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I don't think this is something that people actually want or have real painful need for today. If you already have a big monitor like that then you probably alr

I don't think this is something that people actually want or have real painful need for today. If you already have a big monitor like that then you probably already have a desktop computer. If you don't, then you probably already have a laptop. If you have neither, then I doubt you're the type of user who's going to get this today and a monitor to go along with it because your needs are probably already filled by an iPad or similar. It's a cool trick though.

elihu 9y ago
Copying files and settings between devices (which might run different OSes) is a nuisance. I could imagine this being useful for some people.
JeffreyKaine 9y ago
I bet this would be great for an operations, sales, support or any pother non technical role. The company would only have to buy docs and monitors and then the workforce can just swap out their mobile devices from meeting room to desk etc... I see a large enterprise or student play here if they have the vision to market it.
- bigiain 9y ago
  A large enterprise or educational institute workforce of people in non-technical roles who all have Galaxy S8 devices? So that's a market size of one then? You could sell this solution to Samsung, and pretty much nobody else.
  - jonlucc 9y ago
    I work in a large company, and we have a mostly mobile workforce, meaning we already have the majority of the company on docks with monitors and unassigned desk areas (show up and pick one when you need it). I could definitely see lots of our workforce being able to use something like this.
  - JeffreyKaine 9y ago
    The company would save on buying computers and just get everyone work phones (galaxy devices). Seems like that would be best for a non technical workforce anyway. Support and Sales are always on the phone.
- Theodores 9y ago
  Not really. I thought that Chromecast would become a thing in meeting rooms. You could just beam your laptop or phone up onto the big screen. Who needs more than a browser? But no, it has not happened. We still fumble over connectors. Given my failed ability to get anyone interested in going Chromecast I doubt I could persuade anyone to get DeX sorted for the meeting rooms.
  - hoistbypetard 9y ago
    Over the past 3 years or so, I’ve seen Apple TVs attached to projectors in many conference rooms. People who want to present from a Windows machine do the cable dance still, but those who want to present from an iPhone, iPad or Mac just connect over AirPlay and go. I’ve started saving presentations to my OneDrive and using PowerPoint from my phone to display them, even when I have my laptop with me.
  - matwood 9y ago
    We're a small company, but have a Chromecast on every TV/projector in the office if it makes you feel any better :)
mtzaldo 9y ago
What about a tv? This could work with a tv...
- MikusR 9y ago
  It does.
- dageshi 9y ago
  ASUS MB169B+ will do the job for a portable monitor. It's very light, 15.6" IPS 1080p pulls power and display over USB3 (there's also a C model) But then you've got to add a keyboard and a mouse and probably the biggest problem, you've got to figure some way of getting the monitor to an ergonomic height.
numbsafari 9y ago
I would love this. I’m sick of lugging a heavy aluminum notebook around. I want to drop my phone into a cradle or have it wirelessly connect to a KVM setup so I can launch into a desktop session for running tmux and a browser. Wish this worked with iOS.
- spike021 9y ago
  Many of the newer laptops aren't very heavy at all. My Macbook Air is aluminum and can fit in a small backpack/messenger bag. Unless you just want to not be carrying anything.
  - StudentStuff 9y ago
    Thinkpads have gotten shockingly thin and light, all while improving spilled liquid resistance and enhancing the cooling. The T440 and newer seems to have been a complete redesign, a 14 inch laptop that weighs 1.8kg and is neither too big or too small. Slap a 1080p or 2560p panel in it, and the laptop is a monster!
    - terminalcommand 9y ago
      For lightness I think the x series are a much better choice. I've been using an x201 for many years now. Even at its old age, it's suprisingly light to today's standards and has decent battery life.
      - StudentStuff 9y ago
        Yeah, hooked a friend up with an x230 iirc for cheap, and she really likes it. 12" form factor just isn't for me though, I had a x100e for a month as a loaner, and man was its screen small (nevermind the spaceheater OG APU it had). Made me thankful for 14" screens and newer process technology allowing AMD and Intel to make chips that don't melt my legs!
    - Fnoord 9y ago
      Its a double-edged sword. The elephant in the room is the disadvantage that you can't open them anymore to replace hardware. Monster described it accurately. What newer laptops have is USB-C/TB3 and that allows for eGPU. Which means you no longer need to own a PC if you're a gamer (and don't wanna opt for game console).
brandon272 9y ago
I would never use this myself. But, the older people I know have PCs that sit around collecting dust and that they are not at all comfortable in using. But they do have phones that they use every day to communicate via text messaging, email and Facebook. This seems like a good solution to bridge the gap for them on the occasions where they are interested in a desktop experience as it provides a familiar environment using the phone OS and removes the worry about managing or navigating a desktop environment.
- RussianCow 9y ago
  In my experience, those people don't need or care for the "desktop experience"; they are perfectly content using their iPad (or other tablet) as-is, or at most, using a Bluetooth keyboard if they do a lot of typing.

elihu 9y ago

Copying files and settings between devices (which might run different OSes) is a nuisance. I could imagine this being useful for some people.

