How to live with one electronic device?
 

Why do we need not just one electronic device but several of them? I call it the 21st century electronic device paradox.

Before smartphones and tablets most people had just one computer where they did all their word processing, spread sheets, digital media playing, file storage, web browsing, emails, etc. But today some people own two or more devices, like smartphones and tablets, that can do all those things. In fact the majority of Americans own a PC, a tablet and a smartphone. Some even have both a desktop and a laptop or multiple tablets and smartphones! But does everyone really need so many electronic devices? Why not just go back to having only one electronic device?

On the one hand I see why it's handy to have at least two devices, one being a smartphone. The smartphone is easy to carry around and isn't too hard to use for small tasks, whereas anything bigger than a smartphone won't fit in your average sized pocket. But doing any serious computing on a smartphone is largely unproductive, which is where needing a device with a bigger screen and helpful tools like a keyboard and/or mouse comes in handy. And nowadays you are expected to carry around a cellphone anyway. So whether you need a tablet or laptop or not, why not make your cellphone a smartphone?

But there are compromises in owning two or more "computers". For starters you now have two or more expensive things to maintain and replace when they wear out, which ends up costing more money. This is especially true when you get a high end phone that can cost just as much as your laptop does. Why not put all that money towards one device or save it for something else? And you could make the argument that there are many cheap or even free smartphones out there. But then again you get what you pay for. Small storage, slow processing, quickly outdated OS's and poor battery life might not work for everyone.

Add to that the need to transfer all your necessary stuff between devices. Sure, there are cloud storages and sync settings that can help with some of that. But it sure is a pain to realize that you need to see or work on something that's not on your smartphone, but on your tablet or laptop you left at home. Which has me looking for that expensive smartphone with enough memory that I can copy all my necessary files onto it. Or maybe I have what I need on my phone, but would like to do some serious computing somewhere else so have to carry around a laptop or something anyway.

But what if you could have just one device as portable as a phone and as productive as a PC at the same time? Well that's my goal! I took my first step in that direction a few years ago when I got rid of my laptop (that I had owned for nearly 10 years mind you) and replaced it with a 10 inch Microsoft Surface 3 "tablet that can replace your laptop." I got to say that this tablet is awesome in this respect. I get a full PC experience with a device as portable as a 10" tablet. But it still feels a bit too bulky to carry around like I do my phone.

So I tried a Windows Phone with Continuum capability (Alcatel Idol 4). The experience is ok. I'm able to plug in a keyboard and mouse and have a fairly good desktop experience. But support for Windows mobile is dying, if not already dead. And if I need to take my desktop experience along with me I need to carry around that very same keyboard, mouse, black box, and perhaps even a small TV in order to have what I need.

So where do I go from here? Do I try something Apple or Android? Or just work with the tablet I already have?

One idea is to carry around a man-purse of some sort for carrying around the tablet. And that works sometimes. But as a man, I'm not used to remembering to carry around a bag with me. A big pocket attached to my clothing would be better.

I saw some sort of bag that straps on under the arm. That seems like an ok solution. It's like adding a big pocket on the side or your shirt. What do you think?

Any other ideas?

Whatever allows you to spend the least to do the most (that is necessary).

I once dabbled in portable devices. For years, I have been a fan of netbooks.

The reasoning is: I don't *need* a phone that does everything. I eventually got a smartphone during my netbook phase, but always the cheapest I could buy that was reasonably durable (I could bundle the cost into my carrier charges). The netbook served as both home workstation and portable internet / working computer. I could transcribe during meetings and presscons, then do basic photo-processing at home.

But with the advent of ever-heavier Windows systems like 7 and 10, that's become a non-starter. I don't want an expensive portable because in my line of work, I may very possibly break or lose it on a work trip. I'd rather have something rugged and easy to replace. Cheap netbooks are nearly incapable of running Windows 10 at anything beyond snail pace, and the most recent ones I've bought are nearly unserviceable, with components bundled together. Used to be, I could pop it open myself to replace memory or a fried drive. Now, you have to take apart the frigging motherboard to reach the innards... and hope you don't snap a clip or tear out a fragile ribbon cable while doing so... because replacements cost nearly as much as the netbook. Not worth it.

(end rant)

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As to your problem, a messenger bag, maybe, as opposed to a man purse? Gives you more storage flexibility? What you're talking about sounds like a one-shoulder backpack. Not sure they sell them in a size or shape suitable for a tablet.

Yes. It all depends on what you need to do. I can plug in a second screen, Blu-Ray optical drive, printer/scanner, extra mouse and a thumb drive along with the type cover keyboard all into my Surface 3 tablet all at the same time. But I need all that for the work I do.

Something like this is what I was thinking of:

https://www.eholster.com/tablet-shoulder-holster

As I type this, I'm looking at 3 laptops on my coffee table, plus this one on my lap. Then there's the HTPC playing Netflix "Edge of the Universe".

