Time

Has anyone achieved using their laptop as their main work device?

https://sh.itjust.works/post/23924231

Has anyone achieved using their laptop as their main work device? - sh.itjust.works

I’ve been trying to get rid of my cellphone for awhile now. I switched to JMP.chat, I have Pidgin setup to make calls/texts, etc. I use Trisquel GNU/Linux with my Libreboot laptop, my boss is fine with it. My strategy looks something like this: - Use earpiece that’s connected via Bluetooth, have laptop read out notifications (notifications from Microsoft Teams, Thunderbird, etc.) - Put laptop into sleep mode, maybe use a script to put it into a special sleep mode to make sure I’m connected to WiFi while walking around warehouse so I can receive calls/texts timely. - Forward all notifications from Teams to my email, so that I’m not relying on the web-based version to be open. Any suggestions? TIA!

Aug 19, 2024 at 3:54pmWeb
Show threadtheshatterstone54Aug 19, 2024
I was just about to say: “Yeah, I don’t need a desktop” and then I read what you said. I can see myself going to a “dumbphone” aka a phone-only phone, but this is a bit too much for me tbh.
Show threadTimeAug 19, 2024
Unfortunately, I can’t go that route. I use many different phone numbers through Pidgin, so I don’t think the flip phone would do.
Show threadBaumGeistAug 19, 2024
You’d be surprised what a feature phone can do nowadays
Show threadTimeAug 19, 2024
It is convient, but I’m trying to avoid using proprietary software as much as possible. Those phones tend to use proprietary operating systems. Thanks for the suggestion though!
Show threadBCsvenAug 19, 2024
Have you thought about going with a Pixel and Loading GrapheneOS on it? It degoogles the pixel
Show threadJo MiranAug 19, 2024

I have “mained” a Lenovo Thinkpad X1 Extreme running Pop!_OS for over two years now. I run a company and interact with clients all the time, so I’m not just browsing PornHub all day. My Thinkpad has not let me down yet.

I have a Mac for my music production and graphic design hobbies, but only because I own software for it that only supports Mac or Windows. That said, I rarely use it since Bitwig and Renoise run on Linux. I’ll only boot the Mac if I need some plug-in or Abelton. All that’s happened is that I have slowly started to gravitate towards DAW-less production.

Show threadboredsquirrel (he)Aug 19, 2024
How does DAW-less production work? No editing?
Show threadboredsquirrel (he)Aug 19, 2024

No, not suitable at all. I would be more interested in using my phone with GrapheneOS as only device.

But:

  • mail filters work fine with my provider, not in K-9mail (fair-email gives me anxiety)
  • office stuff just sucks, Collabora is as big as Libreoffice but no GUI options
  • MPV is very barebones and VLC very far behind on updates
  • missing GIMP
  • missing PDF editing
  • missing video or audio editing
  • missing code editing
  • missing commandline stuff
  • no qbittorrent, Aria2 works but only for leeching, BiglyBT works but has a weird UI and restricted features
  • no browser with tab groups, containers, security, etc.

But for a ton of other stuff a phone works very well

  • obvious one: small form factor
  • uses very little battery, awesome standby battery consumption
  • camera, audio, video recording
  • media consumption
    • offline (MPV, Gallery apps (why is this not a thing on desktops?), music players, antennapod)
    • online: grayjay, soundbound, antennapod, rimusic, …
  • messaging (simplex, signal, element, briar, …)
  • slight image editing (snapseed)
  • image compression (signal, save before sending, exit)
  • video cutting (signal, save before sending)
  • writing markdown (markor, acode)
  • weather
  • webapps
  • social media (jerboah, fedilab, …)
  • navigating (there is no OSMAnd alternative on Linux)

In many areas there are way more apps for android, in many others way less.

Show threadarglebargleAug 19, 2024

No osm and on Linux?

Its just open street map data. Use the routing tool on their web page.

Or make your own if you want to using gis.

Or use the beta organic maps flatpak.

Or KDE Marble has OSM routing as well.

Show threaddelirious_owlAug 20, 2024

Yeah lemmie just pull out my laptop real quick outside this pub to find how to get back to my hotel.

Aaaaand its gone

Show threadutopiahAug 20, 2024

Ask the barman the direction to the closest landmark? Grab a cab? Get a map from the hotel itself?

I understand that walking around with a laptop isn’t for most but trying to think like OP here, I want to suggest that for their goal, habits can change. They are plenty of good solution beside a mobile phone to be able to get around.

Show threadboredsquirrel (he)Aug 20, 2024

Just pay a taxi driver LOL are you rich or something ? XD

Back to paper maps with arbitrary POIs?

With OSMand I can easily contribute to OSM too, add and edit POIs mainly.

Show threadboredsquirrel (he)Aug 20, 2024

damn a lot of nice things! Organic maps I tried, it is not at all comparable.

OSMAnd does way more than routing, but I will have a look at their website, couldnt find it in the past.

Didnt know that Marble has routing!

Show threadasudoxAug 19, 2024
No, not at all. They both are made for different purposes.
Show threadEugeniaAug 20, 2024
If you’re trying a less “smart” phone experience, just buy a dumb phone. They still exist. Phones are needed for emergencies.