Quite a few people, especially freelance writers such as myself, have long used our smartphones as secondary computers -- I estimate that more than half of the thousands of work emails sent in 2016 were typed on a mobile device. Heck, I've even published a Forbes post completely on a phone.
But Samsung is taking the smartphone-as-computer thing to another level with
Dex, a US$150 dock that turns the Galaxy S8/S8+ into a fully-functional computer (though some third party sites, like
Mobile Fun, are selling it at cheaper at US$130).
To get started, you'll need the Dex, a Galaxy S8/S8+, a TV or monitor that supports HDMI input, an HDMI cable (not included in the Dex package), a USB-C power source for the Dex (basically a charger for the S8), a mouse and keyboard. So if you're keeping track at home that's five additional pieces you'll need. If you're using a wired keyboard and mouse, you'll need two USB-A ports, which the Dex provides at the back of the device (along with an Ethernet port). I opted for my Dell bluetooth mouse/keyboard combo that only needs one USB dongle.
The first time you plug in the S8 the Dex will guide you through a quick set-up, and after that you'll be taken to a desktop set-up that resembles a typical Mac desktop. At the bottom of is a "dock" with some of your apps, and scrolling through them brings about this Mac-like animation in which the highlighted app grows in sizeWhatever custom launcher/app icon you've chosen for your S8 disappears here -- the desktop uses Samsung's stock icons and look. Most third party apps you open will be mobile versions of the apps -- meaning it opens as a small vertical rectangle -- but some, like Gmail, seem to have been optimized, resulting in a wider box that shows an extra plane of information. Samsung's own apps, such as calendar, and internet browser, have been optimized for the big screen experience. Most app windows can be resized or moved around the desktop. Most third party apps you open will be mobile versions of the apps -- meaning it opens as a small vertical rectangle -- but some, like Gmail, seem to have been optimized, resulting in a wider box that shows an extra plane of information. Samsung's own apps, such as calendar, and internet browser, have been optimized for the big screen experience. Most app windows can be resized or moved around the desktop.
. The app tray is located on the left corner, where the Windows "start" button would be.
I am on the fourth day of using the Dex as a computer, having written a couple of film reviews and currently this post, and the overall experience is a pleasant surprise. The S8 somehow runs smoother as a computer than as a phone (which is laggy and slower than, say, the OnePlus 3T or Huawei Mate 9 Pro), but ultimately, it can't compare to using a good desktop.There are some not-so-minor bugs right now that should be fixed with time. The Spotify app will not run, and you can't copy text off the Gmail app. It hasn't gotten in the way of my work experience yet, but if these bugs are still there a month later, that'll be another story.
Overall, the Dex works as advertised. The S8 can indeed be a work computer, at least for journalists and writers. If I was, say, a graphic designer or video editor, then the Dex wouldn't fare as well. But the big question is, do we really need this thing? As mentioned earlier, you need a keyboard and mouse to run the Dex, and if you own a keyboard that means you already own a computer. So under what circumstances would you need the Dex? The only one I can think of is if you're a business traveler and you like to travel very, very light -- the S8, Dex, a small keyboard, mouse and HDMI cable is all you'd need to work at the hotel (you'd have to use the hotel TV as display).
Right now I see it as a fun little toy to show off the S8's powers. But hey, that's sort of what people who buy the Galaxy S8 wants, because as I've written before, the
S8 is a laggy-as-hell phone that's
more fragile than other devices. You're not buying the S8 because it's the fastest phone or most functional phone. You're buying it because you like to mess around with cool tech toys. And the
Dex is a damn cool one at that.
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Title :
Can The Galaxy S8 Really Function As A Work Computer? I Gave It A Go
Description : Quite a few people, especially freelance writers such as myself, have long used our smartphones as secondary computers -- I estimate that mo...
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