Use GN as a computer?

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As my laptop is a bit old and slow, I am thinking to use my GN as a computer. Of course, the phone is not yet powerful for some heavy work, such as programming, or rich text editing, or big numerical simulation, however, it is sufficient to be used as a reader, for reading documents (pdf, doc, ppt, ...). With the help with some applications in the market, reading pdfs in GN is even more convenient than in a laptop (or even printed paper).

The only problem is about the battery life. With the night mode of the pdf reader turned on (namely, the background is black and the text is white), the battery can provide a running time of 10 -- 15 hours at most; of course such a running time is not short compared to normal laptops, but it is short for a phone.

So my question is:
Is it good for the battery if I always connect the phone to the AC power while using it for "work"?

Another question is:
If the battery is taken out, is it possible to turn on the phone if it is connected to an AC power?

no android system, whether it's a smartphone or tablet can replace a computer, my opinion is, android is more for fun rather than for work or productivity, and you cannot donload all file type, only files that it recognize.

while i agree that nothing can truly replace an full fledged computer, the android is more than just fun to use. you can get serious with it, especially with the really great hardware that we're getting today.
also, you can download any file type just fine regardless if android recognizes them or not.

If you want to expand the productivity of your Note to approach laptop-like functionality, check these out:

http://www.androidnz.net/2011/11/sam...nectivity.html

NZtechfreak's great video showing bluetooth keyboard and mouse, as well as hookup to a large HD display. Note his references to Splashtop, one of several remote desktop solutions.

Also check out other solutions in the market. Search for terms like office, productivity, remote desktop, cloud, virtual...

There are android apps to open and create Word, Excel, Powerpoint, and Project files. There's also google docs, dropbox, box.net, and others for cloud storage and sharing. Evernote/Skitch is productive. There are apps to work with Outlook, for remote VPN connectivity, for accessing virtual Windows-like machines.

The Note has a video editor, but there are also full-fledged online video solutions, as well as photo editing solutions. For music creation, you have Caustic, Uloops, Jasuto, RD3 and SPC, G-stomper, reloops... and you can create and export in between them.

So yeah, if you want to expand your Note's productivity, there are most certainly options, more than I've listed here. Feel free!

---------- Post added at 03:36 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:28 PM ----------

Oh yeah, and regarding battery life, I would just get a spare or two, as they're only like $5 each.

This battery charger does double duty as a stand, portrait or landscape, and is very pocketable as well:

http://www.expansys.com/samsung-hold...te-5-3-224726/

Heck, while I'm at it, this is on my wishlist as well, and is also pocketable, smaller than the Note itself:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Folding-Wire...item3f100d4608

So, you could carry in your pocket 3 things and have a portable office:
1) Note
2) stand/charger
3) keyboard

Add stereo BT headset and you're good to go

Using smartphone for Real Work

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Originally Posted by fjdu

As my laptop is a bit old and slow, I am thinking to use my GN as a computer. Of course, the phone is not yet powerful for some heavy work, such as programming, or rich text editing, or big numerical simulation, however, it is sufficient to be used as a reader, for reading documents (pdf, doc, ppt, ...). With the help with some applications in the market, reading pdfs in GN is even more convenient than in a laptop (or even printed paper).

The only problem is about the battery life. With the night mode of the pdf reader turned on (namely, the background is black and the text is white), the battery can provide a running time of 10 -- 15 hours at most; of course such a running time is not short compared to normal laptops, but it is short for a phone.

So my question is:
Is it good for the battery if I always connect the phone to the AC power while using it for "work"?

Another question is:
If the battery is taken out, is it possible to turn on the phone if it is connected to an AC power?

I have used my iPhone, Inspire 4G, and Atrix 2 for many things at work - using QuickOffice Suite for custom spreadsheets to do eye calculations in exam room face to face with patients, and to show pictures of various medical conditions. Much better than having to run out to a computer, and impresses the patient. I am very much looking forward to doing this with my Galaxy Note, which will arrive in a few days!

Some phones will work while plugged in with battery removed. I think the Atrix 2 did. Give it a try.

No modern laptop, nettop, tablet or smartphone is designed to last 10 hours with the screen on. 5 - 6 hours is the average. You can reach 10 or 12 hours with some ultrabooks but all depends on what you are doing.

Of course a medium/big laptop with Windows 7 and 4 GB of RAM is more adecuate to work with multiple apps and windows and to perform heavy tasks like photo or video editing, but I have been using smarphones since before the iphone existed and I find that I use my phone more and my laptop less each year.

