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Are we there yet where you can do simple things like create a half decent looking CV/Word document, simple spreadsheet or presentations, browse the web using your phone hooked up to a keyboard, mouse and big screen?
My laptop is getting slower and is now a few years old yet very 2 years I buy a new high tech phone.
Surly makes sense to use this for the simple stuff right ?
Or do the manufacturers not want to make it possible because it means we wouldn’t buy their expensive laptop ?
create a half decent looking CV/Word document, simple spreadsheet or presentations, browse the web
Been there for a while by using applications hosted online. The only limiting factor would have been network connection but as we have wi-fi and 4G that is never going to be a problem.
For the tasks I perform on my Mac and laptop I could easily live with using a smart phone
You can probably cast your screen to a TV and probably connect a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse there
Samsung have done it for a while.
Been there for a while really.
Move not owned a Laptop/MacBook for a fair few years now. I do everything I need to do on a phone (easier with Plus size) and very occasional tablet use but that’s only really because I happen to have one, if it broke I wouldn’t replace it.
All internet use and work use is done on iPhone 7 Plus currently. I even find myself sitting at my desk in the office (twin widescreen workstation with wireless keyboard and mouse) doing all my email and calendaring on my phone via OWA as it’s so Easy
We we have a MacBook in the house that my other half uses for work related things, but I never use it for mine. I can do everything I need without it.
Work spreadsheets are fine (not huge but fairly complex at times.) and word documents etc.
It may well be easier on a Laptop/MacBook, but I’ve found no real issues in maybe 3 years of using Plus size Phones that would would make me want to change my useage.
Hardly ever use my Laptop...
I have my own business which is run from home and also work for another company ( part time ) using a smartphone app..which actually gets me out of the door and into the big wide world ..a laptop is just too cumbersome in my streamlined existence !
As said, we’ve been there since Google Docs were available, that and Apples Docs (pages/numbers)
I have used the facilities many times to alter/update business docs whilst on the move, or at the desk.
Its a bit tricky using numbers/spreadsheets becuse some of the commands are tricky to navigate through an iPhone keyboard. But, still ok for minor alterations.
Word/Pages the best, though you still have to watch for predictive text annoyances...
I have no pc just now, just my phone and cope ok. My biggest moan is when some websites don't let you go to their desktop version, only the mobile site. My bank is a prime example, their mobile site does not have the same functions so I need to go to the bank for some things. Also I cannot tranfer any of my older cd,s onto my phone.
Its a bit tricky using numbers/spreadsheets becuse some of the commands are tricky to navigate through an iPhone keyboard. But, still ok for minor alterations.
Even with a tablet and keyboard I'll still head back to the laptop because it's just the right tool for the job. The fact that everything is synced between my phone, tablet and desktop means I can do bits and red stuff on the mobile devices but move straight to the laptop to do anything serious.
I've been able to bodge my way through a variety of things using a P20 Pro and a USB-C to HDMI cable. Still wouldn't get rid of my laptop though.
im interested in what jobs you do through a smartphone app!?
Microsoft have had this on the cards for some time and they had it working with Windows Phone and Continuum, but Windows Phone died and there were only a few devices with the hardware support for it.
However it's still been their ambition, with a redesigned core UI of Windows so that it will adapt to any device, running full Windows (even on ARM, but not like the flop that was Win RT). Theory being one of those devices could be a phone of sorts and could hook up to a monitor for desktop experience. There's been rumour of a Surface folding pocket device, but then rumours also of it being cancelled.
Still though, the work they put into Win Phone and the UWP framework lives on in Windows and the UWP apps for Word, Excel etc are really quite good. I use them on my Windows tablet, even though it can run full Windows, because they launch quicker and adapt to tablet mode better. Also they've ported them to other platforms really well, and the Office apps on Android are pretty good.
My job is not really possible on a phone. The lack of a decent 5250 terminal emulator is probably the biggest issue, but another one would be how the hell do you create an ODBC connection to a database in mobile Excel?
That said, if you only ever work in Office-like apps, then I'm sure its perfectly do-able.
FWIW, I think we'll see a continued blurring of laptop/tablet like the Surface Pro and the iPad Pro before we see laptops disappear completely.
As above, MS phones were pretty much there with Phone 8 and Phone10. Saw some amazing demonstrations with the surface table thingy where a presenter was able to cast straight to a room projector and the table from their lumia with full Bluetooth keyboard and mouse - the phone essentially was a PC.
