Using phone for "primary" internet browsing? An experiment.

[VirtualLarry]

I think this screen is 5". Not 1080p, But some kind of reasonable PPI. It's a Samsung galaxy J3. Battery sure charges slow. Thank God it's at least a quad-core. I can browse, and listen to streaming radio, and even Skype on the phone.

I'm not happy with the direction this industry is going. This is a mid/low-end phone, but it has a headphone jack, removable Battery, microSD slot, quad-core, and Wi-Fi calling. No 5Ghz Wi-Fi though.

I've looked at newer/ higher-end phones, and they have octo-cores, but they either Don't have a removable Battery, or Don't have a MicroSD , or Don't have a headphone jack. I want all three.

 

[lakedude]

So your title and your post don't seem to have a lot in common...

I'm sick of paying for cable internet and have been toying with the idea of telling the cable company goodbye.

I just picked up a Samsung Galaxy S8 for $199. It has your SD slot and a headphone jack but lacks an easily removable battery. Wireless charging is a plus.

So here are a couple of ideas:

1) Use the phone as a WiFi hotspot to power a real computer via the phone rather than the cable internet. Unfortunately my phone limits hotspot speeds to 3G which is just a bit slow. We tested it and we can power one screen from the phone but adding more devices bogs it down to a crawl. Even one device will be a little slow. Netflix took forever to start with 3 devices hooked to the hotspot and then it played in horribly low resolution but once we took the other devices off the network Netflix eventually streamed at a decent quality resolution.

2) Using the phone directly on 4G is plenty fast but there is the matter of the small screen size so maybe use a "DEX Station" or "DEX Pad" to provide the phone with a docking station so you can hook your phone up to a keyboard, monitor and mouse via USB and HDMI. I've got a DEX coming on a slow boat from China. I don't know if your phone would work with a DEX or not, mine does for sure.

 

[WelshBloke]

Removable batteries (unfortunately) have gone. The best you'll get now is a wireless battery case if you really need that. You can still get microSD and headphone jacks.

As to the title of the thread I use my smartphone way, way more than a PC for the web. I'd estimate that >80% of my websurfing is on my phone.

 

[lxskllr]

I have a j7, and it might be my favorite phone. Does everything I need, and has all the features you listed. I do a lot of browsing on the phone, but I still prefer a real computer. Aside from portability, it's just better.

 

[lakedude]

The DeX came in. It could totally replace a desktop and cable internet.

 

[lakedude]

The DeX allows your phone to hook up to a keyboard, mouse and monitor. The cell phone's screen shuts off and is instead displayed on a monitor. At the same time DeX mode is enabled which makes the phone act more like a computer than a phone. It works pretty darn good once you get some bugs out.

Perhaps the biggest "bug" is with apps that don't allow you to scale the window so the display hardly bigger than it would be on the phone itself. Some apps seem to simply not be DeX aware, but others seem to have lost the ability to scale on purpose, like Netflix. Fortunately there are ways around these limitations.

4G LTE is plenty fast enough to stream YouTube or Netfilx if you have a good signal. The quality might be limited to 480p, I'm not sure.

For some reason the mouse scroll wheel does not work with Google Maps, one must double click and then drag the pointer around to zoom.

The DeX is almost but not quite good enough to the the cable internet provider farewell. I'd be tempted if it were just me but the rest of the family wouldn't be happy.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Wow, that DeX is pretty neat. Have to look closely, to see that isn't Win10. Interesting desktop look for Android.

 

[paperfist]

I don't understand how anyone can use a phone for primary web browsing unless you were born with that as the only option. I just tried to complete an economic census on my phone. Rage ensued and now I'm back on my desktop with triple monitors. Bliss.

 

[lakedude]

The biggest frustration of using a phone for me is the imprecise fingers on a touch screen. DeX solves this by allowing a keyboard and mouse (and monitor) to be hooked up to the phone. Great option if you live in a rural area with good cell reception and no good land based internet options.

 

[killster1]

The j8 is a phone for people who want to look like they have a nice phone it Looks like a galaxy s8 right but the specs of a phone from 6 years ago.
Removable batteries no longer interest me. When i had a note 4 i enjoyed popping the back off and switching batteries. but guess what you lose from this? Quality batteries and waterproof abilities.

The biggest problem with using phone for surfing the web are pages that force mobile viewing or dont allow a pop up that is required to login. Finger pressed are more of a guess with a zoom in and press hoping to push what you wanted. I wish i could use my phone as a hotspot but that will require me to root and care more than i do currently. I think just buying a different hotspot to plug the simcard would be alot easier for me.

