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I know a number of people who their ONLY connection is using their phone. They don't even own a 'real' computer.
I also know a number of people that use 5G hotspots for their only home connection.
Sun Mar 15 2026 22:47:36 EDT from IGnatius T FoobarSeriously, I really don't understand what people are doing with >1Gbps mobile speeds.
Isn't that the norm now? No one is good. No one. We just have to pick 'less bad'.
Sat Mar 14 2026 02:25:41 EDT from ParanoidDelusionsAt some point, Verizon actually became a "Do Less Evil," brand.
Lots of people don't own a "real" computer -- if your definition of "real" is "something with a keyboard and an upright screen." My mom has a phone and a tablet. Some people don't even have a tablet, but I can't imagine living the modern digital life on only a 5" screen ... but yes, people do it.
(Last time we had the "real computer" discussion here, the majority opinion seemed to be that a "real computer" is one that can be self-hosting, on which one could use the device to develop its own system software. So that excludes phones, most tablets, video game consoles, and even the original 1984 Macintosh.)
Telsa did... That was 1/2 the reason for Wardencliff.. Planet wide wireless transmission of data ( the other 1/2 was sharing what was in essence free power, which of course got him shut down and blacklisted, in effect.. )
Not sure id set the bar for "a real computer" as being able to recursively develop its own system as that does require a bit 'more' resources than many need, but to me 'real' is something that isn't 'tied' to external resources just to function. It may access 'cloud' to increase functions, but it should be optional to 'function', not be a core requirement or its a door stop..
And yes, more and more people only have a phone these days, they are so locked into that ecosystem its not even funny anymore. But, i suspect 90% of them, never had a 'computer' before.. Some may have had game consoles, but not an actual 'PC', except perhaps at the office.
Sat May 16 2026 14:35:10 EDT from IGnatius T Foobarcan you imagine someone making that prediction 30 years ago?*snip*
Lots of people don't own a "real" computer -- if your definition of "real" is "something with a keyboard and an upright screen." My mom has a phone and a tablet. Some people don't even have a tablet, but I can't imagine living the modern digital life on only a 5" screen ... but yes, people do it.
(Last time we had the "real computer" discussion here, the majority opinion seemed to be that a "real computer" is one that can be self-hosting, on which one could use the device to develop its own system software. So that excludes phones, most tablets, video game consoles, and even the original 1984 Macintosh.)
Not sure id set the bar for "a real computer" as being able to
recursively develop its own system as that does require a bit
'more' resources than many need, but to me 'real' is something
Interestingly, the original first generation Mac was not a real computer.
Its development system required a Lisa.
I think we can all agree that a phone is not a real computer, and a tablet probably isn't either.
And I guess a 16-core laptop with 64 GB of memory and many TB of disk, stops being a real computer the moment you install Windows on it, because [standard rant that ends in wood chipper talk].
Depends on the phone i guess. A PinePhone Pro is a RK3399.. .and we both know that is a computer.. And it runs Linux ( among other things ), and has USBC so you can have keyboards, mice, monitors, network. ( they even ship with a dongle, has usb, ethernet, hdmi...
My older "regular" PinePhone, same deal tho a generation back on CPU.
Some newer tablets, have more power than a generation or 2 older desktop.. And same thing, they sport USBC so it can 'do all the peripherals'
Wed May 20 2026 14:13:03 EDT from IGnatius T Foobar
I think we can all agree that a phone is not a real computer, and a tablet probably isn't either.
So, we have a house phone, based on VoIP, via our fiber company, as they were able to transfer our land-line number when we signed up for fiber ( long story.. wasn't my idea to keep it in the 'cell phone era', but it is what it is ) As mentioned a bit ago, they were recently bought out by T-mobile. ( still waiting on the bill to skyrocket, its the way of things )
Today we get a notice "as of June 30 we are discontinuing international calls on consumer lines". Now, while it does not effect me directly, i find this strange, and somewhat disconcerting.
Really though, the entire PSTN is going away. While we sat here looking at our telephone jacks and mobile handsets, the phone companies were switching from TDM and SS7 to SIP and ENUM. The vast majority of calls are carried over IP networks now, even if you somehow still have an analog jack in your house.
In fact, most of the wireline carriers are shutting down copper phone lines entirely, or have already done so. Where I live they're just about all dark now. All those thick thousand-pair trunks on the poles -- they're just dead copper waiting to be scrapped and reclaimed someday. If you want a landline from Verizon you have to order fiber, or they can send you a little adapter [ https://www.verizon.com/support/residential/homephone/voice-connect ] that attaches your home phone(s) to the mobile network over 4G/5G.
I'm ok with it. PSTN is obsolete and it can go.
In effect, that is what i have too, no copper here except the tiny bit from my phone to the box ( modem has 2 phone ports, but same idea ). But you cant dial it via IP. its gotta go via the 'registered number' via whatever network that it goes on once it leaves your site. I am sure many are in the same boat. And i bet over seas, lots of copper still being used too, unlike here. But yes, i do agree the need for 'direct numbers' is fading, but even my cell phone, technically you cant dial it direct via IP... its gotta go thru whatever back end network for the client you use. ( gvoice, teams, random 3rd party voip, bla bla even FB, it goes thru their servers first. )
Not needing to use 'phone' overseas for anything, even business, is that how they bill business lines now? Just a flat rate? Seems odd if they did.
Fri May 29 2026 00:23:58 EDT from IGnatius T FoobarIf you want a landline from Verizon you have to order fiber, or they can send you a little adapter