For a long time I’ve always had in the back of my mind this nagging question of what device I would choose if I could only have one computer to take with me on Gilligan’s island…and the answer is easy…
M1 iPad Pro 11 with 2tb storage (the max of the max)…
Despite my love for the shiny new SP8, and the still here x360-14, they are brilliant functions when surrounded by my external monitors and nearly unlimited storage. But I know for a fact (based solely on my personal anecdotal evidence) the iPP11 would outperform and outlast either on @Bronsky’s island…
OK comrades, fess up and tell us your one device solution…
In real life I was fine for 5 months straight with iPhone + iPad mini 5. That was my 2020 motorcycle camping tour. Supporting that was 30W solar power, which folded to the size & weight of a thin school notebook. And two 20000-25000 mA auxiliary batteries which allowed one or the other to always be charging from solar, wasting none of the sometimes-spotty sunshine.
I also had a handful of SD cards with lots of movies… which I never watched for whatever reason. I read a lot of Kindle books. There wouldn’t be cellular on that island so I’d have to pre-download my library (typical ebooks are ~1MB so we’re not talking a lot of memory—I’m not a pirate with a 50000 ebook library that I’ll never read ).
If I’m on Bronsky’s island, and had to rely on something like solar power chargers and whatnot, I’d probably also go with the M1 iPad Pro 11 with 2tb storage, magic keyboard and smart folio. But that’s because I’d be stuck on an island, and I’d be able to draw and write to my hearts content. I’d also have my favorite books downloaded to it, and ATLAB and Firefly. That would probably be it though.
But, if I’m at home, with only one computer, and have work to do, and a social life, I’d go with an M1 Max MBP connected to my Kinesis Edge split keyboard and a Wacom 32" multi-touch monitor. (IDK if they make them that size, honestly).
Honestly, if I have internet and unlimited power on Bronsky’s island, I’m still going MBP with Wacom monitor and all that. I can have a social life via internet and continue to develop my TTRPG I’m writing and play it with friends via Zoom once the platform is launched. But it would be annoying to give up the portability of the IPP.
The one thing you don’t have to worry about on the Island is power. Plus, charging up the device will keep you in shape. I’ll stick with my Go2. :vb-agree:
I essentially have only 1 computer — a Samsung Galaxy Book 12 which I despair of replacing (have a MacBook Pro (the last Intel model) which I use for work, but wouldn’t miss if it were suddenly to vanish).
That said, for the desert island I’d probably want to take my Fujitsu Stylistic ST4110 — it has a transflective display which is actually usable in sunlight.
I would go with my tab S7 FE for its light and battery and having most art program I will need. There is one desktop program I need for light programing, but I believe I could figure out something with Linux VM on Android. Also a never dying S-pen and a somewhat cumbersome but usable file system. Add a keyboard cover, pop in a sim card and I would be good to go.
If I get more fund I would go with the S7+ for better performance for the task.
My F110 is pretty hardy for the island environment - I’ve shattered an iPad I’m sure the Getac would survive - and am I allowed to bring all 4 of the hot swappable batteries?
Violating Rule #1 and quoting myself - for good reason - the SP8 is definitely inching much closer to my first choice, especially if @Bronsky will keep pedaling that generator! After getting over the initial hiccup (broken rear camera) I have really grown fond of the SP8, even with my love/hate relationship with Windows 11, as an all in one device. In fact, if MS would JUST PAY Amazon for a Windows native, iOS quality, Kindle App I could easily drop the iPP11 and live within my iPhone 13 Pro and SP8 world…
Not arguing your broader point, but specific to the kindle App, other than it’s occasionally slightly slow, why doesn’t it hit your criteria?
PS: If you haven’t tried it in the last week or so, you might look again, they fixed the formatting and occasional fuzzy fonts issues a couple of revs ago, specifically for the Windows-android subsystem
I haven’t even reloaded the Android subsystem on my replacement SP8 - maybe I should give it a try before spouting off like this, but I guess I just wasn’t much impressed with the Android subsystem the first time I tried it.
It also begs the question why MS has to resort to Android for tablet apps, especially the limited Amazon library…
@Nnthemperor Believe it or not we hear the reason is licensing not technical. That lines up with a restriction we have at present that we can’t send a system outside the US with the Android subsystem installed/enabled