I know the only way to send facebook msgs with out installing facebook app is to go to non mobile site and zoom scroll zoom press zoom swipe slide etc so annoying but i refuse to ever install a facebook app or fb messenger app.

 

[Alpha One Seven]

The DeX allows your phone to hook up to a keyboard, mouse and monitor. The cell phone's screen shuts off and is instead displayed on a monitor. At the same time DeX mode is enabled which makes the phone act more like a computer than a phone. It works pretty darn good once you get some bugs out.

Perhaps the biggest "bug" is with apps that don't allow you to scale the window so the display hardly bigger than it would be on the phone itself. Some apps seem to simply not be DeX aware, but others seem to have lost the ability to scale on purpose, like Netflix. Fortunately there are ways around these limitations.

4G LTE is plenty fast enough to stream YouTube or Netfilx if you have a good signal. The quality might be limited to 480p, I'm not sure.

For some reason the mouse scroll wheel does not work with Google Maps, one must double click and then drag the pointer around to zoom.

The DeX is almost but not quite good enough to the the cable internet provider farewell. I'd be tempted if it were just me but the rest of the family wouldn't be happy.

How is it for gaming the latest PC titles?

 

[wilds]

I can connect my Note 8 to my USB hub with an HDMI port and 3 USB ports and it essentially becomes a cheap desktop.

Firefox for Android supports essentially all desktop add ons and it really does feel like I'm on my desktop.

Mouse and keyboard support along with Xbox controller lets me play a ton of games that my desktop can.

Emulating old console games and Minecraft are the most I will do.

My old Note 4 is just fast enough for Firefox, but it feels sluggish at times compared to the Note 8.

It really is all about Firefox for Android for me though. Without all the add on support, I don't think I could replicate the desktop browsing experience.

 

[lakedude]

How is it for gaming the latest PC titles?

I expect you already know the answer.

 

[gorcorps]

The DeX allows your phone to hook up to a keyboard, mouse and monitor. The cell phone's screen shuts off and is instead displayed on a monitor. At the same time DeX mode is enabled which makes the phone act more like a computer than a phone. It works pretty darn good once you get some bugs out.

Perhaps the biggest "bug" is with apps that don't allow you to scale the window so the display hardly bigger than it would be on the phone itself. Some apps seem to simply not be DeX aware, but others seem to have lost the ability to scale on purpose, like Netflix. Fortunately there are ways around these limitations.

4G LTE is plenty fast enough to stream YouTube or Netfilx if you have a good signal. The quality might be limited to 480p, I'm not sure.

For some reason the mouse scroll wheel does not work with Google Maps, one must double click and then drag the pointer around to zoom.

The DeX is almost but not quite good enough to the the cable internet provider farewell. I'd be tempted if it were just me but the rest of the family wouldn't be happy.

It makes me sad that Samsung has yet to develop a Dex laptop. I have an aging surface pro 3 whose battery is starting to go downhill, and I don't really want to replace it. Samsung could lock me into their ecosystem for good if they came out with a laptop type device that had its own battery, and had a spot to just slide your phone in to give you the Dex experience in a self contained screen + keyboard + trackpad setup. It seems like a no-brainer... I don't get how this doesn't exist yet.

 

[Alpha One Seven]

I expect you already know the answer.

No, I never tried the software.

 

[lakedude]

No, I never tried the software.

Okay, phones like we are talking about run Android OS not Windows so generally no Windows based games will work on an Android phone. There may be a way around this, I've not checked.

Also no phone can compete with a full fledged desktop and modern video card. Phones these days are amazingly powerful considering their form factor but they can not go toe to toe with a desktop gaming rig.

You can play games on the phone with DeX and they are half decent.

While a phone is not a suitable replacement for a gaming rig it is a suitable replacement for a normal desktop used for surfing and non-gaming day to day use. I was pretty amazed at how well Dex worked. That said there are bugs to work out, like getting certain apps to run in full screen mode...

 

[Zaap]

Removable batteries no longer interest me. When i had a note 4 i enjoyed popping the back off and switching batteries. but guess what you lose from this? Quality batteries and waterproof abilities.

There's nothing says a battery can't be high quality just because its removable. I'd still prefer this method just because its the most logical and useful for a device. I'd take removable (supposedly lesser quality) batteries over a sealed battery any day. My old Notes were always just two seconds away from 100% charge and it was better than internal only batteries.

