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Rebuilding the Computer Room

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Re: Rebuilding the Computer Room

#61

Post by NoPicklez »

> My primary computer is now a desktop with a large monitor, and I’m fortunate to have a room I can use as an office. I also have a laptop, but I only use it when I leave the house – otherwise, it lives in a drawer under my desk.

Pretty normal isn't it? I wouldn't say this is anything different to what a lot of people already do

> Yet, some physical restrictions remained – laptops were still heavy and bulky objects. They were something you had to carry in bags, and not something you’d take out casually. There were lots of places where you’d never see or use a laptop.

They have been sleek and capable enough for over 17 years. The first Aluminum Macbook can do everything I still require of my latest Macbook from anywhere.

> There’s a growing trend among Gen Z to resist the all-in-one allure of the smartphone, and go back to dedicated devices. They’re swaping their smartphones for single-purpose tools like point-and-shoto cameras or dedicated MP3 players, devices that lack the ability to receive notifications. I haven’t gone that far yet, but it’s something I’m considering.

For me this would create more clutter and require more of my attention to ensure the devices work the way I want them to and that I have them on hand. Yes my MP3 player doesn't show notifications but its another device I need to keep with me and keep charged. Buying a device for the sake of it unless I have a real need just feels like consumerism.

Re: Rebuilding the Computer Room

#63

Post by yourusername »

bilsbie wrote: post #41
dijit wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You're not alone. I think everything peaked in 2014, phones were firmly "second" devices and there was a lower expectation that people were glued to them constantly. Laptops had crappy batteries and performed significantly worse for more money, so were only used by the dedicated. (or, the rich in the case of some software devs in SV/London). Most people still had desktops and using computers was its own "thing", then…

I agree but didn’t the iPhone come out around 2007? Wouldn’t that be the date rather than 2014?

The first iphone was a very limited device. It didn't have 3G, you were still effectively tethered to WiFi.

Re: Rebuilding the Computer Room

#64

Post by wink »

NoPicklez wrote: post #61

> My primary computer is now a desktop with a large monitor, and I’m fortunate to have a room I can use as an office. I also have a laptop, but I only use it when I leave the house – otherwise, it lives in a drawer under my desk. Pretty normal isn't it? I wouldn't say this is anything different to what a lot of people already do > Yet, some physical restrictions remained – laptops were still heavy and bulky objects.…

I think we're in the minority here. Or at least we absolutely were in the minority until 2020 when everyone started working from home, many kept it that way, and a somewhat dedicated (even if temporary) spot had to be found.

But I know so many people (who don't work from home) who put their laptop on their living room or kitchen table, or the couch.

People who game on PC are probably also an outlier, but many of those again use it mostly for gaming and not as their main machine.

Re: Rebuilding the Computer Room

#65

Post by CagedCoder »

NoPicklez wrote: post #61

> My primary computer is now a desktop with a large monitor, and I’m fortunate to have a room I can use as an office. I also have a laptop, but I only use it when I leave the house – otherwise, it lives in a drawer under my desk. Pretty normal isn't it? I wouldn't say this is anything different to what a lot of people already do > Yet, some physical restrictions remained – laptops were still heavy and bulky objects.…

> For me this would create more clutter and require more of my attention to ensure the devices work the way I want them to and that I have them on hand. Yes my MP3 player doesn't show notifications but its another device I need to keep with me and keep charged. Buying a device for the sake of it unless I have a real need just feels like consumerism.

I was skeptical until I kidnapped my wife's kindle and started reading on that instead of my phone. I recently added an mp3 player too and there really is something about the intentionality of a dedicated device that make it more enjoyable and more focused than using my phone for everything.

But to your point, there is definitely a lot of performative/consumerism basis - if you visit the Emulator subreddit for example there's an increasingly common joke that nobody ever uses their device, just buys the new one to collect it/post it online for internet points.

