AndroidFeaturesMicrosoft

I finally own no Windows products, and I’ve never felt better

No Microsoft Featured

It has finally happened – I’ve gone all Google.

My phone and tablet run Android, and my main blogging computer – the Chromebook Pixel – runs Chrome OS. A couple weeks ago, I made the decision to get rid of the old Sony Vaio Windows laptop that was taking up space on my desk, collecting dust. I don’t even remember the last time I turned it on, and since I’ve been trying to get rid of all the useless junk I’ve collected over the years that goes unused in my office, I decided it had to go, too.

Getting rid of my last Windows product wasn’t actually an easy decision to make. How am I going to root my next phone? How am I going to edit videos? What about Skype?

Then I realized that I really don’t do any of those things anymore. Ever since I’ve migrated from the EVO line to the Nexus line, I honestly don’t feel a need to root my Android devices anymore. The only real reason I rooted before was to get stock Android without the bloat, and I already have that in my Nexus 5. T-Mobile also includes tethering for free in all its plans, so there is no need to root to get that ability, either.

I also edit videos only once or twice a year, and for my needs, there are several very good cloud services that can accomplish what I need (WeVideo and Magisto come to mind right away, and both are free). Finally, I don’t even remember the last time I ever used Skype – everyone I communicate with on a regular basis has moved to Hangouts, and I still have Skype on my Android devices in case I really need to use it in a pinch.

In other words, I realized that everything that was causing me to cling to my old Windows machine just wasn’t relevant anymore. So I got rid of it.

To be fair, I haven’t gone completely cold turkey. My partner still has a Windows laptop that I can grab if I need to flash something on my phone real quick. The institution where I teach is also all Windows, so I still am forced to use it in the classroom and the office. (However, I run Chrome on my work computer and never leave the browser, so it’s almost like Chrome OS.) If needed, I can always install a Linux distro on my Chromebook Pixel, too, and root my Android devices or download Skype. In other words, I’m not 100% in the cloud just yet.

But I’m 99% there – and ridding myself of personal Windows ownership is a crucial step to getting there completely. To be honest, I’ve never felt better; I feel like I’m embracing the future of cloud computing, and I know that the only way I could really get “scroogled” is to stop using Google and go back to Microsoft. Call me a fan boy if you want, but this set up works for me, without compromise, and without any of the hassles I had grown accustomed to.

Pocketables does not accept targeted advertising, phony guest posts, paid reviews, etc. Help us keep this way with support on Patreon!
Become a patron at Patreon!

John F

John was the editor-in-chief at Pocketables. His articles generally focus on all things Google, including Chrome and Android, although his love of new gadgets and technology doesn't stop there. His current arsenal includes the Nexus 6 by Motorola, the 2013 Nexus 7 by ASUS, the Nexus 9 by HTC, the LG G Watch, and the Chromebook Pixel, among others.

Avatar of John F