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Do we really need PCs?

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J

Jon Davis

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I have been using one Android device or another for several years now. Using a GN10.1 for a year now.
My windows laptop has been gathering dust for quite a while.
Recently I dug it out to work on some CDs.
I was stunned by how clumsy the windows interface was. Awkward.
It took so long to boot up, and long to shut down...
Granted I don't have the latest windows with a touch screen. Still....
I suppose that a physical keyboard would be needed for heavy entry. Still...
I am wirelessly printing from my tablet.
What do I need the damned laptop for?
Just saying.
 
Last time i used our laptop was to root my android phone lol (truth).
I dont even have a tab yet (hopefully getting a 1st gen nexus7 soon) and all my computing, internet needs are done on my phone so i definately see your point :)
 
I dug out my old Windows XP laptop recently and discovered it had a DVD player. I used it to convert several DVDs to mp4 files so I could watch them on my android tablet while traveling. Was surprised the old laptop was still useful.
 
I know what you mean. Iv'e been using a hp laptop for ages and it used to take five or so minutes to boot up recently I finally got a new one and it booted up windows 8 in 10 seconds. :P
 
These days we all don't need a Windows machine anymore. Microsoft need us more than we need MS. I still need mine, because theres still video games that I play on the computer.
 
sfbloodbrother said:
These days we all don't need a Windows machine anymore.
Click to expand...
Not ALL of us ever needed micro$oft. Me, for example. :D I'm Linux only, and have been forever. UNIX before that. When I was forced (like at work) to administer some window$ machines, I'd PULL MY HAIR OUT because of the slowness, the lack of sophisticated built-in tools, the lack of security, the constant rebooting, etc. What I never understood was how/why M$ managed to convince the masses that their horrible, slow, bloated, virus-laden, so-called operating system was worth anything!
 
MoodyBlues said:
Not ALL of us ever needed micro$oft. Me, for example. :D I'm Linux only, and have been forever. UNIX before that. When I was forced (like at work) to administer some window$ machines, I'd PULL MY HAIR OUT because of the slowness, the lack of sophisticated built-in tools, the lack of security, the constant rebooting, etc. What I never understood was how/why M$ managed to convince the masses that their horrible, slow, bloated, virus-laden, so-called operating system was worth anything!
Click to expand...

Microsoft couldn't efficiently program anything. Marketing however, that they do very well.
 
MoodyBlues said:
Not ALL of us ever needed micro$oft. Me, for example. :D I'm Linux only, and have been forever. UNIX before that. When I was forced (like at work) to administer some window$ machines, I'd PULL MY HAIR OUT because of the slowness, the lack of sophisticated built-in tools, the lack of security, the constant rebooting, etc. What I never understood was how/why M$ managed to convince the masses that their horrible, slow, bloated, virus-laden, so-called operating system was worth anything!
Click to expand...

It has the support of all the big companies and has really good software. That's how they win.
 
I'm a heavy Office user for work, especially Excel and PowerPoint. Also if I'm doing a long email I definitely like a full keyboard. I'm a very fast typer so using a phone for anything other than short notes gets frustrating in a hurry.

Microsoft has certainly had its low points but Windows 7 seems pretty solid.

I'm also addicted to my Microsoft Trackball Explorer Pro and mechanical keyboards of various types. I don't get to do much gaming anymore as I have two little kids, but I still like to fire up Continuum or Tropico 4 now and again, neither of which would translate that well to a phone.
 
If I need to get something done...I use my PC. Android is good for peripheral viewing and minor tasks, but anything that takes typing or horsepower requires a real computer. And given a choice, I would always rather surf on a PC. Much faster and much easier. I can type a lot quicker on a real keyboard and can accomplish the easiest of tasks much quicker too on a PC. I do a lot of photography and use Photoshop CS6 and Nikon NX2 as well as many other programs which I could never do on a phone. Android can't deal with RAW images (AFAIK) and who wants to edit images on a 5" screen. Don't get me wrong...I love having a smartphone and I wouldn't be caught without one...but the PC has still got a big place in my world.
 
