PLX USB Duet: your netbook is now a cumbersome iPad keyboard
By Joanna Stern 
posted May 24th 2010 11:20PM
posted May 24th 2010 11:20PM
PLX USB Duet Simplifies Apple iPad Photo, Keyboard, Audio Sharing
Users Just Attach Enabled Netbook to iPad via Standard USB Cable; iTunes Not Needed
SUNNYVALE, Calif. -- May 18, 2010 -- PLX Technology (NASDAQ: PLXT), a leading global supplier of silicon and software interconnect solutions for the enterprise and consumer markets, today announced its unique USB Duet® solution for mobile PCs enables plug-and-play connectivity with the Apple® iPad™ tablet. PLX® USB Duet instantly allows users to load content to the iPad or, conversely, easily share the mobile PC's larger tactile keyboard, and speakers - all without the need for iTunes® software.
USB Duet is an exclusive combination of PLX-engineered hardware and application software designed directly into OEMs' new netbook and notebook computers. USB Duet allows Windows®-based computers to easily share content and functionality with the iPad -- or other PCs -- simply by attaching a standard USB cable, thus enabling effortless connectivity without the need for special drivers or setup. Common usage models of USB Duet-enabled PCs include sharing an optical disk drive to load multimedia or software, file sharing, storage and backup - all of which is much faster than engaging the cloud.
"Leading OEMs in Japan already are delivering USB Duet-enabled netbooks and notebooks to customers and PLX is working closely with other global mobile computing designers today to utilize this powerful connectivity technology," said David Raun, vice president of marketing and business development at PLX. "Our vision is for USB Duet to become the gold standard mobile connectivity solution for the entire computing market."
TechNow -- the popular Silicon Valley-based television program broadcast in the San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Diego metropolitan areas, as well as available as a Webcast -- recently featured PLX USB Duet and the segment can be seen online at www.youtube.com/user/plxtech. More information about USB Duet, including a series of video tutorials on how it operates, can be found on the PLX Website at www.usbduet.com.
PLX will deliver a presentation on USB Duet at the upcoming Netbook Summit on May 24, 2010, in South San Francisco, California. Register here www.netbooksummit.com.
About PLX
PLX Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ: PLXT), based in Sunnyvale, Calif., USA, is an industry-leading global provider of semiconductor based connectivity solutions primarily targeting the enterprise and consumer markets. The Company develops innovative software-enriched silicon that enables product differentiation, reliable interoperability and superior performance. www.plxtech.com.
PLX Technology and the PLX Technology logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of PLX Technology, Inc. All other product names that appear in this material are for identification purposes only and are acknowledged to be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies. Other names and brands may be claimed as the property of others.
Wow. way to stretch to make the iPad look useful... best idea? don't buy one!!!
@Thor e
You just don't get what revolutionary looks like.
If Apple was smart, they would make a convertible-type iPad so it would have a keyboard attached. Knowing Apple they could pull it off in a decent manner.
That might make me like the iPad a little better.
@Failbait Do you think it will work with my desktop?
@Thor e
Are you kidding. This is a great idea. I can now own a desktop, laptop, netbook, iPad, and my iPhone or iPod Touch. Simplicity - Apple style.
@Engadget You're kidding, right? Of all the iPad "additions" we made fun of lately, this is by far the most ridiculous one. You are actually saying it is intriguing to connect an iPad to an existing, fully functional and probably better equipped netbook to type on? Yeah, no doubt, you must be kidding.
@Failbait lol at u please tell me you were being sarcastic cause if you were that was hella funny if not then that was hella sad
@Thor e : "video not available" ...and rightly so. :|
@VictorBush You mean like a laptop? or like the Windows tablets that have been around since early 2000?
@SeeKo Well, after buying an iPad, you're gonna need the netbook anyways if you wanna get anything done so you might as well use this crazy set up. No wait...this still makes no sense.
