Can the Samsung DeX replace your PC? We put it to the test
- < Prev
-
Page 1 of 2 - What you need for a full fledged Dex experience
Page 1 of 2
- Next >
What you need for a full fledged Dex experience
The quest for an all-in-one device
Much of our personal technology has converged into today’s powerful smartphones. From simple calling and texting to streaming movies and making payments, the neat little gizmo in our pockets can do everything we throw at it.
Well, almost everything.
Traditional PCs are still more suited for many tasks, thanks to two important usability reasons: the time-tested keyboard-and-mouse combo, and a much bigger screen.
After all, working on a tiny screen and typing on a tiny software keyboard all day sounds like an ergonomic nightmare.
Smartphone makers have tried to bridge this gap over the years. One of the first attempts was the Motorola Atrix, a smartphone-laptop hybrid which launched to much fanfare in 2011 only to fizzle out into oblivion.
More recently, Microsoft took a stab at the concept with Windows Continuum, which did a reasonably good job at turning Windows Phones into pseudo-PCs by blowing up apps and other UI elements on to the big screen. This manifested in several devices, most notably in Microsoft’s own Lumia 950 and 950 XL, as well as HP’s Elite X3. All of them struggled to gain traction because, well, they run on the app-poor Windows Phone platform.
The buzz hit a new high earlier this year at the 2018 Consumer Electronics Show, where Razer showed off a “lapdock” prototype named Project Linda that’s powered by its Razer Phone.
Enter Samsung.
The Korean chaebol launched its flagship smartphones last year with the Samsung DeX, a docking station that transforms compatible phones into a pseudo-PC, complete with a familiar desktop UI.
Has it succeeded where previous attempts have failed?
To find out, I decided to try going some time using nothing but my Galaxy Note 8 and the DeX. To be specific, I was looking for answers to two main questions:
- Can my Galaxy Note 8 with a Samsung DeX really take over all my personal computing needs?
- If not, what else is it good for?
Here’s what I found.
First, the hardware
The DeX looks like it could pass off as any number of small, round gizmos when you first take it out of the box. A Bluetooth speaker comes to mind, or maybe one of those stones used for curling (which is a totally legitimate winter Olympic sport, in case you were wondering).
Gently push the top part down a little, and a neat little backrest slides up to cradle your phone, complete with a USB-C port underneath for charging and data transfer. There’s even a fan behind the backrest to keep your phone cool, which is useful when you have to charge your device and use the device simultaneously.
You’ll find more connectivity options round the back of the DeX, including an HDMI port, two USB 2.0 ports, and an Ethernet port. That’s not counting a USB Type-C port for drawing power.
Overall, it’s a decent-looking, inoffensive gadget that should look fine on most desks.
That said, there’s one major issue with the DeX: it doesn’t have an audio jack.
This isn’t one of those save-the-audio-jack sentimental complaints. Your Samsung phone’s audio jack and speaker is blocked by the DeX after docking, which means you only have two options for proper audio output when your phone is docked: one, hook up a Bluetooth-connected headphone or speaker, or two, make sure you use a monitor that offers audio output (assuming you plugged it to the HDMI output on the Dex).
This brings me to my next point…
Be prepared to spend on peripherals
This should go without saying, but it will still come as a shock if you’re not paying attention: getting the DeX to work properly may be more expensive than you expect.
To have a comfortable and productive experience with the DeX, you won’t want to skimp on peripherals. Otherwise, what’s the point?
The cost of putting together a set-up that consists of an above-average display, a keyboard, and a mouse can quickly add up. The first item in this list alone could easily set you back a couple of hundred bucks, even more if you fancy one of those touch-enabled monitors because hey, it’s Android after all. Perhaps fortunately, there’s no need to shell out for a 4K monitor, because the DeX support resolutions of only up to 1080p at this point.
And in case you were wondering: no, your Samsung phone can’t double up as a trackpad or virtual keyboard. Unlike Windows Continuum or Razer’s even conceptual prototype, the phone is pretty much a brick once docked. It’d be nice to have a clock or notification panel showing as a secondary display on the phone, but you’ll have to settle for a glossy black mirror.
Your keyboard and mouse should ideally be wirelessly connected via Bluetooth, or you’ll find yourself running out of USB ports very quickly
These USB ports are important if you don’t subscribe to expansive cloud storage services like Google Drive. You’ll want to tote around a decently-sized flash drive if you plan to work on the same files across the DeX and your PC at home or work. Note that full external hard drives won’t work, and it’s probably because they can’t draw enough power from the DeX to spin up their disks.
Don’t have any keyboards, mice, or flash drives lying around? Great, more stuff to buy.
Even if you’re a geek like me, who has spare monitors, keyboards, and mice collecting dust in my storeroom, you still have that audio issue I mentioned earlier.
So, you’ll either have to upgrade your external display to one with built-in speakers or one with an audio jack to plug in external speakers. Or, shell out even more money for Bluetooth-enabled speakers.
Oh, and make sure those speakers come with mics too, because smartphones are phones too. And you might run into the occasional conference call in your work.
Still keeping tab? Because we’re not done.
For the DeX to truly replace your PC, you’ll need to be able to seamlessly zap into DeX mode at any place you settle down for more than a few hours.
Unless you fancy lugging a DeX station and all essential peripherals around the city, this means you’ll end up with at least two DeX Stations – one at home and one in the office, with twice the number of accessories outlined above.
That’s fine if your workplace invests in a couple of DeX stations to go with their employees’ Samsung phones, but having to buy a few of these for yourself will weigh even more on your pocket.
You either go all-in on DeX, or not at all; there is no in-between.
By now you may be thinking, “Surely you must be exaggerating.” Perhaps, since Samsung assumes most people have an existing screen at home along with input devices, so it shouldn't be difficult to get the Dex up and running, correct?
But the DeX is one of those accessories that there’s no point buying into half-heartedly. Having to hijack an existing screen and re-use existing peripherals is at best only suitable for occasional ad-hoc use and isn't ideal for regular usage. Worse yet, if you spend a small fortune on the DeX and related accessories thinking that maybe you’ll just use it when you’re not on your laptop, I promise you that eventually you’ll end up not using it at all.
Better for office deployment?
From the above perspective, the DeX makes the most sense for enterprises looking for an easier way to manage their employee devices: buy them a Samsung phone each, and you control both their smartphone and PC usage in one stroke.
The concept could be particularly useful in an open concept office, or a co-working space with lots of workers moving in and out. In these scenarios, anyone can just pop into an empty seat or cubicle decked out with a DeX set-up, stick in a phone, and get down to work in an instant.
Still, even this approach is not perfect. What if you need to get work done on-the-go, say, on a long flight? You’re out of luck. Unlike the Motorola Atrix or the HP Elite x3, the DeX has no “lapdock” equivalent. Perhaps Samsung can take a leaf out of Razer’s book here for the next generation of DeX.
There’s another small problem: the software isn’t quite there yet. More on this in the following page.
- < Prev
-
Page 1 of 2 - What you need for a full fledged Dex experience
Page 1 of 2
- Next >