Those should rather buy a regular netbook and connect a proper pad to that?
The physical keyboard probably doesn't add much weight, but makes the form factor awkward.
Or a Steamdeck or Aya whatever it is called and a Bluetooth keyboard would be more sensible. Imho.
But I also have a colleague who would buy a phone with physical keyboard since he always liked his blackberry but sank it in water and never found a modern replacement. No idea how anyone could not prefer glide typing but most of the people are still hammering onto their smartphones with their thumbs, so old habits are hard to kill.
Considering that the netbook market has been abandoned by everyone but GPD (and some far worse other Chinese OEMs that produce nothing that can game at all), what do you suggest?
As for Bluetooth keyboards... have you actually tried going around using one? It gets old very quickly. Finding somewhere to prop your device. Finding somewhere to put the keyboard down. Yet another damn device to keep track of and the charge of.
The Win Max would provide an adequate, if cramped work laptop, and a decent enough gaming machine (if the Steam Deck is good enough, this is).
Suggesting getting a Steam Deck doesn't make sense, largely because you simply can't get one, but also because it would be yet another thing. With the Win Max, you could fit it into a manbag or purse, or have it take barely any room in a larger bag.
Then, even if they got a Steam Deck, a decent light laptop with similar specs would being the total cost to about that of the Win Max.
I think it's perfect for a student. I would have gotten one if one were available when I was one.
I won't get one as I'm not a student nor do I travel much. And I can afford all sorts of fancy gadgets. That's not most people. That said, even I could see a use for it for me.
Honestly, I think you live on a different planet and just can't do the mental exercise of putting yourself in somone else's shoes.
And I have sympathy for your colleague as I find glide typing terrible. I just make do with the touchscreen only present as other features trump a keyboard for me, but I miss the physical keys I used to have.