The most realistic way of doing this though is with VDI technology.Your phone essentially works as a VDI client to a virtual workstation running on infrastructure somewhere. That does the heavy lifting & all the phone has to worry about is inputs and screen refreshes.
I work fully these days on my iPad. Work are Google Docs based, which helps. Don’t use a laptop for work at all now.
Rachel
im interested in what jobs you do through a smartphone app!?
It's mainly for web-based apps that dislike being interfaced with using a touchscreen. My phone has a desktop mode that generates a mouse pointer and Chrome loads the desktop versions of sites.
Also handy for making iPlayer / Netflix etc go full screen when connected to a hotel TV.
https://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/how-to-use-desktop-mode-huawei-mate-10-pro/
Don’t use a laptop for work at all now
Is that adding a keyboard though to go with it?
I'd love to be able to get rid of my laptop but I still need it for connecting stuff to such as updating the Garmin Satnav.
Pretty much everything else I can do via web or app.
I preferred the abacus.
So mixed views then...
I’ve got an iPhone 8, no way would I edit a spreadsheet or create a presentation on it, but if I could connect it to a keyboard, mouse and monitor that would be great.
Is that adding a keyboard to go with it?
Yes, I use a 12.9” iPad Pro, with the Apple keyboard cover. Using it right now, as it happens.
Even been known to do a bit of coding on it once in a while...
https://twitter.com/rachel_norfolk/status/1012657109924802560
https://twitter.com/rachel_norfolk/status/957222748589297664
Rachel
Though, clearly, posting images is a challenge 😂
Rachel
My laptop is getting slower and is now a few years old
That'll be the software on it, not the laptop itself. Laptops can last a long time if you look after them. I would be rebuilding it, or having it rebuilt. Or fitting an SSD - or just uninstalling whatever crap is making it run slow. Slowdown is not inevitable.
MolGrips, I'm not sure I wholly agree with that any longer. Since the spectre/meltdown/other things, my laptop has gone off a cliff performance wise. Not sure there's much to do to speed it back up again.
Not sure there’s much to do to speed it back up again.
Have you tried any of the tips?
All of this obviously depends on what you do, I'm certainly not going to leave my 2x24 and 1x15 desktop setup for a tablet or even a single screen for anything other than travel. At a business level my xps15 is light enough portable enough to be best of both worlds
The cloud level of integration does mean you can seamlessly move between devices a lot much quicker, as soon as something gets too hard on the tablet/phone I just swap so they are still stuck as the complimentary stage for serious work
Since the spectre/meltdown/other things, my laptop has gone off a cliff performance wise
Same with my Windows (Dell) tablet. Reset Windows and it's much the same.
Problem is it uses eMMC and micro SD for storage which isn't speedy and the fixes for these vulnerabilities kill I/O performance and especially noticeable on slower/older hardware.
Though sure it's an old tablet, but it wasn't too slow for average surfing and even Windows 10 ran well.
I have as fold up Bluetooth keyboard, Bluetooth mouse and cast my phone to my tv. I use and support or Citrix applications so my phone is just a thin client. It works, but Tbh I never use it. I've got a pc next room and it's always on. Using apps hosted elsewhere makes it possible.
The only thing preventing me from ditching the laptop for a tablet is our archaic IT security rules that prevents us from using the usual cloud based solutions that would enable me to access files that we currently have on the company LAN/GLAN via a mobile device. Other than that no problems. The only applications I use are the usual email and Office ones and our ERP/CRM system that has smart device apps, but our archaic IT security means we can't use them! An iPad with BT keyboard and smart pen would be great. When hot desking in an office can plug into a proper big screen, and when out on the road no problems delivering presentations via the lighting to HDMI adapter, can work on stuff on the go via mobile network or normal WiFi and can transfer files from any other device to iPhone/iPad via my USB memory stick than has a USB on one end and lightning on the other.
For my type of job that doesn't require any specialist software then no problems at all. Probably wouldn't even need an iPad Pro - though some of the presentations are very heavy on rendered models and media content so the extra processor umph would probably be very handy.
@Andybrad .." I'm interested in what jobs you do through a smartphone app?"
Vehicle movements ..the app covers me for insurance , allows me to send pics of the vehicle before and after the journey , allows the client to sign on screen for said condition ., allows geolocation so the vehicle can be tracked etc.
Also allows me to accept the job for either a fixed or negotiated price ..
It is an ideal work choice to compliment my own business which I can run from my mobile phone ..and would otherwise have me stuck in doors most of the time ( home office ) ..which was slowly driving me nuts !