I bet wrong on the success of the smart phone when I said nobody would want internet on their phone since they already have it at home, but it turned out to be too useful and the price came down a lot along with huge increases in bandwidth. I carry my company issued iPhone and 13" laptop everywhere I go.

Then I've got a 12 core server for test environments and various desktops I've built over the years.

I bought a 7" tablet new for something like $40 some time ago to use as a Torque screen. There's probably around 30 various smart phones collected from various places such as company phone upgrades.

Since I can't stand accumulating books, I bought a Kindle. The e-ink is easy on the eyes and readable in bright light, while being easy to find references. Everyone should have an e-reader in my opinion.

Nowadays a smartphone and a laptop might be enough for the average Joe. Portability is a valuable asset, even though photo editing with a smartphone might not be so easy due to the limitations inherent to the touchscreen interface.

I always had a Swiss Army knife in my pocket, then years ago I decided a Leatherman was more useful. But I still need real tools. I wouldn't try to find one electronic device for all my needs because there isn't one.

One thing that happens is that people get attached to their old things, but they still want new things, but they are attached to their old things, but they still want new things, but they are attached to their old things, but they still want new things, but they are attached to their old things, but they still want new things, but they are attached to their old things, but they still want new things, but...

Exactly. Just as with the Swiss Army knife, even if one device could do it all, it wouldn't do any individual task as well as the purpose-built one.

So I have a non-smart phone that does phone calls and text messages, and has a physical keyboard to make writing texts... well, not exactly easy 'cause my fingers are too big, but at least much more doable than a touch screen.

(And the phone easily fits in my pack for when I'm out hiking, biking, cross-country skiing, &c.)

Then I have a tablet (well, a couple, but one's for experimenting) that is mostly for reading papers and manuals. I can carry it around with me, and even run an OBDII app on it when I'm working on vehicles. But even with a Bluetooth keyboard, it's too small for convenient working.

So I have computers, with real keyboards and 21" or larger monitors. The notebook for general work, the power-sucking multi-core with GPU compute machine, and the one with the big disk that is backup and storage for audio files & stuff.

When I want to take halfway decent pictures, I have a real camera, too.

Maybe I'm just trying to justify getting some nostalgic basic phone again. I miss my little basic Nokia. :(
But what if your Swiss Army knife and Leatherman were battery operated? And the Swiss Army knife, though less useful, would last five times that of the Leatherman? And then on top of that, you still had to lug around a tool box with you everywhere you go anyway?

Hello all,

A quick search found multiple threads, products, etc. intended to show how/allow connecting fullsize monitor, keyboard, etc. to a smartphone.

Basically, have only the smartphone, and "dock" it at home. If you don't play any games that don't run on phones, you should be able to get by just fine.

I've tried that. It definitely depends on what you need to do with your device. I've hooked up a mouse to both a Windows Phone and an Android Phone before. I don't think Apple has any mouse support on their phones or tablets. (I don't think they have touch screen support on any of their laptops or desktops either.)

The only problem is if you need that kind of interface somewhere away from home. My tablet has a removable keyboard and touchpad that act as a screen cover so the whole thing is much more portable than a small TV, keyboard and mouse. But if you only type at home, then that ought to be all you need.

______________________

Another couple things to think about. For one, some phones and tablets (at least iPhones, iPads and Windows Phones, I'm not sure about Android) when they go bonkers may need to be connected to a PC to be reset. With Apple it gets even worse, since a lot of times you can't fix an iPhone or iPad except only on a PC that has your iTunes on it. Try to plug into another computer and it won't let you do anything. It's almost like they were designed with the idea you'd own both the phone and a PC or Mac of some sort.

Another thing is product life. Phones tend to have shorter lives due to support cut-off. That's what really got me mad about my first and only Android. In less than a year after it came out it was already outdated and there was one main app I couldn't update or reinstall soon afterward. The first iPad was the same way. Now, they have improved over the years. But not to the extent of a laptop. You can get 10 years or more of support for a laptop.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G2VxwFEA8xM

Back in the day, I started with a 128K Macintosh and an Apple Newton. Now I have a 13" laptop with a mouse and 23" Apple monitor. I bought an iPod Touch [used] for $25, but it looks like I'll have to jailbreak it to make it usable.

We used to call a man purse a backpack. They still make'em.
JJ

I have a backpack designed specifically for laptops. It has a zippered lid with a zippered compartment in it on the top (for batteries) and three layers of pouches for documents. I just weighed it — 25lb.

It currently has an Apple 'Pismo' laptop in it. That model lasted a while, it was the last one with two swappable battery/disk drive bays. You could A-B two batteries or have a floppy or CD-ROM drive. I don't know if it even starts up now.

Have patience, eventually the computer will reduce down to a headmount camera/display of some sort and a hand-held stylus.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJcqhvadbkI

But I don't need any of the non-phone capabilities when I'm away from home, and the non-smart phone is (for me, at least) a much better phone than a smart phone would be.

And of course, for me to do useful work, I'd have to figure out how to install a working Linux system on the smartphone...

