Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Anyone using iPhone as their main computer?

Beenblacklisted said:
There are two types of users , data consumers and data creators. Data Creators need a computer with a usb drive , mouse, etc. Data consumers do not need much, just a screen.
Click to expand...

That view is at least five years out of date. The tech world just isn't that black and white anymore. Many people create content and run businesses solely with an iPad or iPhone.

Dividing all computer users into two groups, is just a really silly thing to do.
 
  • Like
Reactions: IrishVixen, Danoc, capathy21 and 4 others
i could never use an iPhone as my only computer. maybe i could do with an iPad pro and a keyboard. but for a lot of things i do i.e.: running lightroom and editing photos, its just easier with an iMac. or a regular computer. for everything else, it could work, i guess.
 
Only for short term things.

On my daily life obviously I need a Mac to use Sketch (UI Design for Web and Apps design) I also do some serious editing work on Final Cut Pro X.

Besides doing some serious gaming on a high end rig, I rather just talk on messenger or browse the web on my phone.
 
M. Gustave said:
That view is at least five years out of date. The tech world just isn't that black and white anymore. Many people create content and run businesses solely with an iPad or iPhone.

Dividing all computer users into two groups, is just a really silly thing to do.
Click to expand...
I can see maybe running a business with an iPad Pro. But not just an iPhone.
 
It's a toss up between my SE and iPad mini 4. The SE is quicker and oddly find it quicker to type on the SE than the iPad. The computer rarely gets looked at now.
 
ibookg409 said:
I can see maybe running a business with an iPad Pro. But not just an iPhone.
Click to expand...

Two stores in my neighborhood use only an iPad Air (1st gen!) to run their whole store: ordering, reservations, inventory, and point of sale (with credit card swiper attachment). And I personally know an artist who travels to local fairs all over the northeast to sell her jewelry, who runs the whole thing with her iPhone 6.

And I guess you've never heard of Uber? I have yet to see one of their drivers using a laptop.
 
M. Gustave said:
Two stores in my neighborhood use only an iPad Air (1st gen!) to run their whole store: ordering, reservations, inventory, and point of sale (with credit card swiper attachment). And I personally know an artist who travels to local fairs all over the northeast to sell her jewelry, who runs the whole thing with her iPhone 6.

And I guess you've never heard of Uber? I have yet to see one of their drivers using a laptop.
Click to expand...
Do you really think I've never heard of Uber? I doubt the head of Uber runs the whole business on an iPhone.
 
  • Like
Reactions: mrex
My iPhone 6s Plus has more or less become my main computer if you look at overall usage. Still need my MacBook Pro and air for heavy lifting etc but it's pretty incredible how far along iPhone technology has come
 
There is a local coffee shop that does everything from their iPad. I recently went a week using my Samsung Tab S2 with a bluetooth keyboard and found it very doable and enjoyable. Google Docs for work and college related stuff, Juice SSH for my Linux Server assignments, etc... minus gaming of course, but I don't do that much anymore. Haven't tried on my iPhone, that's coming in a few weeks.

The number of people I see who use their iPhones/mobile phones as primary computing devices constantly astounds me - it is growing and growing fast.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Jetcat3, blaine07 and M. Gustave
BigMcGuire said:
There is a local coffee shop that does everything from their iPad. I recently went a week using my Samsung Tab S2 with a bluetooth keyboard and found it very doable and enjoyable. Google Docs for work and college related stuff, Juice SSH for my Linux Server assignments, etc... minus gaming of course, but I don't do that much anymore. Haven't tried on my iPhone, that's coming in a few weeks.

The number of people I see who use their iPhones/mobile phones as primary computing devices constantly astounds me - it is growing and growing fast.
Click to expand...
I concur. Just picked up the Iphone 7 plus with 256GB to store documents on and that makes me "need" my Macbook even less. I do have a wireless keyboard for serious writing but just came back from a multi-day trip using just the IPhone 7 the entire time.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Jetcat3 and BigMcGuire
Only when I travel. But other than that I need my MacBook pro.
 
