Reddit reviews ASUS ZenScreen MB16AC 15.6" Full HD IPS USB Type-C Portable Eye Care Monitor,Black

Been traveling with this rig for over 7 months and across 4 continents.

This photo was taken in a co-working space in Lima Peru. I much prefer working out of co-working spaces as opposed to wherever I’m staying (mostly Airbnb’s) - productivity/work first, adventure and travel come second.

Happy to answer any questions. Cheers!

Edit: Here is a list of all the components since everyone is wanting to know.

• Laptop: Macbook Pro Touchbar version with 4 USB-C/Thunderbolt 3 ports
  
• Stand: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00EP48NMY (tons of other brands with similar designs)
  
• Monitors: Asus Zenscreen - https://www.amazon.com/ASUS-ZenScreen-MB16AC-15-6-Inch-Monitor/dp/B071S84ZW7 (they make one with an integrated battery, but I wouldn't want the extra weight)
  
• Keyboard: Kinesis Freestyle2 Blue with wrist pads, etc. Trackball Mouse: Kensington Expert Mouse Wireless
  
• Trackball Standard Mouse: Logitech MX Master 2S Extras: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01MZBPS9R https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01MXKJC4M
  
• Headphones: Sony Sony WH-1000XM3
  
  Photo of the backside of the rig:
  http://files.jacobt.com/lJMeLI1LuD

Did some Googling -- I think OP meant an Asus ZenScreen

Yea it's not even kind of comparable to a laptop. More of a 'hey this works nice for lan parties', which are pretty rare these days anyway.

They make some slim monitors and, some wireless keyboards are pretty compact, but no matter what you're making compromises to make it work.

Plus for true mobility you need one of those portable cells with a 110 outlet on them, unless you feel like engineering your own battery pack.

A few days ago I got a similar USB-C screen in a 15.6" model. This is how big it is compared to the pixelbook: https://imgur.com/a/88Ro4

Due to different aspect ratios the screen is almost the exact same height as the pixelbook. Without measuring it it's only around a quarter inch taller and roughly 2.5 inches wider. With the included cover/stand on the screen is a hair thicker than the pixelbook and it's thinner than the pixelbook if you take the cover off of it, but I wouldn't recommend throwing it in a backpack without the cover. It's also incredibly lightweight.

This is the screen I have if you're interested.

I don't want to be "that guy", but an iPad is incapable of acting as a second screen for any laptop.

OP- These are USB powered- you can slip them in your laptop bag. 1 USB cord later, you have an additional external display on-the-go.

I was going to do the sexy just laptop set up that you guys have here but I noticed it was uncomfortable and my neck started hurting so I got this which adds a little bulk but can still one bag.

1. Roost stand
   
2. goldtouch travel keyboard
   
3. logi trackball for when desk space is limited
   
4. Additional monitor and monitor holder
   
   
   Pros
   

• ergonomic
  
• no more neck pain
  
  cons
  
• more weight
  
• 
  
• the additional monitor sometimes makes the roost tilt slightly having the wheel hover above the desk but never tipping over. Sometimes it stays flat but I don't have the exact science yet.
  
  Edit: to add links
  
  monitor clip - after like 4 months it gets loose though. Sometimes it slips throughout the sa
  
  MountEra Side Mount Clip for... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LQT1RBO?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
  
  Monitor
  
  ASUS ZenScreen MB16AC 15.6" Full... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071S84ZW7?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
  
  Travel ergonic keyboard I really like a lot
  
  
  Goldtouch GTP-0044 Go!2 Mobile... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DT73FVM?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
  
  
  Mouse (you have to download a 3rd party app to enable page scrolling but once you do it's great)
  
  Logitech Trackman Marble... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001F42MKG?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
  
  Roost laptop stand. I know there's a cheaper knockoff that's heavier though and may do better in not having the tilt occur when the additional monitor is added.
  
  Roost Laptop Stand – Adjustable... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01C9KG8IG?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

Thanks for the recommendations! Checking them out now, and comparing against other items I've got on my list. Might end up just leaving a review here for whatever I find; most of the bags that are catching my eye just don't have impartial reviews in substantive capacity.

My monitor is a ASUS ZenScreen. It was recommended on the Pixelbook subs, and it works well. Definitely needs drivers on Windows machines, but fine right out of the box on mine. Only thing is that it's a standard non-glass, LED monitor in your bag. It's fragile, and I've got a little bit of pixel damage from having the screen pinched, or probably setting the bag down on the edge of the monitor. It comes with a thin, protective, magnetic wrap-around stand thing, similar to what most of the recent 3-in-1 PC/tablets come with, but it'd be best with another wrap. That said, it's great quality, but I'd consider a glass one next time, depending on price.

I use the ASUS ZenScreen MB16AC because I can have it to the side with my desktop setup but also have and ultra-portable display for my laptop that is USB-C driven as far as power and video from my laptop.

this looks amazing but would like to know whats the different between zenscreen and full hd usb 3.0?

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B071S84ZW7

Hey! Know I'm late to the game, but I've been looking for a portable monitor for the Surface Pro 6. Just went out and purchased the Asus Zenscreen 15.6" MB16AC and this monitor, though USB type C, works with the Surface Pro 6 via the included dongle, and installing the drivers from the Asus Website. The screen works perfectly fine, perfect for multitasking on the go!

