What kind of devices do you own and use?

[Loppan Torkel]

There are tablets, smart phones, lap tops, desk tops, android, windows or ios... all with different pros and cons. They're all updated and outdated very quickly it seems.

What's a good set up for you?

 

[downtown]

I use an iPhone, and a refurbished Toshiba laptop that runs Windows 8. These work out just fine for me, I play very few computer games and need a durable laptop, since I travel a fair amount.

I suspect my next computer will be a macbook though.

I watch TV and do most of my gaming via Xbox360, which is connected to a projector, rather than a TV.

 

[Mise]

- PC which I upgrade with new bits and bobs every now and then. I put in a new mobo and CPU this summer. I sometimes play games on it but I mostly game on my xbox.

- Nexus 4 smartphone. Cheap, bought last Nov, still working, still quick, no reason to upgrade.

- Smart TV which is hooked up to my PC via HDMI, so I can play stuff on the TV (e.g. movies/tv shows, streaming sites, etc, and also some games sometimes).

I have an app on my phone that controls my computer's mouse and keyboard (Unified Remote), and a AutoHotKey script that changes the sound output between PC speakers and HDMI (i.e. so that if i'm playing a movie onto my TV, the sound comes out of my TV). So, when I'm sat on my sofa watching stuff, I can move on to the next episode easily using my phone.

 

[bhsup]

My main desktop is an HP Pavilion that is approaching 4 years old. It -was- running Windows 8, but I've reverted it back to Windows 7 because reasons (win8 was great, but it had some issues that really just made it better to roll back.)

I have a 2006 era Dell laptop that is still rockin' and use if I hit the road or just want to browse with some mobility. It was pretty sweet when it was new, but it's really showing its age.

My phone is an old blackberry style (9670 I think) running BB6. I tried to upgrade last november (2012) but after trying both an iPhone 4s and a Galaxy Nexus, I came to the conclusion that ancient BB6 is better than both iOS 6 and Android 4.2.2 so I reverted back to my blackberry since alternatives sucked. Looking forward to maybe getting a Q10 in a few months.

Oh, and I do still have and keep charged a Palm Tungsten T3 that I haven't actually used for anything since I got my blackberry... not sure why I keep it.

 

[Valka D'Ur]

Controlling the TV with one's phone...

I have two laptops, both use Windows 8 (I have 2 in case one of them dies). I also have some older computers, none of which are hooked up right now.

The TV is very basic, and tiny by modern standards (13"). But considering a neighbor gave it to me for free, the price was right. I do most of my TV watching on the computer anyway, thanks to YouTube, Netflix, and Dailymotion.

The phone is a basic landline - not even an answering machine or call display. I don't own a cell phone of any kind.

 

[Mise]

I control the computer with my phone, but that reminds me, I also control my TV with my phone, using Zeebox.

 

[Borachio]

I have a 13 year old Sony* laptop which works really well. Apart from the fact that Windows XP won't handle some things on some websites. And my printer for it has recently died. And the software for the new(er) printer won't load onto the laptop.

I also have a Dell laptop which is, er 4 or 5 years old (I think) running Windows 7. It isn't nearly as good, it didn't come with OS discs, and then... oh well just stuff.

I have a Vodaphone pay as you go mobile which I very rarely use. And I keep it in the car in case I breakdown.

I have a non-digital radio. And no tv.

I have a washing machine and a cooker.

I use toilets and electricity nearly every day. Also ball-point pens and paper.

*Sony's reputation has since plummeted, they tell me.

 

[Mise]

Oh man, if I could control my cooker with my phone, I would be sooooo happy.

 

[Borachio]

But why? I'm really not sure I see it at all.

 

[Mise]

Cos then I don't have to get up.

 

[Borachio]

Then you'll lose the use of your legs. What's wrong with your legs, that you hate them so?

 

[bhsup]

Oh man, if I could control my cooker with my phone, I would be sooooo happy.

James May's Man Lab needs ideas...

 

[Tahuti]

-I have a PC (with GTX 460 card and an i3 530)
-A Laptop (An almost 4 your old Acer Aspire, of the 7000 series with an AMD Athlon 320)
-An iPhone 5 (which I kind of regret having)

I used to have an Xbox 360. I don't use or even own TV's or Tablets since these are too much stuck in the middle for me in terms of functionality.

