Okay, what does this collection of sort-of-household objects represent? What is their connection to the inset cartoon panel at the bottom, and what’s the joke?
I had a clearly incorrect idea to begin with, that these are the functions which have been supplanted by use of a phone, and thus an indication of how severely she is restricted until her phone is operational again. But no; there really can’t be a hammer-and-saw app that actually cuts wood or pounds nails.
And while we’re looking at it, how accurate is Bub’s memory-definition?
POSSIBLE SPOILER.
In the GoComics comments, there is a pretty plausible suggestion for one of our questions: The objects are things that go on working, without needing an update. IMO imperfect but pretty good — as explaining the selection, even if not the joke.
Comics I Don't Understand 
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That was my take on the objects. The joke is just wrong.
I think the collection of objects is indeed just a bunch of things that have essentially one function and do it for years or even decades. Mind you, some of them do need maintenance and care in the upkeep… maybe not the hammer, but you may have to oil your typewriter (and update the operating ribbon) and sharpen your knife and clean your paintbrushes and so on.
But I don’t know that I have ever heard that an operating system used to be someone showing you how to do stuff.
Here’s an actual carpentry tool function that I think a phone app manages to substitute for fairly successfully : a spirit level (bubble level).
The trio of wrenches in the first position reminded me in some way of the infamous Cow Tools, suggesting the title the post has.
At the end of the second row, is that shovel or spade intentionally short-handled, as a close-up gardening tool? Or just that the drawing truncates a longer original handle?
Is the fry pan shown in use? Those could be a couple of eggs cooking in it. Or just stains.
These are manual versions of things that are now often powered or improved.
Wrenches: electric ratchet wrench
Manual typewriter: Computer word processor
Mixer: Food processor
Skillet: Nonstick skillet
Cards: Computer games
Iron: no-iron fabrics
Brush and roller: paint sprayer
Spade: roto tiller
Hammer, saw and axe: power tools
Jump rope: various newer exercise equipment
These items haven’t been completely replaced, just as Windows 10 will still work even though Windows 11 is out there, but are a bit retro.
This is nothing more than the trope of “back in my day…”
Cooking, jumping rope, playing cards, etc. are all skills you tend to learn from someone else. At least if you want to learn to do them well. I don’t think they represent technologies that don’t need to be updated.
On the other hand, I’ve never heard the sharing of knowledge as “operating system.” That part of the joke makes no sense to me.
I think these tools all represent skills that someone had to show you how to do properly. (Exactly what the husband says.) E.g., my father showed me how to “operate” a hammer and a saw (I remember it quite vividly) even as my grandmother and mother showed me how to “operate” kitchen appliances and tools to cook and bake.
All of those things are something that you wouldn’t know how to use unless someone showed you how. That is what the guy, rightly or wrongly, is defining at the “operating system” – the person who showed you how to use those thngs.
All I got was something about “everything but the kitchen sink”. Doesn’t fit the punch line though, such as it is. Still don’t really get the joke.
zbicyclist – I am reading the comics, as always, on my newest computer – a Win 10 laptop. My desktop computer (a desktop) which is my main computer is a Win 7. My other 2 laptops – still used now and then are Win XPs.
The Win 7 and Win 10 both have virtual Win XP machines in them so I can continue to use the programs I like which only run on XP – such as Lotus Organizer, which I sync with my Palm Centro phone – used only as a PDA around the house , though I continue to think it is the best cell phone I have ever had – certainly better than junky Moto I have which I upgraded to – with other phones between the two – only due to changes as I had to upgrade). The Palm has recently had 3 keys which no longer work and I am learning to work around the Palm until we figure out what we can do or not do to fix it, so currently hand transferring items from a notepad in the Moto to Organizer by hand when start using the computer daily.