Between my IPP and 7+ i rarely do NEED a computer. Have a MBP for when something just demands it.

Now a days apps are so streamlined it's almost easier than using websites for certain things.

Everyone's uses are different though. Someone above mentioned content creators and content users and stated creators need a computer of some sort and I pretty well agree with that.

Maybe one day iPhones can be docked and used with monitor, mouse and keyboard.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Jetcat3 and BigMcGuire
iOS is incapable of handling many software programs, especially programs built specifically for PC's. The OS was never meant to be a desktop replacement. Particularly, when you have app data sandboxed and incapable of moving easily, if at all, out of an app to another. Just makes life very difficult.
 
Lloydbm41 said:
iOS is incapable of handling many software programs, especially programs built specifically for PC's. The OS was never meant to be a desktop replacement.
Click to expand...

Obviously. But why do I need to run X86 programs? Why do I need to have a "desktop"? You seem unaware that there's a whole world of applications and alternative processor architectures out there.
 
M. Gustave said:
Obviously. But why do I need to run X86 programs? Why do I need to have a "desktop"? You seem unaware that there's a whole world of applications and alternative processor architectures out there.
Click to expand...
First off, anything requiring the use of a mouse for fine point input (Photoshop, autocad) are non-starters with iOS. The pencil can come close (but that is limited to the iPad pro only).
A lack of an open file structure, with the ability to download and upload files of any kind is a non-starter, especially for many companies using Win-based files.

I'm well aware of various applications and alternate architectures (I've been using computers since the late 70's), and there are work arounds for iOS, but it can be a real pia to find needed apps to accomplish what would be very simple with a PC.
The point is, iOS is not designed to handle the role of a PC. It can handle basic tasks, but real heavy lifting programme still need a PC to function.
 
Lloydbm41 said:
First off, anything requiring the use of a mouse for fine point input (Photoshop, autocad) are non-starters with iOS.
Click to expand...

But the whole model of "fine-point input" via mouse or trackpad is an X86 legacy model. The iPad is touch-based input. If you need/want to run Photoshop the way it's presented in Windows/MacOS, then obviously you should buy one of those machines. Again, I'm befuddled why you think the iPad has to run Photoshop? There are so many great alternatives on the app store for those of us that actively dislike Photoshop, and would never want it even if it was available. In fact, I think of Photoshop as the poster-child for everything that's wrong with Windows and MacOS. YMMV.

Lloydbm41 said:
A lack of an open file structure, with the ability to download and upload files of any kind is a non-starter, especially for many companies using Win-based files.
Click to expand...

I don't know of any files that can't be downloaded/uploaded in iOS. Do you have a specific example? And before you even ask: Documents by Readdle.

Lloydbm41 said:
The point is, iOS is not designed to handle the role of a PC. It can handle basic tasks, but real heavy lifting programme still need a PC to function.
Click to expand...

The title of this thread is "Anyone using iPhone as their main computer?", not "Is an iPhone a PC?". If you are not using an iPhone as your "main computer" (whatever that means to you), then I'm not sure why you'd even respond.
 
  • Like
Reactions: BigMcGuire
M. Gustave said:
But the whole model of "fine-point input" via mouse or trackpad is an X86 legacy model. The iPad is touch-based input. If you need/want to run Photoshop the way it's presented in Windows/MacOS, then obviously you should buy one of those machines. Again, I'm befuddled why you think the iPad has to run Photoshop? There are so many great alternatives on the app store for those of us that actively dislike Photoshop, and would never want it even if it was available. In fact, I think of Photoshop as the poster-child for everything that's wrong with Windows and MacOS. YMMV.
Click to expand...
At this point it is clear. It doesn't matter what examples I give you, you will argue. If I told you the sky is blue, you will argue it isn't. I have made it clear that an iPhone can not replace a PC in many instances. If all you do is basic things like surf the web or use Instagram, then sure. But if you have needs that require heavy lift programs, an iPhone will not suffice.