 

[Cheezy the Wiz]

There are tablets, smart phones, lap tops, desk tops, android, windows or ios... all with different pros and cons. They're all updated and outdated very quickly it seems.

What's a good set up for you?

I'm not big on technological paraphernalia. I have a desktop and a phone. I was recently forced to get a laptop so that I could have something overseas, but if it were up to me I wouldn't own one. I slowly moved into the smart phone camp after I moved closer to the city, and found myself in need of many of the services a smart phone offers, from maps to store-finding apps and even just the ability to email a picture from my phone to my store's office computer in order to file for a credit or document something. I'll never get an iPod or mp3 player (do people still call it that?), and I can't really imagine myself getting a tablet. Oh, I did get a Nook a few years ago, but I did that to save space in my growing library, which was cumbersome to move around every year when I changed house. But I didn't get the tablet version, I got the old e-ink version that's only for reading books and isn't back-lit. Again, I would prefer not to have it, but I will admit their utility, especially in the past semester as I can download pdfs of articles for school to read on the train, instead of printing them out like I used to.

I'm not against the technology, I love that we're making this stuff, and I try to keep reasonably up to date on the state of things. I just don't want very much of it for my personal use.

EDIT: Didn't realize we were posting our actual devices.

Laptop: ASUS R510C,with and Intel Core I5 , 1.8GHz; 6GB RAM

Phone: Droid Incredible 2 (up for a new contract in March, will probably get an HTC Stratosphere)

Tablet: Barnes & Noble Nook, 1st Ed. with 3G and WiFi

 

[classical_hero]

Why does this have a Red Diamond?

I have Generic PC built from my Local Computer Store. My laptop is a Toshiba, but it is corrupted now and in need of repair. I also have a Galaxy S3 for my phone and that has been such a great addition for me since it helps me keep organise with my life so much better than without it.

 

[Kyriakos]

-PC (some kind of dual-core something).

That is all, i suppose, no cell-phone or tv. Phoneline for the pc and apartment.

 

[Cheezy the Wiz]

Why does this have a Red Diamond?

To keep things PC, of course.

 

[The_J]

That is all, i suppose, no cell-phone or tv.

How do you live without a mobile phone o_O?
(yeah, I know, people survived before )


I have:
- a 9 years old desktop computer. Because you know...you need a computer. Can't be bothered to upgrade (a) money, b) time c) effort), don't play really anymore, so that one's still good enough.
- a Netbook, an Acer Aspire One, cheapest and smallest I could get. Got it before I went to the job interview in the Netherlands, and now it's just handy for having something portable around, although I don't use it that often, mostly on conferences.
- No smartphone. Caterpillar Cat B25 outdoor phone, http://catphones.com/en/b25-phone . Dual sim, for my German and Dutch sim card. Extra strong akku, supposed to last 2 weeks (seems to be less).
- 2 TVs, probably older than my desktop computer
- another computer from the former tenant, has a "Pentium 4" sign on it, therefore same class as my own computer

I actually don't really own any real radio, and I also don't have landline, just because I don't need either. No consoles too. Unless you count legacy stuff, which is somewhere burried at my parents.
Don't see the use of a tablet, and I don't read really anymore that much, so an ebook reader is also out.

 

[Kyriakos]

^I never liked cell-phones. I had one when i was in London, so as to call back home more easily. i don't have a need for it here cause i mostly do (writing) work deals by email, or even fb if it comes to that.

 

[Valka D'Ur]

How do you live without a mobile phone o_O?
(yeah, I know, people survived before )

I'm sure if I ever actually got one and got used to it, I'd ask the same thing. After all, it drives me nuts whenever my computer is in the repair shop, which is why I finally bought a spare. So I do understand the "I can't live without my ______" sentiment for electronic stuff.

However, it's easy to do without, once you realize that except for the occasional business call and to phone a taxi, you don't really ever use the phone. The most I use it for these days is ordering food, various other deliveries, and calling taxis to come and pick me up. None of that requires a cell phone, although it's getting really aggravating when away from home and not being able to find a pay phone.

Mind you, I'm old enough to remember when we had a party line with two other neighbors, so I'm still a bit stuck in the past when it comes to some kinds of technology.