HN Explorer

Ask HN: How many people use the web from their desktops?

2 points by Graffur ↗ HN
I am not just talking about HN users but everyone. I read a stat saying 98% of Facebook users use it on mobile. I can't find if that means exclusively.

The reason I ask is that I am creating a social web app that is desktop focus. Desktop is my preference and I feel it suits the type of app I am building better.. but will there be anyone to use it?

9 comments

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micahdeath
95% Desktop here. 05% Mobile phone - out of boredom; screens are too small =P I don't use social media though. Desktop apps preferred as they are cleaner on memory & cpu.
Beltalowda
It depends who your target audience is. HN is a "social web app" of sorts, and is primarily desktop-oriented. I suppose it works on mobile (never tried), but the target audience generally has a desktop.

When I lived in Asia almost everyone had a mobile phone, and few people had a laptop. Only people that work in tech or otherwise need it for their job had one.

version_five
If it helps, I only use the web desktop for some email and work stuff (like stack overflow, github, documentation etc) plus reading journal papers. For HN I only use my phone (I'm literally in front of my laptop typing this on my phone). But then again HN is the only social network I use.
codingdave
I find mobile web usage to be untenable due to ads. Until the day ad blockers fail to work on desktop, I'm a 100% desktop dude.
codevark
My phone is for phone and messages (not email!). I do use FF on my phone with ad blocker if I have to sit around somewhere with public wifi waiting for something like auto repair work, etc. Otherwise, everything is desktop (and preferably virtualized). I work in IT. <shrugs>
perilunar
The numbers I've seen say ~55% of web traffic and ~70% of screen time is mobile.

So there will still be plenty of users for a desktop site, but why not go responsive and serve both? I wouldn't build a native mobile app until the users start demanding it, and probably not even then.

billybuckwheat
Mostly from a laptop, sometimes from a tablet, rarely from my phone. And, with the tablet and phone, I use a browser rather than an app in most cases.