Could you turn your phone into a computer?

[JoeHPSDA]

Would it be possible to turn a low spec (Moto G) phone into a makeshift computer for typing on?

If there was a TV available, how easy or effective would it be to connect the phone (via HDMI?) and attach some kind of keyboard, and then type into a Word-style app?

Obviously this wouldn't be ideal, but if you had no access to a computer, would this work? And if so what other gear would be needed?

Thanks

 

[DragonSlayer95]

Hmm I'm not so sure my idea would work, but you could buy an hdmi adapter for your phone to plug into the TV, and a Bluetooth enabled keyboard for the moto g (I'm not so sure if the keyboard would work as I've never tried it before.

The keyboard would work I'd think as long as they pair correctly.

I've never used hdmi for any of my devices so I'm unsure how it would work device to TV.

Interesting idea you have though

 

[Rukbat]

You'd need an OTG cable ( a few dollars), a USB hub, a keyboard and an MHL adapter and HDMI cable. Way under $100 for everything. (Depending on the phone, you might have to forget the hub and use a Bluetooth keyboard - still under $100.)

 

[EarlyMon]

Last I checked, the Moto G does not support MHL, so no HDMI for you.

 

[nickdalzell]

and here i was thinking our Android phones were computers.

 

[EarlyMon]

and here i was thinking our Android phones were computers.

Helpful much?

 

[mikedt]

Provided you can somehow get video out of the phone, usually it's HDMI or DLNA and you have a monitor or TV which supports it. Don't know about the Moto G, can you get video out of that? But anyway there's plenty of phones that do have HDMI, etc. Use a Bluetooth or USB keyboard, if it has USB OTG. For making documents, there's Kingsoft, QuickOffice, MS Office, etc. Yeh sure you can use a phone as a "desktop computer" for office productivity.

 

[mikedt]

and here i was thinking our Android phones were computers.

They are, but if you want a large screen you have to have a phone that does video out, end of.

 

[EarlyMon]

Provided you can somehow get video out of the phone, usually it's HDMI or DLNA and you have a monitor or TV which supports it. Don't know about the Moto G, can you get video out of that? But anyway there's plenty of phones that do have HDMI, etc. Use a Bluetooth or USB keyboard, if it has USB OTG. For making documents, there's Kingsoft, QuickOffice, MS Office, etc. Yeh sure you can use a phone as a "desktop computer" for office productivity.

Ummm....

Last I checked, the Moto G does not support MHL, so no HDMI for you.

And DLNA does not do live screen video.

OP, you could try screen mirroring to a Chromecast -

Check out "Mirror for chromecast"

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.libmirror4cast.app

Root is required, expect a half-second delay to the TV.

 

[psionandy]

I have a Bluetooth Keyboard and mouse... which I use when I have a bit of serious writing when I'm on the go, works pretty well as well.