As for water resistance , Samsung made an S model that had removable battery and water resistance.

Thing about that.. that's all it is. Water resistance. Dummies I know who've gone swiming with their phones thinking it means true "waterproof" have all had issues. It will resist a dunking or two and not fail, but purposefully submerging it... dumb.

Anyway I know the removable battery ship has sailed and that's fine, but it wasn't about battery quality, necessarily. (Some peeps did get suckered by cheap, knockoff bad batteries) .

 

[Zaap]

As for the topic... I get using a phone as primary browser/computer when its the only device around. Surfing while doing mundane waiting around has changed most people's lives.

But personally, no idea why I'd ever want to sit down at a desk and use the same device instead of just a decent desktop computer, or laptop. The idea has never appealed to me much. Still don't get anyone's desire for it when vastly better is the norm still.

 

[killster1]

There's nothing says a battery can't be high quality just because its removable. I'd still prefer this method just because its the most logical and useful for a device. I'd take removable (supposedly lesser quality) batteries over a sealed battery any day. My old Notes were always just two seconds away from 100% charge and it was better than internal only batteries.

As for water resistance , Samsung made an S model that had removable battery and water resistance.

Thing about that.. that's all it is. Water resistance. Dummies I know who've gone swiming with their phones thinking it means true "waterproof" have all had issues. It will resist a dunking or two and not fail, but purposefully submerging it... dumb.

Anyway I know the removable battery ship has sailed and that's fine, but it wasn't about battery quality, necessarily. (Some peeps did get suckered by cheap, knockoff bad batteries) .

OK ok you are very right. Its more difficult and costly to buy a second battery since fakes that will not work as good as a real non-counterfeit samsung battery. I agree so much i loved having 100% charge. If you have to change your battery a few times a day maybe the battery is not lasting as it should might be a argument. And yes you can get water resistance but i have had my galaxy s7 dunked in mud and works perfect after drying out the charge port. The S5 with removable back was not good enough to help more than a quick splash / dunk.

 

[thilanliyan]

I have a S8 active and the Dex pad. Have to say it works really well for browsing and watching YouTube.

 

[Alpha One Seven]

Okay, phones like we are talking about run Android OS not Windows so generally no Windows based games will work on an Android phone. There may be a way around this, I've not checked.

Also no phone can compete with a full fledged desktop and modern video card. Phones these days are amazingly powerful considering their form factor but they can not go toe to toe with a desktop gaming rig.

You can play games on the phone with DeX and they are half decent.

While a phone is not a suitable replacement for a gaming rig it is a suitable replacement for a normal desktop used for surfing and non-gaming day to day use. I was pretty amazed at how well Dex worked. That said there are bugs to work out, like getting certain apps to run in full screen mode...

Oh, Android, ok. I somehow missed that part.
I bet it's a lot better than the tiny screen even if the OS is less robust. I hate doing emails on my phone, the only plus is not having to type a reply, just speak the reply and hit send. (after fixing any auto-incorrections it decides it needs to).

 

[lakedude]

The DeX is perfect for typing e-mails or even using Google Docs to type up a document. I find a tiny touch screen frustrating in these situations and the DeX solves the problem.

But personally, no idea why I'd ever want to sit down at a desk and use the same device instead of just a decent desktop computer, or laptop. The idea has never appealed to me much.

So the cool thing about using one device is that all the stuff you use everyday is right there, even when you are on the road. Another cool thing is built in 4G service. Since you are using the phone directly you have whatever data service your phone has but on a desktop computer environment. You are not subject to 4G adapter or hotspot rules. In the case of T-Mobile this means 50GB/month before they throttle you. It is almost good enough for me to cancel land base internet, almost.

 

[Zaap]

So the cool thing about using one device is that all the stuff you use everyday is right there, even when you are on the road.

No it isn't. I use desktop applications on a computer, not phone apps. And if the stuff I use is there, it's on a laptop, which is nothing new.

Another cool thing is built in 4G service. Since you are using the phone directly you have whatever data service your phone has but on a desktop computer environment.

There's litterally not a situation I can think of other than an emergency or extreme 'make do' where I could see that being preferable to a REAL desktop computer environment (that's insanely faster/more powerful) hooked up via ethernet or at the very least wifi that's both faster and unlimited.

The capper is that pound for pound even a modest desktop computer is way more powerful and much cheaper than the best mobile device experience which is going to cost a lot more.

(TLDR: a $300 PC will whip the ass of a $1000+ phone by just about any measure.)

