PinePhone – Open Source Smart Phone Supported by Major Linux Phone Projects

If it's not targeting me. Who is it targeting, "Mate?" Clearly it was targeting me, as you're REPLYING to me. Let's be honest here, You were attempting to "smear" me, but now you're back pedaling. Play it safe, don't even use the word "smear." No one is doing that here, it's just opinions and discussion. Keep it that way.

>You are just wrong about the usability and compatibility. Especially compatibility is the strong suit of FOSS software in general and Linux specifically. There is broader hardware and software support. It's a fact, get over it.

Nah I'm totally right. FOSS is less compatible with most hardware. The "official broad support" isn't even the the measuring stick here. It's actual hardware crashes and bugs.

>1. No, Bash is not the most common interface, though I like it. It has to be used for the rare edge case, everything else can be done with GUIs. If your impression is otherwise you are not using mainstream distros nor are you doing regular tasks. Use Gnome or KDE on Ubuntu and stop distro hopping.

"Mate," my impression encompasses gnome and KDE on Ubuntu as well as non mainstream distros, so I know my shit. Bash is 100% the most common interface, even on ubuntu. Any time you want to configure your operating system you will touch the CLI. Applications promote it, tutorials promote it, if you aren't using it I'm not sure what reality you're living in.

If you're thinking of the world as if it's Grandmas using the browser vs. Programmers, then yes, grandmas using the browser have everything they need with ubuntu without touching the CLI. However, there are advanced users of computing outside of the programming world. 3D modelling software, audio production, Network Administration... to get even these things to work right most of these people will indeed touch the CLI.

>2. I'm playing exclusively on Linux since Proton got introduced, though I even used Linux for games before that. I'm okay with the occasional game not working, as Windows was vastly more cumbersome to keep in a working state, plus the many games that did not work there will also not be forgotten by me.

I'm a hardcore gamer so I have over 100 games in my steam library. I have a linux dell laptop with a quadro card. Only low fidelity games work; and certain games trigger the OS to restart. Running windows this never happens. Not even referring to proton. Just talking about games compiled to target linux.

>3. Void Linux is my current choice. I was a supporter in a Ubuntu forum and used that for many years, and still for the dayjob. I did use Funtoo for a while in between.

Try tinkering with NixOS or arch. You will have a better view of compatibility issues that linux suffers from. Ironically the fact that "choices" for distros exist and the fact that you have to pick the "right" OS for the right perspective is a big usability issue in itself.

What use is a smartphone that claims to run apps (Native apps, Android apps or Web Apps) but runs them much worse than the user's previous device (or can't run them at all)? To the users hoping to make the switch, it feels more like a downgrade; especially PWAs.

For example, in the FAQ, Librem mentions:

> Unlike most mobile apps on Android and iOS, these applications were not written to monetize users' personal data or extract fees from users, and their code is free/open source, so it can be verified that they aren't spyware or contain code that acts against the best interest of their users.

Well it seems that Signal is a known and a widely recommended messaging app which generally doesn't do all the things claimed by Librem, yet many users that use Signal cannot even run it on their Librem 5 or PinePhone. So they will see no point in considering buying any of these phones anyway.

Therefore, these devices are still not ready yet to be considered serious alternatives to Android users or in general. They're going in the right direction, but it will take years of waiting for improvements in the current state of open source smart phones.

Your initial comment accused me of smearing FOSS. It's inconsiderate and a literal lie. I would say that's the most inappropriate thing that's occurred in this thread.

>How hardcore^^ 358 are in mine, + many more GOG and Humble Bundle games + hundreds on CD/DVD I probably will never play again.

365. and Gog. We're pretty much the same in terms of amount of games. If you have that many games you should know absolutely there are problems. Maybe your hardware configuration just happens to be common and compatible. I use a quadro nvidia card which is not the traditional GeForce stuff. Both of our use cases are valid but you have to combine our use cases to form a holistic broad spectrum view. My use case is an indication of compatibility problems, likely with quadro. This doesn't happen with windows.

>If you tinker don't be surprised if the result is tinkery.

When you tinker you understand the internals more. When you understand the internals more you better understand the issues. I've used ubuntu AND tinkered with NixOS. So I have broader experience than you.

>It's not. You do not know what usability is.

Part of my Job description is UI design. I'm a full stack engineer from the front (browser based UI's and product design) all the way to C++ and embedded systems on the back end. Usability is my Job but also hardcore systems development. Most full stack devs stop at the application layer so I would say because someone pays me to know what usability is, I pretty much know it quite well. Lack of choice is a usability feature, Apple employs this aspect heavily by restricting hardware options; it's a big part of why apple software is perceived to be very robust.

Another big part of usability is also perception. The actual capability of a product contributes less to usability than the perception of the capability of the product. Apple again uses this strategy big time.

This is the overall the most important metric.