JeffreyKaine 9y ago

I bet this would be great for an operations, sales, support or any pother non technical role. The company would only have to buy docs and monitors and then the workforce can just swap out their mobile devices from meeting room to desk etc... I see a large enterprise or student play here if they have the vision to market it.

bigiain 9y ago
A large enterprise or educational institute workforce of people in non-technical roles who all have Galaxy S8 devices? So that's a market size of one then? You could sell this solution to Samsung, and pretty much nobody else.
- jonlucc 9y ago
  I work in a large company, and we have a mostly mobile workforce, meaning we already have the majority of the company on docks with monitors and unassigned desk areas (show up and pick one when you need it). I could definitely see lots of our workforce being able to use something like this.
- JeffreyKaine 9y ago
  The company would save on buying computers and just get everyone work phones (galaxy devices). Seems like that would be best for a non technical workforce anyway. Support and Sales are always on the phone.
Theodores 9y ago
Not really. I thought that Chromecast would become a thing in meeting rooms. You could just beam your laptop or phone up onto the big screen. Who needs more than a browser? But no, it has not happened. We still fumble over connectors. Given my failed ability to get anyone interested in going Chromecast I doubt I could persuade anyone to get DeX sorted for the meeting rooms.
- hoistbypetard 9y ago
  Over the past 3 years or so, I’ve seen Apple TVs attached to projectors in many conference rooms. People who want to present from a Windows machine do the cable dance still, but those who want to present from an iPhone, iPad or Mac just connect over AirPlay and go. I’ve started saving presentations to my OneDrive and using PowerPoint from my phone to display them, even when I have my laptop with me.
- matwood 9y ago
  We're a small company, but have a Chromecast on every TV/projector in the office if it makes you feel any better :)

mtzaldo 9y ago

What about a tv? This could work with a tv...

MikusR 9y ago
It does.
dageshi 9y ago
ASUS MB169B+ will do the job for a portable monitor. It's very light, 15.6" IPS 1080p pulls power and display over USB3 (there's also a C model) But then you've got to add a keyboard and a mouse and probably the biggest problem, you've got to figure some way of getting the monitor to an ergonomic height.

numbsafari 9y ago

I would love this. I’m sick of lugging a heavy aluminum notebook around. I want to drop my phone into a cradle or have it wirelessly connect to a KVM setup so I can launch into a desktop session for running tmux and a browser. Wish this worked with iOS.

spike021 9y ago
Many of the newer laptops aren't very heavy at all. My Macbook Air is aluminum and can fit in a small backpack/messenger bag. Unless you just want to not be carrying anything.
- StudentStuff 9y ago
  Thinkpads have gotten shockingly thin and light, all while improving spilled liquid resistance and enhancing the cooling. The T440 and newer seems to have been a complete redesign, a 14 inch laptop that weighs 1.8kg and is neither too big or too small. Slap a 1080p or 2560p panel in it, and the laptop is a monster!
  - terminalcommand 9y ago
    For lightness I think the x series are a much better choice. I've been using an x201 for many years now. Even at its old age, it's suprisingly light to today's standards and has decent battery life.
    - StudentStuff 9y ago
      Yeah, hooked a friend up with an x230 iirc for cheap, and she really likes it. 12" form factor just isn't for me though, I had a x100e for a month as a loaner, and man was its screen small (nevermind the spaceheater OG APU it had). Made me thankful for 14" screens and newer process technology allowing AMD and Intel to make chips that don't melt my legs!
  - Fnoord 9y ago
    Its a double-edged sword. The elephant in the room is the disadvantage that you can't open them anymore to replace hardware. Monster described it accurately. What newer laptops have is USB-C/TB3 and that allows for eGPU. Which means you no longer need to own a PC if you're a gamer (and don't wanna opt for game console).

brandon272 9y ago

I would never use this myself. But, the older people I know have PCs that sit around collecting dust and that they are not at all comfortable in using. But they do have phones that they use every day to communicate via text messaging, email and Facebook. This seems like a good solution to bridge the gap for them on the occasions where they are interested in a desktop experience as it provides a familiar environment using the phone OS and removes the worry about managing or navigating a desktop environment.

RussianCow 9y ago
In my experience, those people don't need or care for the "desktop experience"; they are perfectly content using their iPad (or other tablet) as-is, or at most, using a Bluetooth keyboard if they do a lot of typing.