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Other When will iPhone replace desktop / laptop?

H

Hoff

macrumors regular
Original poster
Jan 24, 2018
181
29
When do you think we'll have an iPhone that's able to power dual 27" monitors and replace our desktop or laptop setups?

Not that Samsung has fully achieved it, but I'm thinking of something like this. But with an iPhone. And two monitors.


Phone Computer.png

Photo from this article:
https://www.theverge.com/2017/5/2/15495036/samsung-dex-station-galaxy-s8-review-desktop-dock
 
Applefan4 said:
Never. You can't seriously think that a tiny phone can replace a massive desktop with a full fledged operating system.
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I don’t think hardware is the problem with this concept at all. It’s all about if apple sees it to be something to start working on. iOS is not designed for desktop setup to begin with. Apple clearly sees desktop and mobile as two different platforms with very different usage and purpose.

Given that and knowing apple’s history of not releasing half baked solutions, I don’t think this is going to happen anytime soon.
 
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Just because there are still tons of professional software out there that relies on desktop setup to begin with, I don’t see this happen any time soon. Being Jack-of-all-trade may not be a good thing.
 
Applefan4 said:
Never. You can't seriously think that a tiny phone can replace a massive desktop with a full fledged operating system.
Click to expand...

It's already possible - Samsung have done something similar with Dex, and you can buy a Windows 10 PC no bigger than a streaming stick.

It's not about hardware; high end smartphones are just as powerful as cheap PCs, and Windows now runs on ARM smartphone processors: HP Envy X2. It's all about software, and whether Apple thinks they can provide a good experience. Apple don't even provide a touchscreen laptop, because they think that tablets and PCs are entirely different, and shouldn't be merged, though Microsoft have proved it's possible.

In short - it could totally happen with an iOS update, but it won't, at least not any time soon.
 
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It will never replace a computer for me. As big as some phones are these days, they'll never be as confortable enough for long sessions. Typing with a normal keyboard is also night and day compared to touch screen keyboard. Unless they release a phone that can be plugged to a monitor and become a full desktop OS, my phone will always be just a phone for my comunications and entertainment on the go needs. For everything else, my iMac is 400% better.
 
Applefan4 said:
Never. You can't seriously think that a tiny phone can replace a massive desktop with a full fledged operating system.
Click to expand...

Probably not yet, but I would say it depends on the users needs and requirements. For me, no way could my iPhone replace my PC needs, it just can’t operate various programs and software implementation.
 
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SoYoung said:
It will never replace a computer for me. As big as some phones are these days, they'll never be as confortable enough for long sessions. Typing with a normal keyboard is also night and day compared to touch screen keyboard. Unless they release a phone that can be plugged to a monitor and become a full desktop OS, my phone will always be just a phone for my comunications and entertainment on the go needs. For everything else, my iMac is 400% better.
Click to expand...

I don’t think the screen real estate is an issue at present anyway. You can connect the iPhone to a bigger screen and use a Bluetooth keyboard to type. This will work absolutely fine, if iOS can provide you with what you need to be done for work or personal requirements.

As I said, iOS was never designed to be used as a desktop platform. It’s about apple’s willingness to merge desktop and mobile interfaces and I don’t think they agree with that approach.
 
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akash.nu said:
Apple clearly sees desktop and mobile as two different platforms with very different usage and purpose.
Click to expand...

I do too actually. But since my idea of a usable and worthwhile laptop (with more ports than just USB-C for crying out loud) is no longer supported by Apple, I thought why not go 'all the way' and get rid of the laptop all together.

Newtons Apple said:
As soon as it runs AutoCad and full Photoshop.
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Hah, yeah. Agree. I didn't mean necessarily replace ALL desktops and laptops. But there are screeds of professionals who do everything more or less by email, the cloud, and a handful of apps. Not necessarily creative design professionals - they would still need the gruntier tools. But if Gary Vaynerchuck can run his business more or less from an iPhone then lots of others could as well.

