Pretty much just use my iphone 6+ for everything. I haven't had a PC for several years (all I ever did on it at the end was updates) and rarely use my old ipad.

quote:

Originally posted by PHPaul:
I was a confirmed Luddite for YEARS, resisted having a cell phone. When it became pretty much inevitable, I held on to a basic "call people" flip phone for several years.

When THAT became essentially obsolete, I caved and bought a very basic smart phone, a Samsung J3, under $200 new.

I LOVE it for texting, GPS, vehicle record keeping and a couple of other apps I use regularly. It's OK for actual phone calls, depending on the service available. Eastern Maine is still a bit behind the curve on coverage.

Surfing the net? Not so much. Too small, too hard to see, nearly impossible to tap on the link you actually want vs. everything else on the screen. I do use it when I'm terminally bored while waiting on an appointment, but that's it. Much rather sit at my desk with a full sized keyboard, a mouse and a monitor that I can see at a distance over a foot.

This pretty much describes me to a "T", except, having been in CB radio, then Ham radio, ever since I was a teenager, and being an IT guy ever since about my mid-20s, I went to a cell phone, then a phone with some smarts (Palm Centro), then a smartphone probably much more rapidly than Paul.

But, like Paul: While I appreciate what it can do, I save the browsing sessions, particularly interactive ones, like now. for at least my 10" tablet, and more likely my desktop--where I've a 34" screen

I don't much need the phone for a GPS, any more, either, now that my latest vehicle has a very capable nav system built-in, with a much larger screen

For what I do have little use, any more, is a laptop. Esp. now that I'm retired. I have one, but it's very, very rarely used--and then even for only very short periods.

I'll stick with a tower, monitor, keyboard and mouse for my computing, thank you. I'll consider a tablet or laptop if I want to take my computing with me. A smart phone big enough to see and operate easily is too clumsy to carry around, especially when I spend a lot of time squatting, climbing and crawling.

quote:

Originally posted by dcowboyscr:
I agree totally I haven’t turned my computer on in over two years LOL. I do everything on my phone as well.

How are you connecting to, and communicating with SIGforum?

My iPad Pro is my every day device. I’m on it all the time (including righ now).

It was the iPad that changed the way I do things. Prior to that I was always on a 13” MacBook Pro.

I’ve got my iPhone X for times when the iPad doesn’t make sense.

While there is a lot of overlap, they serve different purposes for me, mainly based on where I am at the time.

If I'm home, I use the biggest device at my disposal. Right now I'm typing this on my desktop computer with a 24" screen, big keyboard and separate trackball. If I actually have to type anything, I much prefer this. If I'm in my living room, I have a tablet that I'll use if I'm on the couch match TV. I don't like typing on that, but I'll do it. The only think I use the smartphone for in the house is texting, and any incoming calls that don't come in on the house phone.

But when I'm out of the house, I obviously use the phone for everything, and I appreciate having the capability.

quote:

Originally posted by ensigmatic:

I don't much need the phone for a GPS, any more, either, now that my latest vehicle has a very capable nav system built-in, with a much larger screen

For what I do have little use, any more, is a laptop. Esp. now that I'm retired. I have one, but it's very, very rarely used--and then even for only very short periods.

The GPS app is the excuse I used to "need" a smart phone. Wicked handy on the modersickel.

And yup on the laptop. On those odd occasions when I need portable access, I take my Kindle Fire. That's not much fun to surf on either, but it's better than the phone.

I use a Chromebook at home and am happy with it, it's kind of like they took a tablet and added a keyboard to it in the form of a laptop.

Compared to the HP Win10 laptop I had before, this thing screams and makes me realize just how bad Windows has gotten.

Computers vs phones. You compare them as if they’re two different things. Does your phone not have a processor? Memory? Storage space?

It’s just a form factor you’re talking about. Interestingly enough, I can do the same things on both my laptop and phone: make calls, video conference, check my finances, pay bills, browse the web, go on SigForum, etc.

I use both equally and even at the same time for the sake of efficiency. For example, even with two additional monitors besides my main laptop screen, it’s much more efficient to work with Quicken on my laptop, have a browser open to the bank site, but when I want to schedule a bill payment, I use the phone because even from scratch, it’s less clicks to schedule a payment using my bank’s bill pay on the phone app than the bank’s bill pay via browser.

