Travelling around the world and working usually means having access to some kind of portable computer. For most people, that’s a laptop. Laptops have allowed people to take their work with them, no matter where in the world they are.
But we’re beginning to see more and more travellers leaving their laptops behind, and are instead making use of their smartphones instead, and it’s something that you might want to consider once you know how a smartphone can replace a laptop.
Hardware
In the past, smartphones were much more basic than they are now, and before that, a mobile phone was little more than a means of sending texts and making calls. Today, smartphones are little more than miniaturised computers, but their hardware often exceeds that of your average laptop. This means that, in general, whatever your laptop can do, your phone can probably do it, too. The biggest difference between the two is the operating system and the range of available software.
Office Work
Of course, nothing is ever quite so straightforward, and the traveller might need to make some adjustments to their workflow. For instance, it’s not possible to download and install Microsoft Office on to an Android device – the packaging formats are completely different. But what is possible is using Chrome, Edge, or Firefox on that device to log on to Office 365, which is completely based online.
Another choice here is Google’s suite of office tools, such as Google Docs, which allows for real-time collaboration. A wireless, Bluetooth keyboard is also a must, as it would be downright impossible to do any real typing directly on the touchscreen of your Android, and a small, portable screen can make a world of difference.
It might seem pointless to have a keyboard and screen when you can just use a laptop – but the whole idea is to cut back on weight and space, making travelling even easier – while also being able to do work with the device in our pocket without losing productivity.
Powerful Software
It’s estimated that within the next 5 years, most people around the world will be using their mobile devices to access the internet. This kind of shift is made possible thanks to the development of powerful software for modern Android and iOS devices. With extremely efficient processors that easily outcompete some of the best chips in even high-end laptops, it makes sense that more and more developers are focussing on the mobile ecosystem. This means that our phones can potentially become the centre of all our communication, productivity, as well as our entertainment, from streaming sites to playing games at your favourite online casino South Africa, or to having access to a wide range of 3D video games.
It might not be for everyone, but one-baggers especially may find the appeal of cutting down on the items that they need while flying across the world.
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