Whoakapi said:
As long as Apple are selling iPads and Macs, they are not going let people use an iPhone for desktop-emulation.

Why sell you one device when they can sell you two or three?
Click to expand...

You've got a very solid point there. I remember that being the assumption why Apple didn't offer bigger phones for so long (around the time of iPhone 4s and 5) - not to encroach on iPad sales.

But how about because it serves the customer? Or maybe because another company does it and Apple has to compete? Don't know. I just think it would be cool. :)
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eyoungren said:
Just two?!
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Hah! Love the office setup :)
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rbrian said:
It's not about hardware; high end smartphones are just as powerful as cheap PCs, and Windows now runs on ARM smartphone processors:
Click to expand...

That's what I was thinking too when the guy at Best Buy (talking about the little MacBook) said the processor in my iPhone was more powerful than it.
 
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Newtons Apple said:
As soon as it runs AutoCad and full Photoshop.
Click to expand...

Could happen?
In ten years or less maybe?

Phones have 3 or 4 GB of RAM now.
I remember using SolidWorks with 1GB of RAM. And that is a very intensive CAD design software.
Processing power is another issue. But it could happen...

Also, there are CAD programs and graphic design programs that run in the cloud now too. These can be run from phone or tablet already. (Just need to connect that device to a larger screen at that stage).

I predict within ten years or less we will be there.
 
Hoff said:
Could happen?
In ten years or less maybe?

Phones have 3 or 4 GB of RAM now.
I remember using SolidWorks with 1GB of RAM. And that is a very intensive CAD design software.
Processing power is another issue. But it could happen...

Also, there are CAD programs and graphic design programs that run in the cloud now too. These can be run from phone or tablet already. (Just need to connect that device to a larger screen at that stage).

I predict within ten years or less we will be there.
Click to expand...

I remember when AutoCad came on 4 floppies and it get more complicated every year.

Can not see even a 10 year in the future phone running what AutoCad will be in 10 years.
 
Newtons Apple said:
I remember when AutoCad came on 4 floppies and it get more complicated every year.

Can not see even a 10 year in the future phone running what AutoCad will be in 10 years.
Click to expand...

Fair point! Actually, you're probably right. I often lamented how as hardware got stronger, the software just got more resource intensive :rolleyes:

And yeah, all that BIM data or whatever is needed for a whole office building design? You wouldn't be processing that on a phone probably. Or do photo rendering, or things like that.

But could still work if more apps do their processing in the cloud.
 
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I can't imagine that this won't ever happen. Why not? People love their phones, might as well hook them up to a monitor at home to make it easier to do work (home or school). Kids are growing up just fine without land lines, cable connections, maybe tablets and desktops are next.
 
Mac'nCheese said:
I can't imagine that this won't ever happen. Why not? People love their phones, might as well hook them up to a monitor at home to make it easier to do work (home or school). Kids are growing up just fine without land lines, cable connections, maybe tablets and desktops are next.
Click to expand...
Apple does this…then they damn well better allow a file system.

I need Adobe CC (InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator). I need Suitcase Fusion, Acrobat DC Pro with Pitstop Pro and I need access to my library of around 6000 fonts. I need the phone to access InDesign files on a server (either home or work). And in many places that's going to be a Windows server.

And I need it to do this natively, not through a third party file explorer where it takes multiple steps to save or open a file. And I need the email app to be able to save multiple attachments to the server as well. Which requires a file system.

In short, if Apple is going to do this then they are going to have to redo/rethink how the iPhone/iPad works in networked environments.
 
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Mac'nCheese said:
I can't imagine that this won't ever happen. Why not? People love their phones, might as well hook them up to a monitor at home to make it easier to do work (home or school). Kids are growing up just fine without land lines, cable connections, maybe tablets and desktops are next.
Click to expand...

I think in the next 10 years we will get over mobile phones as we know it today. Think what we had 10 years ago and what we have now.
 
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