And back to the form factor, I learned how i’m Using a laptop, I might as well get a NUC next time. I’ll get more for the same money, portability but without the battery but I have my computer in a phone available for that.

I don't use the internet on my phone, except for quickie look-ups of factoids. I use a tablet at home, but break out my laptop for "real" computing, like typing documents, etc.

My wife, who is self admittedly "tech challenged" was none too happy when i replaced the aging Dell desktop with an iMac about 5 years ago, so much so that she wound no use it. Instead she became very used to doing almost everything on a tablet or phone and now, very rarely need anything more.

Also, this past weekend, stepson told me he sold he aging MBP (smart move, it was an old 2010 and had some miles on it) and said he had no plans to replace because he had not used it since he got and iPad Pro.

I can't imagine building a spreadsheet on my cell phone. Or researching and placing a large order with AMAZON. Or studying maps or satellite views before I travel. Or creating .pdf's. Or doing my income taxes. Or burning DVDs. Or storing large numbers of large scans for ready access. etc., etc., etc.

Cell phones for me are simply devices of convenience...mobile communications of a sort. I personally dislike the quality of the calls, and the delay - especially when it's a 2-cell phone connection - drives me right up the walls.

I use a phone for a lot of things but I cannot imagine doing Photoshop editing at pixel level, video editing by frame or even financial spreadsheets on a phone vs. a laptop or desktop PC. Doing it section by section on a phone is like... arrrgh...

Even working in a full-size spreadsheet is punishment unless you have a decent-sized display.

Yes, you CAN use a phone, but at least for my uses desktop and laptop computers aren't going anywhere yet...

I suspect it won't be long before algorhythms may enable much better editing on phones. (Right now blanket filters don't do the job...)

quote:

Originally posted by fpuhan:

quote:

Originally posted by dcowboyscr:
I agree totally I haven’t turned my computer on in over two years LOL. I do everything on my phone as well.

How are you connecting to, and communicating with SIGforum?

Of my 12k posts including items sold in Classifieds I would say 80% have been done on a phone. When you get good at using a phone to it’s full capabilities you can do just about anything. He’ll there are movies being made that are 100% shot and edited on iPhones. Today I sent 2 faxes, purchased a few items on amazon, booked a flight, and started this thread on my phone.

Simply CAN NOT see myself using a phone or tablet for CAD type work or large multi-tab spreadsheets. I don't mind using a phone/tablet for viewing such documents, but not for generating them. Writing software, not a chance.

Admittedly, most of my stuff is hardly considered casual use.

I browse the forum on my mobile, so yes?

You guys are slipping. OK, I'll do it..

Porn is so much better on a bigger screen.

I was another Luddite holdout when it came to switching from the old flip phone to a smart phone. That happened a couple of years ago now. I've been using the phone for more and more things, but I despise having to type anything on it. If I need to send a text that's more than a few words long, I'll do it from a real computer. Surfing with more than one browser tab: real computer. SigForum: real computer. Documents & spreadsheets: real computer. Youtube: real computer. I use the phone for phone calls, text messages (short ones), quick internet searches, scanning email inboxes, ordering pizza from Domino's, and that's about it.

That said, I'm thinking seriously about dumping my landline phone in favor of the cell. I'm paying about $30/month for the landline and the only advantage it has over the cell is that in an emergency (i.e., the big earthquake), my gut tells me that the landline will probably stay up longer than the cell service. Maybe.

quote:

Originally posted by apprentice:
You guys are slipping. OK, I'll do it..

Porn is so much better on a bigger screen.

Actually I think the majority of porn is viewed on mobile devices....at least that is what I have read.

I've got a macbook air that I fireup about once a month to do the budget spreadsheet. I still haven't found a good way to use spreadsheets on my phone or tablet. Almost all of my internet time is spent on my phone.

My wife is an author and spends most of her time on a computer. Her phone use mainly for communicating, taking pics of the dogs, and social media.


At work I need a computer. I even take an extra monitor with me for my toughbook when I am in the field. I have too many specialty programs that require a computer and I need more screen space than a tablet could ever give me.