paul-thurrott:

              Guess I've always been proud to be in the "some people" category, lol.


              We both agree that Panos is a marketeer. I used to be one myself. We could argue about the "honest" characterization over a beer, but I think he sincerely believes that they have a device that offers higher productivity to a certain type of user. Perhaps this is just confirmation bias on his part or perhaps this "our brains work better with two screens" thing is real. I don't know about that, but do know that he has to position the Duo as "not a phone" in order to prevent tech influencers from just dismissing it as another phone without using it.

              2 years ago
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              • Paul Thurrott

                Tech influencers will dismiss it or not after using it either way. Saying it's not a phone doesn't make it true. Microsoft markets Surface Pro as a laptop today. That's absurd as well.
                2 years ago
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      • cavalier_eternal

        In reply to murray judy:

        Yep, totally different reactions for sure. I'd say at the point that you post it on YouTube you are going for more than a small group. This is a pitch to customers.

        2 years ago
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  12. dallasnorth40

    Holy Crap! They almost sold me on buying one of these.

    2 years ago
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