Comment by SirMaster
21 hours ago
So would it make sense to sell a folding plastic shell with screen, keyboard and trackpad in it that you can bring in your bag and pull out to plug your phone into it?
21 hours ago
So would it make sense to sell a folding plastic shell with screen, keyboard and trackpad in it that you can bring in your bag and pull out to plug your phone into it?
As mentioned in TFA, Android has had a "desktop" phone projection mode for years and it doesn't seem to have caught on. This seems to be a distro for dedicated desktop devices, I’m not sure what the point is when its main competitor would be the other OS Google already makes for those devices.
Google is transitioning from ChromeOS to desktop Android by 2028.
This form factor was tried before and it didn’t stick. Why should it be brought back now?
Last time, the hardware was barely capable of driving a 1080p display at a constant frame rate with more than one app open.
These days, phones are more powerful than the laptops they give to kids to study on.
Samsung DeX has existed for years and works as well as it has for ages. We don't need to wait on Google to make this work. At best, Google will make this type of tech available in software so you can Chromecast/Miracast/whatever it to your display when your cheap phone doesn't do DP-Alt mode.
What I think this is more likely to be about is ChromeOS being killed and Android taking its place. It's not secret that Google is working on that, this just seems to be someone dogfeeding the latest build of the desktop Android build.
I guess I fail to see where people will use this then.
Where are there going to be setups where they can plug the 3 things into their phone that aren't already a computer that you can just use as-is?
I'm using this right now on a work trip. Since I don't want to use my work computer for personal stuff, I carry a small bag that has a mouse, small keyboard, USB-C hub, and USB-C to HDMI cable. I set that up while I'm in my hotel room and use my Fold7 as a personal laptop. The items mentioned are all kept neatly in that small bag and it just sits at the bottom of my work bag until I want to use them.
This is to replace ChromeOS.
I think the point is that software wasn't ready and now it might be.
This exists, it is called the NexDock[0]. I have never tried it.
[0]https://nexdock.com/explore-nexdock/
Portable monitor + mouse + keyboard makes more sense to me.
But this can also be cast to a tv, for example. I assume you can use the phone itself as a trackpad. So the only extra hardware you need is a cheap Bluetooth keyboard which you can get for $15.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=67Jm8IiwURQ
That's 14 years old. Kind of crazy this concept hasn't developed more in the meantime.
I had that it was a cool concept but it kinda sucked. It would have been great for doing stuff over SSH but not much else as the hardware was lacking at the time
Why do you think it’s crazy?
I feel like the market for this product is definitely out there, but manufacturers don't want to cannibalize their own laptop margins.
You mean a laptop?
Mini laptops have been a thing for decades [1], some with cool expanding keyboards [2]. They generally kinda suck.
If I wanted a weird small portable computer, I would buy a steam deck with a "Decktop" [3]. Or, this awesome modern thing [4].
[1] Mid 2000 Sony model: https://www.ebay.com/itm/388376162735?chn=ps&mkevt=1&mkcid=2...
[2] IBM model with expanding keyboard: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lvcl4kmOxPo
[3] Desktop steam deck keyboard stand...thing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HXZuAWYujm4
[4] https://www.amazon.com/lanruo
I've always wanted a keyboard+screen with a slot for a phone as the trackpad. Saving any money over a regular trackpad? No. Cool as hell? I think so at least...