The PC has a solid place in my world, and has had it for a long time. I use my laptop every day weather running Linux or Windows 7. I do love my Android device, but even if I had the shiny new Galaxy S4, it wouldn't replace my laptop.
 
shmn said:
If I need to get something done...I use my PC. Android is good for peripheral viewing and minor tasks, but anything that takes typing or horsepower requires a real computer. And given a choice, I would always rather surf on a PC. Much faster and much easier. I can type a lot quicker on a real keyboard and can accomplish the easiest of tasks much quicker too on a PC. I do a lot of photography and use Photoshop CS6 and Nikon NX2 as well as many other programs which I could never do on a phone. Android can't deal with RAW images (AFAIK) and who wants to edit images on a 5" screen. Don't get me wrong...I love having a smartphone and I wouldn't be caught without one...but the PC has still got a big place in my world.
Click to expand...

Good post and I agree with you, not to mention PC gaming.

To tell you the truth the only time I had any major problems on Windows was with Vista, that thing would do a BSOD at least once a day. W7 on the other hand has been fantastic, I got a new PC a few weeks back for only about $350 (i already had W7 and bought a good AMD APU so that brought the costs down, I also got and AMD graphics card and set up dual graphics).
 
Do we need PC's is really an open-ended question more than a yes or no one.

It really boils down to what you DO on your computer/phone/etc.

As much as I love my note, there are things I use my PC for. A lot of sites I visit aren't mobile friendly, and do not have an app. I also use my PC for music, movies, etc. Sort of like a media server streaming to my PS3. I also use another PC for playing StepMania (DDR more or less) which I can't really do on my phone. Well...I COULD...but with my fingers...which isn't the point of it. :P

TL;DR

Yes I need a PC.
 
For me, I simply cannot imagine a tablet or phone replacing a full-sized keyboard and nice, big screen that go along with laptops (and desktops). The laptop I'm typing this on has a full-sized keyboard complete with numeric keypad to the right; it's able to be that big because of the size of its screen. I like that. I type fast, as in blazingly fast, and I just can't see that happening on a touchscreen--and DEFINITELY not on a phone! I managed to knock out one reply here on AF yesterday on my phone, and it took forever and I could barely see what I was doing. Ugh.

So, for me, it's PC all the way until they become obsolete. If I ever buy a tablet it'll be just for fun, as an adjunct to my REAL computers. (And by PC I mean "personal computer" not "personal computer running window$." *MY* PCs all run Linux. :D)
 
sfbloodbrother said:
It has the support of all the big companies and has really good software. That's how they win.
Click to expand...
It *HAD* the support of all the big companies--have you checked out window$ phone sales lately? :p

As for really good software, I personally don't think software that routinely causes computers to crash, or slow down to a crawl, or become infected with viruses and malware, and has to be continually upgraded (at more expense), qualifies as REALLY GOOD software. But that's just me. :D
 
MoodyBlues said:
Some stuff was said here...

I type fast, as in blazingly fast, and I just can't see that happening on a touchscreen--and DEFINITELY not on a phone!


more stuff here!
Click to expand...

This. This is why I don't want an "all in one" PC or a tablet. Sure, touch screens are fancy and all, but a physical keyboard? Nothing can compete in my eyes.

Although give it a few more years. I have a feeling solid keyboards will be a thing of the past, much like zip drives/floppy drives and CRT monitors.
 
There may still be a need for physical keyboards. Welll... Maybe not, because if a holagraphic keyboard can show up on my desk, then I would rather use that for space reasons.
 
I used to this a decent phone (+ maybe tablet) was all I needed, but since building a high spec PC, I've realised it isn't the case (at least for me). In fact, since getting it, I found I could do what I used to use my phone for, but much more efficiently - it's probably quicker to turn my computer on and goole something than it is to use my phone. :D
 
At home I use my desktop PC, running Linux, majority of the time. I prefer a big monitor and the bigger the better! While in bed or on the couch, I may use the phone or tablet to look something up or when the grand kids are over and they use the PC most of the time.
 
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