The biggest difference is the operating system: the Surface Go 2 runs Windows, the Duet runs ChromeOS.
There are also big differences in value, software, and hardware to consider.
Even with the keyboard, the Duet has a starting retail price of $280.
Hardware
But that lower price does come with a few sacrifices.
For example, those low specs mean that it can only drive an external monitor at 1440x900 resolution.
The Duet’s screen is a 1920x1200 LCD that’s serviceable without being mind-blowing.
(In one of the tablet’s only design failings, as there is no headphone jack.)
Howver, there is one ace in the hole for ChromeOS: Android apps.
Productivity apps, games, chat clients, whatever you want.
It’s a huge boon for a tablet to have built-in access to a million or so mobile apps.
It’s smooth and easily understandable, without losing access to the full-power tools of the Chrome web app.
So, $500 for the cheapest Surface Go 2, almost twice as much as the cheapest Duet.
This smaller, sleeker version of the Surface tablet is a surprisingly powerful little device. It’s just too bad that it starts at 8GB of RAM and doesn’t include a keyboard in the box.
But that extra price does get you an undeniably nicer machine.
It’s using a real Intel Pentium processor, which means it can run all Windows programs without virtualization.
Because you’re reading this article, you probably don’t.
But in terms of pure hardware flexibility and options, the Surface Go 2 can do more.
It’s also just a nicer machine.
The phrase “you get what you pay for” comes to mind.
The Surface is more expandable.
But its contrast is generally reported as better, and the front-firing speakers make media consumption more pleasant.
The base model Surface Go 2 has the same 4GB RAM and 64GB storage combo as the cheapest Duet.
That upgrade also doubles the storage to 128GB.
With decades of Windows apps in its pocket, the software is definitely a big plus.
Microsoft has its own integrated Windows Store for apps, but frankly, it’s mostly useless.
Almost all the utility in the Surface Go 2 comes from access to traditional Windows programs.
Windows also isn’t great as a tablet-based OS, it’s merely “okay.”
If you want a machine primarily for browsing the web or running mobile apps, this isn’t it.
This smaller, sleeker version of the Surface tablet is a surprisingly powerful little equipment.
The Deciding Factors
Let’s break this down into a lightning round.
This smaller, sleeker version of the Surface tablet is a surprisingly powerful little device. It’s just too bad that it starts at 8GB of RAM and doesn’t include a keyboard in the box.
