Anyone using Pixel Tablet as a laptop alternative?

duck1

If so, please share your experiences as I would like to hear them.

de0u

duck1 https://discuss.grapheneos.org/d/13116-pixel-tablet-as-a-daily-driver
https://discuss.grapheneos.org/d/13423-what-keyboard-for-the-pixel-tablet

locked

duck1 They need to make a lot of improvements before I would even consider that, but I am hopeful one day they will, and I will be able to use it for a lot of tasks I use the computer for today. I would like to see a "13 model with OLED screen, maybe even mini led technology, 120hz refresh rate, TSMC processor, adequate memory and have a good keyboard to attached to..

missing-root

duck1 I thought about it and have some hard requirements, that android just doesnt meet.

Image editing

Snapseed with disabled Internet is okay, on a phone. But no replacement for GIMP and Inkscape. All apps remotely compatible are proprietary, cloud-based garbage.

Music & Video

MPV / VLC, Grayjay, Anrimians Music Player, Antennapod

This is way more than enough, also way more nice music players than on Linux. Grayjay also beats Freetube.

Office

Collabora Office, has a completely useless UI on mobile, have not tested its convergence. The Microsoft stuff all has arbitrary requirements for internet, years ago.

Scientific stuff like RStudio etc. are also not working.

Mail

K9-Mail is okay and simple to use. I have used Fair-Email also with Pro (but lost the key...) and it was too complex for the phone.

Maybe Fairemail has more features like PGP?

K-9 is really restricted

no flexible sender address
no local mail filters
bad three column support, no resizing etc.
no PGP at all
no extensions like DKIM Verifier

Games

Mostly just 2D things, I dont play much, and WINE on Android may become a thing some time soon. Dont care, but Android really is phone only.

System stuff

Syncing works, kindof. But tools like the screenshot tool have hardcoded file paths. You cant backup internal app storage a lot of times. You cant really handle real external drives that are not exFAT. Using encrypted cloud storage with Cryptomator is a pain.

There are many things like reliability (not being allowed to break my system ;) ) that make GrapheneOS/Android a great companion/main OS, but it is not really good if you are used to stuff like KDE Plasma.

File management for example is horrendous.

And so on... Androids Tablet market is abysmal, if things are coming they are often proprietary garbage. I think a Linux tablet would have better apps, while being less secure.

[deleted]

You mean with keyboard ? For office stuff and work? No.

Pure tablet for banking, surfing, YouTube, reading, Email etc.? Yes

With GrapheneOS of course. No complaints from me. Does everything it should. Allows to read or watch videos while walking around the room, or sitting on the toilet. I found that my Debian laptop was overkill for the stuff I need.

F0SSIL

Pixel Tablet is a POS. If you want a true laptop alternative get a laptop.

popsicle1954

Waiting for the Pixel Tablet 2 then I will be.

roamer4223

I use it instead of a laptop and it's perfectly fine for general use. However, I would wait for the next version as it will most likely have MTE, which is a massive security boost

Anais

I use ipad

[deleted]

Anais Are you trying to convince us to convert to the church of Apple?

Anais

[deleted] I use it to replace a PC.

TheFriendlyCrow

I've had a pixel tablet running GOS for about a year now. I bought it anticipating a keyboard, hoping it might become a replacement for my laptop - but because Google never released a keyboard, it was effectively became an ultra secure paperweight. I hardly use it all and will likely sell it soon.

[deleted]

TheFriendlyCrow Can't you just use any Bluetooth keyboard? I use one with an old Acer tablet without problems. Pretty sure it would work with my Pixel tablet if I would need it.

Manna

TheFriendlyCrow

Same about the missing keyboard...

The iPad accessories are indecently priced, but this is a much more coherent product.
I like the tablet, just because the screen is bigger, but it just looks like an advanced version of the nest hub, it's a shame google only does half the stuff.
I expect more from android desktop mode now.

sonice

The tablet would probably cover 90% of my daily needs, but I still use my laptop half the time. The tablet really needs a nice keyboard/trackpad case. Typing on the touchscreen is the most "restricting" thing with the tabet for me.

I'm dreaming of a Chromebook Pixel with GOS.

[deleted]

Anais OK. But we should focus on the original question.

Apart from that, a few weeks ago my kitchen appliance seller had to switch from a crashing PC (bluescreen) to his iPad to print me an invoice, lol).

Anais

[deleted] It's the ultimate in simplicity, an iPhone and an iPad and you've got no sticking points.

ErnestThornhill

Outside of the obvious advantages they have, my Pixel Tablet has replaced my need for a desktop and/or laptop.

nunyo

I've been trying really hard to love my pixel tablet and replace my laptop. Sadly, I've been unsuccessful. Even basic word processing and spreadsheets to run my household can be extremely frustrating using FOSS apps and a small screen (no external monitor support).

I've just recently installed Windows 10 LTSC IoT with a local account, as many privacy settings as possible, Portmaster to block telemetry, Proton suite and OnlyOffice on an old surface book laptop. Working like a dream.

Dumdum

missing-root no PGP at all

Uh, it does. In the app:
Settings > Select whichever account you want (under "Accounts") to add PGP to > End-to-end encryption

Obviously this requires OpenKeychain, but its there.

Carlos-Anso

missing-root Image editing

Snapseed with disabled Internet is okay, on a phone. But no replacement for GIMP

Theres Krita which my friend uses extensively on their tablet. They publish more frequently on Play Store

matchboxbananasynergy

The eventual solution to more "desktop-like" apps (whatever that means for each individual) will likely be just being able to run desktop apps in VMs.

I don't believe that's as far as people might think it is. Here's hoping. :)