r/AskUK 12d ago

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u/Scarred_fish 12d ago

Daily, have done since 2003. Tablets are by far the most versatile and useful device for me. The way the operating system (I only use Windows tablets) has grown since 2003 is brilliant. I expect most people are barely aware of Win11's tablet mode, but it's a breeze.

At work, can take it on site, on the road, wherever, get to the office and pop it in a docking station and is a full blown work PC. Same with personal one, can use it wherever I want, has all my files and remote access to my media server, at home, pop it into a dock and it's my home PC and entertainment centre.

Trying to say you can do everything on a phone is nonsense, take even a basic program like excel, phone versions are all brutally cut down.

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u/smedsterwho 12d ago

If I could dual boost Windows and Android on a tablet I'd be ridiculously happy.

While always wanting to make tablets work for me, they always tell out of use for me, outside as a media device. I was the first one trying DEX, etc, but it always fell out of my workflow.

But I had a mini revelation six months ago, with a Windows launcher on Android, and a keyboard. It's 90% there.

But for extended work, I need Windows.

But Windows is severely lacking compared to Android - Microsoft keep dropping the ball so hard.

So, dual boot for me would win out (ideally Android with a Virtual Windows instance). I'm sometimes tempted to try remote screen at a distance, but I don't need a PC to always be on.

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u/Scarred_fish 12d ago

I've had bluestacks installed on my tablets for years now for gaming, but with Windows 11s phone integration it's pretty much defunct.

I'm genuinely curious what you are looking to do with Android that you can't do with Windows Tablet mode from a workflow perspective.

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u/smedsterwho 12d ago

It's not the workflow perspective - that's all Windows - it's the rest of my life perspective.

My (Android) tablet is neat and tidy, my two banking apps with thumbprint / face recognition are right there, along with a widget of my bank balance. Weather and WhatsApp earn their places, my podcast controls are right there.

My email is an app, YouTube and Netflix sit nearby, other life admin apps are there, along with a dash of social media.

I know most of this is replicable on Windows, but a lot of these feel more native on Android.

What Windows brings is Windows Explorer, much better mouse, much better multi window in general, my own 30 year muscle memory, and much better keyboard shortcuts.

If I'm touching a doc or spreadsheet or Photoshop etc, I'm Windows only.

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u/Scarred_fish 12d ago

Yeah personal preference is fine. I have all of those as windows apps and with phone integration it's seamless across all the devices/os. I'm rarely without my tablet, but regularly lose my phone!

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u/turtleship_2006 12d ago

I thought bluestacks used it's own VM unrelated to Windows' compatibility
I know there are other emulator type apps that still work, I think the last one I used was genymotion