QOTD: Laptop replacements?

Posted on July 12, 2010 by Shaun

For years smartphones and PDAs have been described as laptop replacements. Has a mobile device ever been able to replace a laptop for you? The iPad was close for me, but laptops and netbooks still definitely have a place.

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8 Responses to QOTD: Laptop replacements?

  1. DavidGreen says:
    July 12, 2010 at 5:56 am

    Saying a PDA or SmartPhone could replace a laptop sounds like “Market Speak”. While they can extend the portability and access to information, while the human / machine interface is still heavily reliant on a keyboard, we have a while to go before that interface can be adequately represented or replaced.

    Also, the iPad has a respectable screen size, but its hardly portable.

  2. Eliyahu Ben-Haim says:
    July 12, 2010 at 7:10 am

    NO.

    My Laptop was down for days and I was able to get my emails and a web site or 2 so in that way it came in as a handy spare. But replace my laptop – not a chance.

    I will have to get a netbook as a backup to my laptop.
    The phone has a place and its a great convenience but if I had to choose between laptop and smartphone, I do back to a dumb Nokia and my laptop.

  3. Peter (PDA-247) says:
    July 12, 2010 at 7:44 am

    I (still today at least) need something running windows.

    I have a gorgeous Sony Vaio P (google if you’ve not heard of them – it does the job for me brilliantly.

    Peter

  4. Philippa says:
    July 12, 2010 at 8:33 am

    I’ve used one as a temporary laptop while away in order to avoid carrying a heavy computer. For a day or so it’s fine for taking notes, checking email, light surfing etc. Ultimately it doesn’t replace my laptop for more intensive for specialised tasks though (drawing packages, programming, media management).

  5. Sid says:
    July 12, 2010 at 9:10 am

    I can almost manage without a laptop.

    My Blackberry covers most of my work needs but can’t get my email out of my inbox into an archive. Without this, I need to use my laptop to prevent my inbox choking. The other main issues are large excel files which need a pc and giving presentations. I need to be able to write and run presentations from my laptop.

    A larger inbox file limit, teaching people not to send huge excel files and a portable presentation solution could make my Blackberry a laptop replacement for work.

    My iPhone covers nearly all of my personal needs.I rarely use a laptop personally except for itunes sync.

    Almost there. Phones WILL replace laptops soon!

    Sid

  6. vboelema says:
    July 12, 2010 at 1:25 pm

    My Psion 5mx was my laptop. I had a file converter so I could read/write any word docs that were sent to me. I did pretty much everything on it. I tried the same with a Palm when I first got it, and it was too hard until after a few years Docs To Go finally caught up and Snappermail came on the scene. I also used a bluetooth keyboard. But with my smartphone I finally gave up and I am now a fairly happy netbook user, and my phone is just that plus my calendar and a few other small things. I got tired.

  7. gavinfabl says:
    July 12, 2010 at 9:54 pm

    The XDA Exec did with ease.

  8. Clark Fralick says:
    July 12, 2010 at 11:44 pm

    The iPad is about 90% there for me. Other than the need for a robust graphics editing software, my workflow is evolving around the use of my iPad. Once school gets back is session, I will really get to put it to the test.