Take My Keyboard and Mouse, But I'm Keeping My Stylus

Many associate work with a desk, keyboard, and mouse. But I've ditched both keyboard and mouse without impacting productivity – my stylus is now indispensable.

Saying Goodbye to Keyboard and Mouse

Traditional computer use involves keyboard and mouse. That's how I learned. We even had keyboarding classes!

Smartphones revolutionized this. Most typing now happens on virtual keyboards; some touchscreen users are even faster. Yet, many still believe real work requires a keyboard and mouse (or touchpad).

But there's an alternative: the stylus. Early PDAs used them, and now iPads and Samsung Galaxy Tabs come to mind. I use a Galaxy Z Fold 6, a foldable phone compatible with the S Pen.

My Z Fold 6 didn't include an S Pen, but it's my constant companion. Beyond note-taking and doodling, the S Pen has fundamentally changed how I use my phone. This foldable device unexpectedly transformed my computing experience.

Stylus Precision Rivals a Mouse

A stylus provides mouse-like web navigation accuracy on my phone. Selecting text between letters is easier. Precise clicking on small targets, dropdown menus, and link hovering are all effortless.

I even use it for gaming. Point-and-click adventures like Midnight Girl, and puzzle games like Monument Valley and Timelie are more enjoyable with a stylus.

Writing Speed Matches a Keyboard

I swipe on the virtual keyboard with my stylus, almost as fast as typing on a physical keyboard. The focus on a smaller screen minimizes distractions, offsetting any speed difference.

Working with a stylus on a smaller device offers flexibility. I can write comfortably from a chair, on my lap, like a notebook. My phone freed me from the desk.

Switching between writing methods is easy. I sometimes use the virtual keyboard or speech-to-text, but usually return to my S Pen.

Stylus Versatility

My stylus isn't just a keyboard/mouse substitute; it offers significant advantages.

Samsung's S Pen features, available since the Galaxy Note in 2011, are invaluable. A button press accesses a floating menu for actions like screenshot annotation – a quick way to share and highlight web content. Note-taking is equally fast. AI Smart Select lets me circle and pin screen sections, enabling efficient multitasking and text extraction from images.

Always at Hand

My stylus lives in my phone case, always accessible. I journal every morning, a habit easily maintained thanks to the stylus. Whether at home, a friend's house, or a park, I can work anywhere.

I travel lighter and work anytime, anywhere. The slight reduction in words-per-minute is far outweighed by the convenience. My phone and stylus are as productive, if not more so, than my laptop.

(Yes, I wrote this on my phone.)

Should everyone switch? Probably not. It has its drawbacks, but it's perfect for me. I no longer own a PC and question the need for my lapdock. My keyboard and mouse reside in a drawer.

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