Then there's perks like driving multiple monitors...

Since we are talking a fixed desktop PC location here, all the PC benefits apply. Traveling, a laptop wins hands down. Who's lugging a full sized monitor/setup with them?

Not trying to be a naysayer, I'm just not seeing how mobile-becomes-desktop is much more than a fun gimmick. Now, I'm all for fun gimmicks, I'm just not buying the (as of now) fiction that it really could be a viable desktop replacement for most people engaged in any serious work. May change in the future.

To me, what would be a lot more interesting and practical, is if phones could just better integrate with existing PCs better and harness their power.

For example: I'd love to be able to attach my phone to my desktop and have apps like the messaging services integrate right into the PC. So if I'm texting someone, the texting interface is connected and active as a PC or Mac application, seamlessly. Or a phone call just plays straight through the desktop audio system, and all notifications pop up on the desktop OS's notification system.

And of course drag/drop seamless file system.

The phone trying to BE the desktop seems a bit silly to me, but logically intergrating with it in a totally seamless way without the shuffle of any third party voodoo... now that would be interesting.

Closest I've seen to this is Samsung's SideSync, which is pretty useful, but I'm talking a total OS integration .

 

[lakedude]

For example: I'd love to be able to attach my phone to my desktop and have apps like the messaging services integrate right into the PC. So if I'm texting someone, the texting interface is connected and active as a PC or Mac application, seamlessly. Or a phone call just plays straight through the desktop audio system, and all notifications pop up on the desktop OS's notification system.

Yes this is a great idea and one I'm already part way on board with by using Google services like Voice and/or Hangouts and other Google cloud based services. Pretty much works just like you are talking about. It isn't total integration but email, SMS/MMS texts, calendar, photos, and even maps can be synced or shared between devices. Pretty darn cool IMHO. Also my Google Voice phone number has been the same even after changing both home and cell phone services and phone numbers.

Certainly a desktop is the most powerful, no argument. I'm not making the jump to the phone just yet but I have jumped into the laptop space for day to day stuff. The desktop is collecting dust waiting on video card prices and VR gear to come down in price. My laptop has a powerful CPU, SSD, and even a decent video card so it is not painful to use at all and as I mentioned it is handy to have all your stuff with you all the time, even on the road. Having made the jump into the laptop space I can easily imagine doing it again into the phone space, especially if a decent laptop style phone dock became available.

Do they have high speed WiFi everywhere you go? I've been places that didn't have WiFi or where the WiFi was so slow as to be useless. A cell phone based system would have been great to have in those locations.

 

[killster1]

No it isn't. I use desktop applications on a computer, not phone apps. And if the stuff I use is there, it's on a laptop, which is nothing new.




There's litterally not a situation I can think of other than an emergency or extreme 'make do' where I could see that being preferable to a REAL desktop computer environment (that's insanely faster/more powerful) hooked up via ethernet or at the very least wifi that's both faster and unlimited.

The capper is that pound for pound even a modest desktop computer is way more powerful and much cheaper than the best mobile device experience which is going to cost a lot more.

(TLDR: a $300 PC will whip the ass of a $1000+ phone by just about any measure.)

Then there's perks like driving multiple monitors...

Since we are talking a fixed desktop PC location here, all the PC benefits apply. Traveling, a laptop wins hands down. Who's lugging a full sized monitor/setup with them?

Not trying to be a naysayer, I'm just not seeing how mobile-becomes-desktop is much more than a fun gimmick. Now, I'm all for fun gimmicks, I'm just not buying the (as of now) fiction that it really could be a viable desktop replacement for most people engaged in any serious work. May change in the future.

To me, what would be a lot more interesting and practical, is if phones could just better integrate with existing PCs better and harness their power.

For example: I'd love to be able to attach my phone to my desktop and have apps like the messaging services integrate right into the PC. So if I'm texting someone, the texting interface is connected and active as a PC or Mac application, seamlessly. Or a phone call just plays straight through the desktop audio system, and all notifications pop up on the desktop OS's notification system.

And of course drag/drop seamless file system.

The phone trying to BE the desktop seems a bit silly to me, but logically intergrating with it in a totally seamless way without the shuffle of any third party voodoo... now that would be interesting.

Closest I've seen to this is Samsung's SideSync, which is pretty useful, but I'm talking a total OS integration .

im not sure that a 300$ Desktop will whip a 1000$ cellphone at any task.. boot time? number crunching? games? what will it beat the cellphone at doing?