Yeah, but outdated doesn't mean unusable. I'm still rocking a Galaxy S5, going on 4 1/2 years now. It came with Android Kit Kat, and updated twice to Marshmallow. That OS is now unsupported, but I can't bring myself to buy a new phone when this one is working just fine.

My biggest gripe about phones now is the non-replaceable battery. I have two extra batteries for my S5, but there aren't any comparable phones now with removable batteries. So, I'll be locking myself into a 2-3 year replacement interval as the battery degrades. And on top of that, you can't get cheap smartphones anymore; the S5 was $100 with a service contract. Now, you pay full price but they try and make you feel better about it by financing over 24 months.

Ya, I think the outdating problem is becoming less of an issue.

First, the device updates to it's last OS version. After that it still is supported for a while even though other devices get newer OS versions. But then comes the time the OS version is no longer supported by it's creator, so no more bug fixes, updates, virus protection, etc. Soon after that the app creators no longer make or update apps for that OS version. That can mean that some apps quit working, while other may still work just fine. Others work but just without new updated content or features.

Smartphone price is a big problem IMO. I was looking at CR magazine about the best smartphones, and it started it's list at $350 phones IIRC. A lot of phone companies are starting their phone prices at nearly $1,000. You can buy Samsung phones for over $1,800!

Now mind you that I bought a $350 Windows Vista laptop in Wal-Mart in 2007, later put 1GB more of memory in it making it 2GB total for $15 on sale, then put Windows 7 on it for $35 off eBay, then I did the free upgrade to Windows 10. The laptop is still working fine today, although a bit slow. But not bad for a nearly 12 year old cheap laptop from Wal-Mart. I even took real good care of the battery by keeping it charged at around 50% and leaving it in the fridge when I didn't need it, and it still works fairly decently.

One thing smartphone manufacturers are realizing or need to realize is that the smartphone market has matured. There are no emerging markets to try and dominate and phone technology is at it's pinnacle. And that means consumers in general will now start expecting their smartphones to last longer, including the battery, because there will no longer be that push to get the latest bells and whistles. That means they are going to need to either make batteries that last much longer or are much cheaper to replace than they are now. The phone companies that survive from here onward are the ones that can get the most longevity out of their phones and that can figure out how to make money off of things other than phone hardware.

Well I don't know much about Linux systems. I've been with Microsoft operating systems since the first IBM 5150 PC. But I do agree that smartphones don't have much in being all that useful. Even the $1,800 ones.

• Texting on them is hard. If it's more than a yes or no question I call or go to my computer and type an email.
• Voice recognition doesn't work in the noisy environment (aka family) I live in.
• Trying to read on such a small screen makes me dizzy from the constant scrolling.

About all I've found them useful for is making phone calls, listening to headphone music and taking pictures. Which are things a lot of basic phones also do. Sure, there's a time or two that I need to see a website or file and I'm not close to my Surface 3, so I guess the phone comes in handy for that. But I usually try to carry my Surface around with me as much as possible.

I became more familiar with Linux because of smartphones with the Android OS. Sure it's not perfect, but it seems as easy to use as earlier versions of Windows.


Some people claim that a modern smartphone is more capable than a 20y.o. desktop, and that might be accurate, but an user-friendly interface does make a noticeable difference and to this point it's still hard for small touchscreens to replace a keyboard and a mouse. That's why I consider a smartphone to be more supplemental than an effective replacement for a PC (either desktop or laptop). In the end, the only devices effectively replaced by the smartphones and tablets were those palmtops from late-'90s to mid-'00s

I'd even rather have a dedicated music player. And while I can readily imagine that trying to read documents on a phone-sized screen would be a pain, a 10" or larger tablet works well for that - better than using a regular computer, since it can be carried around and held in one hand. But it it turn would be a PITA to try to use as a phone...

+1

I got a used iPod touch from Amazon. Dirt cheap for touchscreen, wifi and bluetooth. Love that little thing, and it beats the hell out of tying down my phone to play music.

The iPod Touch and the Mac Mini satisfy my general requirement of no built in camera or microphone.

They can't hack what isn't there.

Looking at what my phone service provider offers brand new (although since my 2007 laptop, I haven't ever bought any new electronic devices, just used ones) I see that they have only one simple phone, a flip phone available for $75. The cheapest smartphone they sell is $150. However, the flip phone, the Alcatel Go Flip, is seemingly gigantic for a flip phone. I guess it's designed for the senior community with it's big buttons.

But I'd prefer something tiny. A tiny simple phone. Yet ironically I don't find the smaller size of smartphone screens as something useful.

Actually I have a bad habit of taking my current 6 inch phone out of my pocket and leaving it places. It's just too big. And after adding to that a wallet and wad of keys in all my pockets and I start getting envious of women who use purses.

Even though the display of a smartphone is better for taking pictures than the older phones with a physical keyboard, sometimes I do miss the convenience of a keyboard. Even when I'm a passenger, it's more of a PITA to type with a touchscreen in a bumpy road than it used to be with a regular keyboard.


The camera is what I used the most in a phone, even though now I also use other apps more often.