Could a smartphone really be our only computer by 2017? That’s what a recent Wired article suggested.
I’m sort of a holdout for an older style of computer. I have a laptop, but do most of my work on a desktop computer. It’s more powerful and I can get my work done far more quickly with a traditional keyboard and mouse. But if I’m not actively doing work, my laptop serves its purpose just as well.
But why stop there? Just as I prefer my desktop to my laptop, I prefer my laptop to my iPad or iPhone. But – and this next sentence is going to make me sound lazy – if I want to look something up or send someone a message, I’m going to grab whatever device is closest. That’s almost always my iPhone.
If I’m willing to give up the comforts of my desktop for my laptop, and the comforts of my laptop for my iPhone, then by the transitive property (right? it’s been a while since I’ve had math), I’m willing to give up the comforts of my desktop for my iPhone. Granted, if I were to do a day’s worth of work on my phone, it’d take me like four times as long as it would on my desktop. But that’s today.
When Apple launched iOS 8, you were able to install third-party keyboards for the first time. It’s amazing how much more bearable typing is on an iPhone with Swype as opposed to the stock keyboard. (Yes, Android users, I know you’ve been able to do this for a while. It’s one thing I missed about Android.) If typing on smartphones continues to, it won’t be too long before most people are willing to give up physical keyboards altogether. (If you really want a physical keyboard, there’s a case for that.)
Mobile apps of the software I use for work – Squarespace, Hootsuite, Feedly, etc. – all continue to improve and make life easier on the go. Two years ago, it’d be inconceivable to use our phones for some of the things we routinely use them for today. Where will we be in two years? Answer: In a place far more mobile-friendly than we are now.
I don’t know that I’ll ever prefer using a virtual keyboard to a physical one, or opting to use a phone with a five or six inch screen instead of a 23” monitor. But I also don’t see it as an impossibility. Whenever I go on a trip, I always bring my laptop with me, almost out of habit. But often, I find that I have little use for it – my phone can do most of what I want to do on my laptop. I’m going to go laptop-free this weekend and see if I survive. (I hope I do.)
By leaving tech behind, I’ll experience my most tech-forward weekend in a long time.
Joey is the Manager of Content and Community at ShellyPalmer. With a journalism degree from Ramapo College of New Jersey, he’s a die-hard Minnesota Vikings fan, enjoys watching movies and loves most things tech. You can follow him on Twitter @soulpopped. He’s also the co-host of the award-winning* podcast “Sports 4 Starters.” (*Note*: No awards actually won.)