Continuum, which gives your Windows Phone desktop-like capabilities by connecting it to a larger screen, is but one of the many features available on Windows 10. However, the phone's performance is still limited due to its hardware, so most users will likely still prefer using a laptop. But there's an in-between alternative thanks to a company called InFocus, which released a small, portable Windows 10 PC called the Kangaroo, which allows you to get a Windows 10 system running on virtually any screen.
According to the Kangaroo materials we received, it allegedly can effectively get Windows 10 on any connected display: "This mobile desktop could work with any screen such as your phone, tablet, monitor, TV and projector." InFocus also claimed that the Kangaroo can work with any iOS device via a (not included) USB cable.
The Kangaroo presents itself at 0.52 x 3.17 x 4.88 inches (HxWxD) and weighs only 0.44 pounds. The device itself actually comes in two parts: There's the tiny PC itself, and there's also space for an attachable dock for the DC In port, one USB 3.0 and one USB 2.0 port, and an HDMI port.
It also includes what the company calls an Action Switch, which allows it to connect point-to-point with your other systems via Wi-Fi. For security, it includes Windows Hello as well as a fingerprint reader. In the initial setup, you will need the dock to connect various peripherals such as a mouse and keyboard, but once you setup the device's Bluetooth connection, you can use a wireless keyboard and mouse.
| InFocus Kangaroo | Header Cell - Column 1 |
|---|---|
| CPU | Intel Atom x5-Z8500 (Cherry Trail, 1.44 GHz, up to 2.24 GHz) |
| RAM | 2 GB LP DDR3 |
| Storage | 32 GB eMMC |
| GPU | Intel HD Graphics (Gen 8, 600 MHz) |
| I/O | 1x micro-USB (charge only), 1x microSD slot |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/c, Bluetooth 4.0 |
| OS | Windows 10 Home |
Perhaps the biggest downside to the device is its battery life. With a maximum of four hours on casual use, you might have to bring the power cord along with you at all times, just to be safe.
Still, the fact that you can easily add more storage space with a microSD card shows that you can have a small, yet fully functional dedicated PC for your travels with enough space to store office apps as well as other documents. Then again, you might be paying more for that extra storage than the entire device itself, depending on the microSD storage size.
Speaking of cost, the $99 price point is perhaps the Kangaroo's most alluring factor, making the device cheaper than notebooks and Chromebooks.
However, its release marks the beginning of a long campaign for the company. In a few months at CES, InFocus will also show off more accessories to go along with the Kangaroo, such as alternate docks (which will cost an additional $39.99 each) and monitors.
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Rexly Peñaflorida II is a Contributor at Tom’s Hardware. He writes news on tech and hardware, but mostly focuses on gaming news. As a Chicagoan, he believes that deep dish pizza is real pizza and ketchup should never be on hot dogs. Ever. Also, Portillo’s is amazing.
Follow Rexly Peñaflorida II @Heirdeux. Follow us @tomshardware, on Facebook and on Google+.