@One Love heh, apperently not even Viddler could handle the ridiculousness of what it was suppose to show us.
@Thor e
i think engadget posts so much apple news its sup[posed to be funny.... some kind of demented nerd humor.
@Thor e
oh the irony.....
@kkb093 You'll need the netbook to sync your iPad too...whereas the netbook can work by itself. The netbook will probably be cheaper too.
@Thor e
A $300 dollar keyboard and stand combo!
Plus the $30 camera connection kit!
With a $500 iPad!
Grand total for anyone to be able to do this is $830.
A bargain if you ask me....
@Thor e
Engadget, are you running these just to stir up crap so that you get more views on your ads for a page jump? I own an iPad, and LOVE it, but using the iPad like this is dumb, and only serves to fuel the fire of the people who don't get the iPad or have a need for one. A bluetooth keyboard for when you need it, or the keyboard dock, these are the only acceptable uses, everything else is just DUMB.
@Thor e
Because we all know, we can't write an email on a netbook, that's for sure
So the iPad is going to help sell more netbooks as iPad keyboards? which in turn makes the iPad a netbook?? im confused
@SteveyAyo
and they say that Engadget is not biases.. I mean what's so "intriguing" about a device that only has the looks but no talent? Much like a beautiful dumb blond!
hahaha very practical...
So let me get this right....your going to use the more capable and useful netbook as a stand and keyboard for the ipad........
::my brain hurts::
my going? You leave my going out of this
@Nascent He spelt it right though...
@p0p0 I think you mean "He spelt it write though..."
@p0p0
That's not really the point, is it? He used "your" rather than "you're," which is the correct usage. Even if he spelled the word right, it's still wrong.
You could go one step further and just toss the ipad and surf with the netbook! Form follows function.
Why would you bother with a toy like the iPad if you had a real computer with you?
And why is Engadget not tagging ipad and apple posts with "apple" so my filter works?
@FitFan It was an "error"
@SskyNnet Heh .. ok. Just checking since these errors are happening daily now. Maybe it's time to just depend on Anand for tech news. At least he's a fairly rational apple fanboy.
revolutionary, especially "MAGICAL" and pointless device
Or you could, you know, just use the netbook itself? Or is whatever you're typing just too important and hip to be displayed on a netbook?
I wish people would stop trying to make the iPad into something it's clearly not. The iPad is a media consumption device. It is not and has not be designed for media production. Get over it and stop trying to justify purchasing it by making it do more than its designed for - especially if it requires using a more capable devices such as this dose.
*facepalm*
Why on earth would you do that? if you need a keyboard for the iPad, just use the netbook instead. Faster processor, real OS, more storage & memory... The advantages of the iPad are.... what exactly?
@Brianbrain That it's like an iphone, but bigger! Duh that's a no brainer
@Brianbrain
with the ipad, you can look extra smug as you write your novel at starbucks.
I would use this... if I could use the ipad as a secondary screen. Yet, still, there are MUCH cheaper alternatives... and they look a lot less stupid.
dual monitor action would be sweet...
Finally, a use for netbooks.
I think PLX should stop allowing serving Petrone shots and Jagger bombs at their Board meetings.
Just sayin'
of all the idiotic things....
Cheap tc1100 knockoff...
Videor Not Avaliable
Now i can experince the internet the way ipad users do from my windows pc.
@Einlander LOL there was too much poetic justice in this video for the interwebz to handle, the netbook killer made useful by a netbook
@Einlander You could always do that though.. Its as simple as uninstalling a few plug-ins
@Einlander there's an app for that... and then again, maybe not. ^_^
pair this up with a forthcoming accessory that lets you connect your ipad to a high end gaming rig to use the mouse and you've almost got a fully functional computer!
@jeffeulogy Keyword being almost
For added functionality, simply remove the ipad from in front of your netbook screen!
lol where should I start with this one?
http://imgur.com/S4wlS