Lenovo Duet chromebook?

[TurboJobo]

I currently have an iPad mini 5th gen but lately I dont use it as much, I really do think its just a bigger iphone that cant do much more than my iphone and want to try out new things. I have never been a fan of android os but chrome looks like a great little windows xp wannabe, and now that it runs android apps should not be a problem. What do you guys think about me trading the ipad mini for a duet?

 

[sracer]

I currently have an iPad mini 5th gen but lately I dont use it as much, I really do think its just a bigger iphone that cant do much more than my iphone and want to try out new things. I have never been a fan of android os but chrome looks like a great little windows xp wannabe, and now that it runs android apps should not be a problem. What do you guys think about me trading the ipad mini for a duet?

I replaced my wife' iPad 6 with a Lenovo Duet Chromebook. It's a great little device, especially for the price, and is far more capable for productivity tasks than an iPad Pro. I have a Mini 5 + Apple Pencil and use a Google Pixelbook... which I will eventually replace both with a more powerful ChromeOS tablet.

If you're not a fan of Android and think that ChromeOS is a "little windows xp wannabe", I don't think that the Duet Chromebook would be a good fit for you. I think it would be better for you to hold on to the Mini 5 and get the Duet to try out, rather than trading the Mini 5 in for it...until you have some first-hand experience with a ChromeOS device and determine how well it suits your needs/wants.

 

[Hastings101]

I think it’s fine for a cheap 2-in-1 for media consumption. Nice features like full desktop chrome and can so a few Android exclusive things impossible on iOS like emulators or side loading apps. Bigger screen too to get away from the “just a big phone” experience.

If you don’t really need those things I don’t think there’s much point. The iPad Mini will be more powerful and have more apps.

 

[mi7chy]

It's a promising device that gives you a full desktop browser and Android app compatibility for ~$250. That said, Android user experience is about 90% of a dedicated Android tablet. I've removed the Google Play Store on my Lenovo Duet and just use it for the desktop browser but heavier sites like Reddit struggle and Facebook crashes (probably from out of memory) after scrolling back about two days worth of content. Personally, I'd pay more for a $500 Lenovo Yoga 6 convertible laptop that I'd be happier with. Or, if Lenovo can beef up the Duet 2 with something like AMD 4500U and 8GB for ~$350.

 

[sracer]

It's a promising device that gives you a full desktop browser and Android app compatibility for ~$250. That said, Android user experience is about 90% of a dedicated Android tablet. I've removed the Google Play Store on my Lenovo Duet and just use it for the desktop browser but heavier sites like Reddit struggle and Facebook crashes (probably from out of memory) after scrolling back about two days worth of content. Personally, I'd pay more for a $500 Lenovo Yoga 6 convertible laptop that I'd be happier with. Or, if Lenovo can beef up the Duet 2 with something like AMD 4500U and 8GB for ~$350.

I'm with you on that. If history is any indication we shouldn't be waiting for a Duet 2. Lenovo is notorious for producing "quirky" devices but never following them up with a 2nd gen. I had a Yoga Book (android) which was extremely nice, and that would've been PERFECT for a ChromeOS device... but Lenovo dropped it and never offered a proper 2nd gen.

 

[iluvmacs99]

This is a great discussion going on here about the Lenovo Duet, because I'm thinking of replacing my Windows 8.1 netbook with the Duet and pair it with my new iPhone SE 2020 when full travel returns.

What I need is like a long battery life, some media consumption with WIFI and productivity apps like Google Docs and Sheets when I need it and browsing sites like Facebook and Reddit with Chrome and a PDF reader and a Kindle app if that's available for the Duet? Also is it true the security update ends in June of 2028 for the Duet?

What sort of pitfalls should I be aware of with Chrome OS on the Duet as this is the first time I'm planning to own it. I'm already comfortable with Android OS as I run Bluestack on my Windows 10. The model of Duet I'm looking at is the 64Gb storage model. Basically I plan to replace both my 2nd gen Kindle Fire 7 and Windows 8.1 netbook with the Duet.

Thank you for your insights.

 

[sracer]

This is a great discussion going on here about the Lenovo Duet, because I'm thinking of replacing my Windows 8.1 netbook with the Duet and pair it with my new iPhone SE 2020 when full travel returns.

When you say "pair it", what specifically are you looking to do? Are you simply referring to owning an iPhone and the Duet, or something where you expect the devices to interact with each other?

What I need is like a long battery life, some media consumption with WIFI and productivity apps like Google Docs and Sheets when I need it and browsing sites like Facebook and Reddit with Chrome and a PDF reader and a Kindle app if that's available for the Duet? Also is it true the security update ends in June of 2028 for the Duet?

The Duet will definitely be able to do those things. There are PWAs (progressive web apps) and Chrome OS apps that provide those capabilities. Android apps are available as well for those use cases where it is helpful to have something locally installed or doesn't exist in a Chrome OS/PWA version.

Yes, June 2028 is the current end date for security updates. But that will most likely change in the future since Google is working to de-couple the Chrome browser in Chrome OS from the rest of the OS. The result will be a longer period of support.

Even if the date doesn't change, the Duet will continue to function safely after that date.