The Galaxy note was the next logical step. The big screen and RAM lest you do 90% of the things you can do on a laptop. I find more comfortable when I come home to just enable Wifi on the Galaxy Note and check e-mail, twitter, read a lot of web-pages, etc. If I find something that needs opening multiple windows and copying from one to the other, or copying several files and folders, I think it's easier from a computer. But every day I find that I'm using my computer only a few hours a week, and mostly as a bridge to backup the phone or copy things to it.

The advantage of having the Galazy Note with me all the time can not be measured. I'm sure that my previous Galaxy S payed for himself with just the amount of times I could consult information when on the move, saving time and money when you're on a city or place you don't know. It saves me a lot of time because I can read things while on the train or subway or bus, so I don't care if it's 25 or 45 minutes, it's not lost time. I can be researching online, and making reservations or looking for the best offers in the area.

Regarding the battery. The 2500 mAh in the Galaxy Note lasts longer than the one on my pervious Galaxy S. If you expect to have the screen on for more than 8 hours, you can carry an external battery pack. You don't have to open the back of the phone and don't have to reboot it. I have a 5400 mAh pack that can triple the duration of the GNote battery.

Originally Posted by fjdu

As my laptop is a bit old and slow, I am thinking to use my GN as a computer. Of course, the phone is not yet powerful for some heavy work, such as programming, or rich text editing, or big numerical simulation, however, it is sufficient to be used as a reader, for reading documents (pdf, doc, ppt, ...). With the help with some applications in the market, reading pdfs in GN is even more convenient than in a laptop (or even printed paper).

The only problem is about the battery life. With the night mode of the pdf reader turned on (namely, the background is black and the text is white), the battery can provide a running time of 10 -- 15 hours at most; of course such a running time is not short compared to normal laptops, but it is short for a phone.

So my question is:
Is it good for the battery if I always connect the phone to the AC power while using it for "work"?

Another question is:
If the battery is taken out, is it possible to turn on the phone if it is connected to an AC power?

Thank you all for your replies.

I tried to turn on the phone with the battery taken out but the usb power on, but this does not work...

I am interested in this only because I would use the note for heavy note taking.

How well can the note multi task (switch between open applications)?
Can we export our notes to different file formats?
I know the note has two mics does that help in creating awesome audio recordings?
How easy is it for the stylus to fall from the phone? Are they expensive to replace?
Does thing need an otterbox or is it pretty sturdy? I haven't seen any smash screen posts.

The G Note cannot replace the PC or Laptop.
Having said that, it can come close to a laptop or the Tablet.
For productivity, I find Evernote and QuickOffice and the S Pen with S Note very useful. QuickOffice can manage and create Word, Excel, PowerPoint and pdf files. Evernote can sync all the notes, audio, pics and other notes with all the Mobile, Laptop, PC and Tablet etc, so everything will be available in all the devices.

As for battery, I use a portable battery such as Vivis. This has 9000 mA when fully charged and can be used with the G. Note while it also charging the phone. Very useful and does not require a spare battery. Will charge the G. Note twice to "full charge" from less than 10%. This portable unit has a rechargeable battery that will need to be charged for about 6 hours.

Originally Posted by jlop

I am interested in this only because I would use the note for heavy note taking.

How well can the note multi task (switch between open applications)?
Can we export our notes to different file formats?
I know the note has two mics does that help in creating awesome audio recordings?
How easy is it for the stylus to fall from the phone? Are they expensive to replace?
Does thing need an otterbox or is it pretty sturdy? I haven't seen any smash screen posts.

As you will be taking notes as one of your main functions, I think you should purchase WritePad from the market, it allows you to write in your handwriting on any app that uses text input and converts it to typed text, the accuracy is amazing on the Note.

The recording of audio is of good quality, not sure how much the two mics play a part in this though and how far you intend to have your subject while recording, at fairly close range I don't think you will have many problems.

I have fairly large hands so find the stylus awkward to use however, I am using it with a Wacom stylus pen that came with my Think Pad Notebook which I purchased about five years ago and it works a treat and is very comfortable to write with, also purchased the Samsung S Pen attachment which comes with a spare stylus and pen holder for about £30.00 UK pounds. The Wacom pen is more comfortable.

I would definitely get a case with this phone as I fear dropping will crack the screen pretty easily, it is not worth the risk. There were a couple of threads where people have cracked their screen.