Is a 15" screen going to be a sufficient enough upgrade though?

If you like the X1C a left field suggestion is to get a portable monitor instead.

I have the https://www.amazon.com/ASUS-ZenScreen-MB16AC-15-6-Inch-Monitor/dp/B071S84ZW7 but of course it depends on your workspace. If you regularly get a wide enough desk you can have 2 screens instead of a slightly larger one. I think the combined weight would be similar to a bigger laptop.

https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/products/boards-kits/nuc.html

Then

https://www.amazon.com/ASUS-ZenScreen-MB16AC-Portable-Monitor/dp/B071S84ZW7

Then whatever 60% keyboard and mouse with a light that works on almost any surface (like Logitech's darklight mice) so you don't have to carry a mouse pad.

Also I know you said no laptops, but honestly tons of us IT pros work on laptops that are more than powerful enough to run multiple VM's, can have 2 storage devices, etc... on less than $2k. And then there's this for attempts to put mechanical keys in laptops:

https://www.theverge.com/2019/10/14/20907110/razer-blade-advanced-15-gaming-laptop-2019-new-optical-keyboard-deeper-travel

Even though it's Razer, it's still coming a long way.

Sorry for the late response. Here is the portable monitor: ASUS ZenScreen MB16AC 15.6-Inch Full HD IPS Monitor https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071S84ZW7/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_.uJYBbRKK15SJ

ASUS ZenScreen MB16AC 15.6" Full HD IPS USB Type-C Portable Monitor

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071S84ZW7/

Asus Zenscreen

Odake BladeX

I've been wanting one of these ASUS ZenScreen MB16AC 15.6-Inch Full HD IPS Monitor

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071S84ZW7/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_w5cFAbDNX244P


I have used 7" portable DVD players with A/V inputs before. You can use just as a monitor, or source and prolly find them cheap at secondhand stores these days.

The MB168B is a Displaylink monitor, so it will work for screen mirroring but not Dex. You will need the MB16AC: https://www.amazon.com/ASUS-ZenScreen-MB16AC-Portable-Monitor/dp/B071S84ZW7/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_147_t_0?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=NGG97BM8PM1V35WZ4AGT

So I never followed through with the USB-C portable screen idea. The more I looked and shopped around the more that a dedicated gaming laptop seemed to be the most convenient solution for 1080p portable gaming.

 

The furthest I got in problem solving was hunting for an ITX sized motherboard that would have a built in "HDMI-IN" as well as a PCI slot for a small graphics card. The trouble was finding that form factor with the "HDMI-IN". I wasn't able to find one that was suitable (not to say they dont exist, the internet is big). When I couldn't find this, the next idea was an ITX form factor with 2 pci ports on the MOBO. (The idea was getting a pci card that has "HDMI-IN" to get around needing a MOBO with "HDMI-IN")

 

Well needing an extra PCI port requires a larger MOBO size which also requires a larger case. This was starting to defeat my need of portability. The more I looked and brain stormed, the more that a gaming laptop seemed to be the best course of action for my specific case.

 

However, I did purchase This ASUS Zenscreen USB-C Monitor to test out how well the screens work (latency, quality, motion, etc etc). The monitor worked very well. I plugged it up to USB 3.0 on my home PC for reference. (so i'd blindly guess that output by USB-C would provide some benefit). I played divinity 2 on it as a test and everything ran fine, color space was pretty good, latency wasn't noticeable in that type of game. Surely something more action based might be noticeable. (I can go into more details if you'd like on this monitor, if I know the answer of course haha)

 

So, to sum it up. The more I tried to solve the tough problem of portability the more the answer looked like something pre-built like a gaming laptop. The ones i've been looking at in particular are

• over 60hz, G-Sync, 15.3" and 17.6" monitors These are ideal fantasy laptops
  
• either over 60hz, or G-Sync 15.3" and 17.6" monitors These are high refresh rate OR g-sync monitors. More price friendly.
  
  I'm only familiar with xoticPC through one purchase 4 years ago so there may be better options out there. But the custom build approach allows getting larger harddrives, replaced a HDD with SDD, and what nots. (probably cheaper to do some of the upgrades yourself if you are able). It also seems to be one of the few websites that shows you one stick of ram or two options. (2 obviously preferred) Its just a damn shame RAM is so freaking expensive these days.
  
   
  
  Oh, and on the Wacom Link. I'm no expert by any means but I dont see why it wouldn't work? My first concern would be latency added. Also here is another kind of interesting idea I came across... a 1070 eGPU This could open a couple options like a lightweight laptop for work and what nots, but at home or at a hotel something a little more powerful for gaming and what nots. (I've barely looked into it, so do some homework if this sounds interesting)

I'm a digital nomad so I run a laptop and an ASUS portable monitor (similar to this one on Amazon). The portable is on the left with MS Teams (it's what our team uses, and it works OK if you don't mind switching between its tabs constantly), Franz for all comms except Teams, Chrome (signed into my personal profile), and Chrome (work profile: Azure DevOps, time reporting, SO). My main monitor is for Visual Studio, mRemoteNG for RDPing into client servers, Chrome (work profile: all client env connections), SSMS, PowerShell (through ConEmu), Q-Dir for file system stuff, and Notepad++.


I'd buy another portable monitor in a heartbeat if I didn't need a USB-C hub to support it! I <3 MULTIPLE MONITORS.