[TL;DR] - I am using my Fold 3 as a laptop replacement for work, and it works!
So, I am a DevOps Architect/Operations/Compliance/Security Specialist for this company I work for (small company, so I wear a lot of hats here).
I normally use a Windows Laptop, but EVERYTHING I support and manage is in AWS on Linux, so I thought I would just spend some time setting up my phone to see if I can truly use it as a Laptop Replacement.
The inspiration came from this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wrm_VWsmMS4
I really liked this idea of a "4 Pocket Laptop", however, in my case, I managed to get it down to 3 pockets.
Regardless, it's cool enough outside for me to work outside or at home, wherever. So I decided to take my setup and see if I can use my Fold 3 to do as much work as possible without having to go back to my laptop.
So far, after 2 days, I can say, I don't "NEED" a laptop anymore for my work. I hold meetings on my phone, do all of my communication and chats from there, I can even manage all of my AWS tasks from there. Since most everything is web based and anything I need to do at the CLi, I just need a terminal (I SSH into jump boxes that have all my scripts and tools I use normally anyway), there isn't much processing power needed on my end. Just internet.
I use it in one of 2 configurations:
Portable:
BT KB and Trackpad - (https://smile.amazon.com/Bluetooth-...et-Sized-Tri-Folded/dp/B07ZRNJ4DX/ref=sr_1_19)
Portable Stand - (https://smile.amazon.com/Foldable-OMOTON-Adjustable-Aluminum-Compatible/dp/B08LDNFFSX/ref=sr_1_3)
Phone
Galaxy Buds Pro
20,000 MAh portable battery (I can work ALL DAY on this battery pack and what the phone has) - I would link this one, but I have had it for so long, I am not sure when/where I got it. I think it was a gift from a vendor if I recall. The logo rubbed off a while ago... LOL! - Also, when I am not using my phone for anything I need to SEE, I turn the display off (mostly when I am on calls that have no content shared).
-- Occasionally, I will use Wireless Dex to my TV for long video calls, especially when they are doing a lot of screen/content sharing.
Docked:
BT KB and Trackpad (see link above)
Portable Stand (see link above)
Phone
Galaxy Buds Pro
Monitor
USB-C Dock (with Ethernet, USB-3, HDMI and more)
In this config, I am connected via Ethernet
USB power
List of apps I use regularly:
Zoom/Hangouts
Outlook (work email)
MS Office (on mobile apps)
Edge Browser (this is where most of my work is done)
Slack/MS Teams
Eclipse (IDE for Dev work)
Terminal (so I can SSH into my cloud servers)
ProtonVPN (in case I need to hop on a public WiFi for emergencies and when using Cellular Data and not my home wifi network)
Now, I have hit some minor snags. When I have 30+ Edge Tabs open, 12GB of RAM can get a little tight, but getting into the habit of closing tabs that I don't need took care of this issue.
All in all, I really can't complain much. Sure, when using the phone display unfolded can get a little bit of an eye strain for long durations, but when you take a break every 30-60 mins (or more), it's not bad really. When portable, I can pretty much pick up and go anytime I need because everything I need is with me already. I am just using the portable mode to get used to it and see how actually useful it is.
Well, to wrap up this long post, I thought I would just say how freaking AWESOME this phone is and for a guy like me, having something this ultra-portable AND useful is a great thing. Because I am on so many teams and do so many thing, I am on-call pretty much 24x7x365 (if not on-call for one team, I am on-call for another and some "teams", I am the ONLY person, so I am always on-call for those) so having this handy and useful makes my life easier because I literally can work ANYWHERE I have internet, either Data or WiFi.
Hope people found this useful. or if nothing else, entertaining.
So, I am a DevOps Architect/Operations/Compliance/Security Specialist for this company I work for (small company, so I wear a lot of hats here).
I normally use a Windows Laptop, but EVERYTHING I support and manage is in AWS on Linux, so I thought I would just spend some time setting up my phone to see if I can truly use it as a Laptop Replacement.
The inspiration came from this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wrm_VWsmMS4
I really liked this idea of a "4 Pocket Laptop", however, in my case, I managed to get it down to 3 pockets.
Regardless, it's cool enough outside for me to work outside or at home, wherever. So I decided to take my setup and see if I can use my Fold 3 to do as much work as possible without having to go back to my laptop.
So far, after 2 days, I can say, I don't "NEED" a laptop anymore for my work. I hold meetings on my phone, do all of my communication and chats from there, I can even manage all of my AWS tasks from there. Since most everything is web based and anything I need to do at the CLi, I just need a terminal (I SSH into jump boxes that have all my scripts and tools I use normally anyway), there isn't much processing power needed on my end. Just internet.
I use it in one of 2 configurations:
Portable:
BT KB and Trackpad - (https://smile.amazon.com/Bluetooth-...et-Sized-Tri-Folded/dp/B07ZRNJ4DX/ref=sr_1_19)
Portable Stand - (https://smile.amazon.com/Foldable-OMOTON-Adjustable-Aluminum-Compatible/dp/B08LDNFFSX/ref=sr_1_3)
Phone
Galaxy Buds Pro
20,000 MAh portable battery (I can work ALL DAY on this battery pack and what the phone has) - I would link this one, but I have had it for so long, I am not sure when/where I got it. I think it was a gift from a vendor if I recall. The logo rubbed off a while ago... LOL! - Also, when I am not using my phone for anything I need to SEE, I turn the display off (mostly when I am on calls that have no content shared).
-- Occasionally, I will use Wireless Dex to my TV for long video calls, especially when they are doing a lot of screen/content sharing.
Docked:
BT KB and Trackpad (see link above)
Portable Stand (see link above)
Phone
Galaxy Buds Pro
Monitor
USB-C Dock (with Ethernet, USB-3, HDMI and more)
In this config, I am connected via Ethernet
USB power
List of apps I use regularly:
Zoom/Hangouts
Outlook (work email)
MS Office (on mobile apps)
Edge Browser (this is where most of my work is done)
Slack/MS Teams
Eclipse (IDE for Dev work)
Terminal (so I can SSH into my cloud servers)
ProtonVPN (in case I need to hop on a public WiFi for emergencies and when using Cellular Data and not my home wifi network)
Now, I have hit some minor snags. When I have 30+ Edge Tabs open, 12GB of RAM can get a little tight, but getting into the habit of closing tabs that I don't need took care of this issue.
All in all, I really can't complain much. Sure, when using the phone display unfolded can get a little bit of an eye strain for long durations, but when you take a break every 30-60 mins (or more), it's not bad really. When portable, I can pretty much pick up and go anytime I need because everything I need is with me already. I am just using the portable mode to get used to it and see how actually useful it is.
Well, to wrap up this long post, I thought I would just say how freaking AWESOME this phone is and for a guy like me, having something this ultra-portable AND useful is a great thing. Because I am on so many teams and do so many thing, I am on-call pretty much 24x7x365 (if not on-call for one team, I am on-call for another and some "teams", I am the ONLY person, so I am always on-call for those) so having this handy and useful makes my life easier because I literally can work ANYWHERE I have internet, either Data or WiFi.
Hope people found this useful. or if nothing else, entertaining.
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