What device do I need? & Can I use a phone in this way?

1.
I have desktop PC with Win8 on it. I feel chained to this thing all the time, even when I am not doing anything intensive and am just browsing the web/watching youtube. I would like to only have to turn this on when I recording gameplay or rendering/streaming said gameplay video; and move 98% of my computer time to a Windows 8 Pro portable device which solves the issue I am having currently with my wife's android smartphone.

I currently use my wife's android phone to be portable. I've grown quite fond of consuming my internet browsing/youtube watching whilst lying in bed, in the bath, or sitting in the toilet. And having it to hand when I'm in the kitchen cooking/making a cup of tea. Swishing the touchscreen to scroll the page is very fast and easy. Only one problem.... I can't use the onscreen keyboard to save my life! I must have fat fingers or something...

I have deduced that I am obviously in need of something with a touchscreen and a regular keyboard; which is still portable. But I am put off by touchscreen laptops in the traditional clamshell shape, as it wouldn't be comfortable in bed/bath/on toilet. So far I am looking at the MS Surface Pro... but it's hugely expensive and I'm not going to be able to afford one until Christmas 2013 if not later. This seems to be a fairly new device type (touchscreen/detachable 'real' keyboard), is it just a case of waiting it out in the hope that something comes along which meets my needs and is also affordable?

2.
Her android phone is on contract, and that contract is due to run out soon, at which point she can keep the old phone to give to me whilst she gets a new one. I would want to use the phone as a portable internet browser... but without signing a new contract, nor burning through pay as you go phonecredit. We have WiFi in our apartment, which is mostly where I would use the phone as an internet browser. I just don't know if such a thing is possible?


Any help is very much appreciated.

In the toilet, or on the toilet?


That being said, you can mostly use an Android phone without a contract, but it won't be able to make or receive calls or use the network towers.

On the toilet, lol. Am only interested in the android phone as a portable internet browser, a temporary band aid which will still have the typing issue until I can find the right device for me

Why don't you get a Nexus 7 for $199 plus a Motorola Bluetooth Keyboard (shop around. I got mine for $59.99).

Both are great devices and work very well. And there are a LOT of applications on the Google Playstore. E.g. I use it for navigation in the car - plus a lot of other things.

I'd like it to be Win8 based so I could still have access to all my files/software. Trying to go for a portable touchscreen/keyboard replacement for my desktop which is more on the tablet side than a normal laptop.

So a cheap Windows 8 tablet that still uses an Intel processor? I think I saw one in the news for $400...

Found it: Acer Iconia Tab W510-1674 Cheap Windows 8 Tablet Overview

It seems to only have 32gb of internal memory though... You better get a good-sized MicroSD card.

With the Iconia you will have to be very patient. It will be very slow. Plus there are few typical tablet apps for the Windows 8 devices. And I don't assume you want to run Excel or PowerPoint on the thing. And it is 10" - not very portable. But $399 is a good price.

Thanks for the link. It doesn't seem to have a keyboard available though.
The end of the article links to a similar machine with a keyboard available, the ASUS-q200e-bhi3t45, although that is in the traditional laptop form factor.

Thinking about it, maybe one of these machines from Lenovo might be good, perhaps even better than the Microsoft Surface Pro.
Convertible Laptop, Ultrabook and Tablet PCs with Windows 8 | Yoga, Twist and Lynx (GB)

It has the 'real keyboard', rather than struggling with touchscreen keyboard as I currently do on the android phone. But at the same time these machines transformed into tablet/stand/tent mode to get the keyboard "out of the way" for when I don't need to be typing, just scrolling the touchscreen to consume media or browse the internet. Using it in tent or stand mode whilst lying in bed would be better than me pressing my arms and elbows onto the keyboard of a typical laptop clamshell design, as I hold my head up with my chin on my arms etc. Of course... certain things like Pro over RT operating system, higher hardrive capacity start pushing it more towards the £999 price range when I would like something cheap-ish; and at least one of those devices comes with the hardrive space all partitioned to hell with scary looking instructions on how to fix it.

Am I simply too early to the party, and I need to wait for the currently high-priced devices which cover my needs better to become cheaper?

Hi there
Simple if you have a DECENT smart phone with an acceptable size screen which allows HDMI output (a lot of HDMI adapter cables are available for most phones -- cheap too around 8 USD).

1) Video / Music content -- transfer or copy to phone's micro SD card --these are available in sizes up to 32 GB at the moment -- soon they will be available in 64 and 128 GB sizes too.

2) For output to a large monitor / TV / Screen -- get a HDMI adapter for your phone --the output is often better than 1080p full HD.

3) For keyboard get a folding blue tooth keybard and pair with the phone.

I'm replying to this forum using a phone in this way. It plays movies pretty well too from the Wifi or even from local storage on the micro SD card.

To replicate a mouse is a bit tricky but use the phone's touch screen.

My PC usage these days is around 70% less than it was a year ago. !! Basically I only use a PC at work these days or if I want to get files from my HDD's to the phone. In the future I'll probably use NAS only so even here I won't need a PC.

Cheers
jimbo