[albertgoeswoof]

We are almost reaching tipping point here - my laptop is still more powerful than my phone, but only just. If USB-C can really support this connectivity (2 monitors, plus keyboard, mouse and a couple of usb ports), a really great implementation could work well.

I think Apple are the only company that can pull this off right now, everyone else is too fragmented to get the hardware/software integration right, and popular enough for mass adoption.

If they release it they could tigger a whole new era of computing. e.g. Imagine going to work without having to bring a laptop along.

[maccard]

My phone has already replaced what I used to use my laptop for, but it's not going to replace my work PC anytime soon. Compiling our work C++ proejct takes about 40 minutes on a 32 core workstation, and my mobile phone isn't going to replace that right now, even if I can connect some peripherals to it.

[albertgoeswoof]

I think you're a bit of an edge case though - most people don't need 32 cores, even for work.

[mschuster91]

Hmm something like eGPU, but for "real" CPUs, would be very nice... and interesting. For example, using a low-power ARM core for "daily" work on a laptop (e.g. browsing, text processing), and engaging a heavy-duty x86 CPU only when needed, e.g. by x86-only software...

[maccard]

most may not, but many do. There are also many workloads that require a discrete GPU running at medium to high load constantly. Granted I have an older iPhone, but my battery life drops from ~1 day of normal usage to ~1hr of intensive usage, and generates an _incredible_ amount of heat.

[herbst]

I dont think this will ever be a thing. For me phones are (sorrily) throw away products, usually not build to last. Computers are expandable, upgradeable machines that you build for your use case and have for years without having to worry to much.

Even mac folks have their Macbooks at least twice as long as their phones.

So i dont see this happening for any kind of professional use anytime soon. But who knows.

Disclaimer: My last phone (downgraded recently, because battery life > 4k screens) is more powerful than my Laptop.

[bluedino]

>> Computers are expandable, upgradeable machines

Not anymore they're not. I haven't bought an upgradeable laptop since 2011.

[herbst]

You didnt. And some others as well. But plenty, especially professionals, still do. Not to mention that nearly all laptops except Apple & Microsofts (which are in minority) are upgradeable to some degree.

Written from my Thinkpad :)

[elboru]

Plus I think we got to a point where those upgrades are not totally necessary unless you work with cutting edge software, my MacBook Pro from 2013 still works perfectly, and my windows HP from 2014 too... I'm a developer and those two laptops work almost like the first day I bought them without any upgrade, some years ago even Microsoft Office's newest version would slow computers...

[herbst]

I have a Thinkpad from 2011 so i know what you mean. However i would argue 2013 and 2014 are not old enough to worry yet. Most better laptops already were > Sandy Bridge and had 8 or 16GB of RAM. Most also already equipped with a SSD.

If you look at my 2011 Thinkpad however, it was shipped with 4GB of RAM and a 512 GB analog disc. Spending only like $200 extra it turned into a 512GB SSD + 16GB RAM + new battery beast which outperformed my 2014 MBP for nearly all of my development tasks.

So i guess it depends on how you look at products. I tend to buy things i know i wont have to replace anytime soon.

[albertgoeswoof]

I have a thinkpad (x1 carbon) and it's definitely not upgradeable :-)

The people who will buy a phone dock are probably also the same people that value ultra-lightweight devices, so I don't think you're in the same bracket as them

[herbst]

Good point, the reason i am not on a X1 yet (even thought its so fucking sexy) is that i depend on good battery life and can not buy something without replaceable battery. However this already disqualifies me as general consument i guess.

[vinceguidry]

My five year love affair with MacBook Pros ended after the second time in two weeks I spilled liquid on one. I went out and dropped $2k on a desktop and a desk to put it on. I'm sorely tempted to switch to a Mac Mini for my work machine.

I use a tablet now for my idle couch browsing.

[herbst]

If you ever look for a new couch laptop:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LDmCmmvIA8A

[fpig]

But for work you probably want a more powerful computer...

So for us devs it would mostly be for non-work stuff. And then you have the problem that you'd have to carry around external hardware with you or find places that offer it for use.