What sort of pitfalls should I be aware of with Chrome OS on the Duet as this is the first time I'm planning to own it. I'm already comfortable with Android OS as I run Bluestack on my Windows 10. The model of Duet I'm looking at is the 64Gb storage model. Basically I plan to replace both my 2nd gen Kindle Fire 7 and Windows 8.1 netbook with the Duet.

Thank you for your insights.

Since the Duet doesn't provide support for SD cards, I would strongly recommend getting the 128GB model. They are regularly on sale for only $30+ more than the 64GB model. And maybe, you may find the need to enable Linux support on it for true, full desktop-strength apps.

The Duet supports USI stylus, so you might consider budgeting for one.

You may find that you won't need as many apps as you had on other devices. Especially apps that simply present the website in a more suitable manner on a mobile device. For example, there really is no need to install the Facebook app when the website displays just fine on the device, has more functionality, and doesn't have any hidden processes running in the background.

Given your description of what you plan on using the Duet for, I think it'll be a great fit.

 

[iluvmacs99]

When you say "pair it", what specifically are you looking to do? Are you simply referring to owning an iPhone and the Duet, or something where you expect the devices to interact with each other?

Basically what I'm doing right now with my iPhone and my Windows 8.1 netbook is transfer files back and forth between the netbook and iPhone via a USB dongle such as iLeef. I do some work on the netbook and then transfer that work; be it in docs or spreadsheet to an iLeef USB flash drive dongle (which has a lighting port at the other end) and then using that as a bridge to transfer files into my iPhone when WIFI isn't available, which is mostly my case when I'm in the plane or on a boat. I see that the Duet has a USB-C port, which I assume can take a flash drive? I would just need a USB-C to USB A converter which is pretty easy to get. If there's WIFI, I would use FE File Explorer. I need the bigger screen to do some productivity stuff and simply use the phone as a means to share my work using LTE.

The Duet will definitely be able to do those things. There are PWAs (progressive web apps) and Chrome OS apps that provide those capabilities. Android apps are available as well for those use cases where it is helpful to have something locally installed or doesn't exist in a Chrome OS/PWA version.

How does Android apps interact with ChromeOS? Say when I launch an Android app like FE File Explorer so I can use WIFI to transfer files over to my iPhone, will it do exactly and behave like an Android tablet? And can you explain to me what is PWA? I'm not familiar with that term.

Other than that, you've explained well to me what the Duet can do. If the Duet's USB-C port can read from a USB flash drive, then I will probably stay with the 64Gb, but like you said, I might score a deal when it's on sale.

Thank you for your informative reply.

 

[sracer]

Basically what I'm doing right now with my iPhone and my Windows 8.1 netbook is transfer files back and forth between the netbook and iPhone via a USB dongle such as iLeef. I do some work on the netbook and then transfer that work; be it in docs or spreadsheet to an iLeef USB flash drive dongle (which has a lighting port at the other end) and then using that as a bridge to transfer files into my iPhone when WIFI isn't available, which is mostly my case when I'm in the plane or on a boat. I see that the Duet has a USB-C port, which I assume can take a flash drive? I would just need a USB-C to USB A converter which is pretty easy to get. If there's WIFI, I would use FE File Explorer. I need the bigger screen to do some productivity stuff and simply use the phone as a means to share my work using LTE.

Ah, I understand. Yes, those hybrid thumb drives will work. You'll find a great amount of freedom with regard to USB peripherals. Every USB attachment I've attached to a Chromebook has been supported. Game controllers, external microphones, cameras, even presentation remote controls, are supported and function as expected.

How does Android apps interact with ChromeOS? Say when I launch an Android app like FE File Explorer so I can use WIFI to transfer files over to my iPhone, will it do exactly and behave like an Android tablet? And can you explain to me what is PWA? I'm not familiar with that term.

Other than that, you've explained well to me what the Duet can do. If the Duet's USB-C port can read from a USB flash drive, then I will probably stay with the 64Gb, but like you said, I might score a deal when it's on sale.

Thank you for your informative reply.

PWA - Progressive Web Apps. In a nutshell, they're websites that use enhanced web browser functionality to provide a more app-like experience. Twitter and YouTube are some of the more popular sites that offer PWAs. When you visit sites that have PWAs, you might get offered the option to install the PWA. If you don't, the web page will be displayed in the browser window.

With regard to how Android interacts with Chrome OS, The Android filesystem on a Chromebook is a subset of the overall Chrome OS filesystem. So yes, Android file explorers will function on a chromebook in a near identical manner as in standalone Android tablets.

I'm happy to be of help. Please let us know when you get it.

 

[jaduff46]

Got my sister-in-law a Lenovo Flex 5 last September. Solid build quality, easy to use and she loves it.

 

[ozaz]

That said, Android user experience is about 90% of a dedicated Android tablet

Could you expand on this?

What do you miss out on when running Android apps on a Chrome OS tablet vs running them on a proper Android tablet?

 

[TurboJobo]

I totally forgot about this post. I tried the chromebooks and even though they were nice the lack of proper apps made the experience not so good. If you use a lot of google products it’s a nice os but i did miss the fluidity of ios. Just got the iPad mini 6 with lte and cant let it go. It has almost replace my phone lol. Having usb C and lte makes this a really capable lil machine plus it flies with the A15.