M. Gustave said:
I don't know of any files that can't be downloaded/uploaded in iOS. Do you have a specific example? And before you even ask: Documents by Readdle.
Click to expand...
I'm sure they are certain apps that have been built to be able to download certain file types, but do I seriously need to do research just to find them? And then do more research to find out if those apps can share the files outside of that sandboxed app? There is no reason why iOS can't allow us to download any file type we want and be able to share or move it after download. No one is asking to be able to run the file, but we should be allowed to DL it out of the box and without the need for special apps <-- plural.

Anyway, this has become pointless. If you can use an iPhone as a PC, then it is obvious your computing needs are pretty basic and generic.
 
  • Like
Reactions: mrex
Does remoting into a Mac count?
[doublepost=1481052025][/doublepost]
M. Gustave said:
Two stores in my neighborhood use only an iPad Air (1st gen!) to run their whole store: ordering, reservations, inventory, and point of sale (with credit card swiper attachment). And I personally know an artist who travels to local fairs all over the northeast to sell her jewelry, who runs the whole thing with her iPhone 6.

And I guess you've never heard of Uber? I have yet to see one of their drivers using a laptop.
Click to expand...
Also a local police department ditched the laptops for iPads! The officers love it it seems.

And I see plenty of businesses running on iPads.
 
  • Like
Reactions: M. Gustave
Lloydbm41 said:
At this point it is clear. It doesn't matter what examples I give you, you will argue. If I told you the sky is blue, you will argue it isn't. I have made it clear that an iPhone can not replace a PC in many instances. If all you do is basic things like surf the web or use Instagram, then sure. But if you have needs that require heavy lift programs, an iPhone will not suffice.



I'm sure they are certain apps that have been built to be able to download certain file types, but do I seriously need to do research just to find them? And then do more research to find out if those apps can share the files outside of that sandboxed app? There is no reason why iOS can't allow us to download any file type we want and be able to share or move it after download. No one is asking to be able to run the file, but we should be allowed to DL it out of the box and without the need for special apps <-- plural.

Anyway, this has become pointless. If you can use an iPhone as a PC, then it is obvious your computing needs are pretty basic and generic.
Click to expand...
What it comes down to is that it can't do everything that can be done on a PC, but depending on what you need/want to do (and it goes well beyond just basic things like browsing web or Instagram) you might certainly be able to do that.
 
I have iphone 6+, ipad pro, rMB.

I am at work and only carry my iphone. I got two emails about reviewing/editing word documents, one of them requiring an urgent reply, the other one nothing urgent.

I only edited the urgent one on my iphone, the non-urgent one will be edited at my rMB.

BOTTOM LINE: can you use the iOS device to do "main device" work? Most of the times yes
Is it the more convenient solution? not always

Is the limitation hardware or software related?
In iPad it is only software
In iphone it is both (small screen even with plus models)


When they come up with an ipad mini with:
- phone capabilities
- pencil
- better productivity software
Then this will be my main and only device


But would Apple want to bring down the sells of iphones and macbooks with such a device?
Likely not, so that might be a reason we are stuck with so many limitations in iOS.
For example took them 6 years to offer a side by side app functionality? Come on now, is that so much advanced software?
 
I do. When I had a laptop, a tablet and a smartphone, I realized I could leave the laptop. Then with only the tablet and the smartphone, I quickly realized that I could use the smartphone only. Since then I never went back.

As others said, the convenience of some apps or tasks beats any other form of computers.

From something very basic like checking the weather to something more advanced like PDFying documents and saving them in the cloud.

I politely laugh when people say that the smartphones aren't for data creations, when they actually literally open a whole world of creations to billions of people. Who would have never retouched a picture or made a movie on older form of computers.

The smartphone OSs and apps have never made creations easier than it is today.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: M. Gustave
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back