Re: Rebuilding the Computer Room

#66

Post by dijit »

Terr_ wrote: post #45
dijit wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You're not alone. I think everything peaked in 2014, phones were firmly "second" devices and there was a lower expectation that people were glued to them constantly. Laptops had crappy batteries and performed significantly worse for more money, so were only used by the dedicated. (or, the rich in the case of some software devs in SV/London). Most people still had desktops and using computers was its own "thing", then…

> phones were firmly "second" devices There's a (claimed?) stereotype that Millennials don't buy things on their phones, even if they are already browsed to the "buy now" page they'll conduct the actual transaction (and perhaps comparison-shop) on a laptop or desktop. It makes sense to me, so I'm not sure if it's actually a reverse-dig accusing younger generations of doing the opposite and being unthinking consumers.…

Some purchases are phone purchases, some are computer purchases.

Flight tickets? Computer purchase.

Tickets for a show? ... phone purchase.

A laptop? Computer purchase.

A pair of shoes or a book? ... phone purchase.

etc;

(I think it comes down to a combination of: how good are the apps and websites, how many steps it takes, plus how much it costs to do it wrong)

Re: Rebuilding the Computer Room

#67

Post by ant_li0n »

TacticalCoder wrote: post #20

> Laptops became more convenient for more types of task, and soon they were good enough to be your primary computing device. > My primary computer is now a desktop with a large monitor, ... I own several laptops: they're simply inferior computing devices due to their mediocre screen and pathetic keyboards. I'm laying on the couch while typing this on a laptop. That's what it's good for. My actual workstation has a 38…

Over the years, I have accumulated a really sweet desk setup: standing desk, Herman Miller chair, Kinesis Advantage, BenQ programming monitor, nice lighting, decent audio setup, etc. I have a dedicated office, entirely separated from the rest of the house.

It's great, but I think being dependent on all that stuff can make you soft. I still do some of my best work from my laptop in the garden, coffee shops, the library, etc.

To each their own.

Re: Rebuilding the Computer Room

#68

Post by NoPicklez »

CagedCoder wrote: post #65
NoPicklez wrote: post #61

> My primary computer is now a desktop with a large monitor, and I’m fortunate to have a room I can use as an office. I also have a laptop, but I only use it when I leave the house – otherwise, it lives in a drawer under my desk. Pretty normal isn't it? I wouldn't say this is anything different to what a lot of people already do > Yet, some physical restrictions remained – laptops were still heavy and bulky objects.…

> For me this would create more clutter and require more of my attention to ensure the devices work the way I want them to and that I have them on hand. Yes my MP3 player doesn't show notifications but its another device I need to keep with me and keep charged. Buying a device for the sake of it unless I have a real need just feels like consumerism. I was skeptical until I kidnapped my wife's kindle and started readi…

I agree there is a balance, if the separate device gives you more functionality and enhances the experience over the mobile phone, then I can understand the benefit.

I have a Kindle as well as I find the iPhone screen way too small to read from.

Re: Rebuilding the Computer Room

#69

Post by ikr678 »

fyver wrote: post #58

"I can focus on the things that actually deserve my attention – cooking a meal, reading a book, chatting with my friends, playing on the sofa. I’m less worried about the distraction of my digital devices, or the effect it has on my life." Am I the only one who've heard about that "do not disturb" mode on phones?

Default 'Do Not Disturb' on android still lets heaps of notifications through.

Additionally, when I do have my phone silenced completely, (or on an airplane without wireless), I still find myself reaching for the phone and checking anyway. It's a physical tic, and the only way to break it is to not have the phone near you.

Re: Rebuilding the Computer Room

#70

Post by [deleted] »

noir_lord wrote: post #21

The way he describes using his computer (dedicated PC, laptop in drawer, phone left on charge) is exactly how I use my tech and always have (as phones and laptops became more portable/available). I'm in the weird position of been a programmer who likes computers and dislikes basically all other consumer technology (phones, laptops, consoles, most domestic smart devices etc). I don't like interruptions, technology ser…

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