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Linux on Dex

linuxondex.com

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Re: Linux on Dex

#211

Post by xte »

tinyvm wrote: post #18

This is really cool. I've been looking for such thing for a long time now. If you have a corporate Job like consulting or something equivalent it's very likely you are packing an awful laptop with you everywhere you go, a DELL or a Lenovo or something like that. DEX opens a door for next generation Mobile Desktop , where you SmartPhone is also your Desktop Computer. I really hope Apple does something similar in this…

DeX open the (back)door to (a big cucumber, sorry for being vulgar) port free software to proprietary jail and let users think they are free.

A jail's a jail, no matter how big, decorated and comfortable seems to be.

Re: Linux on Dex

#212

Post by xte »

minikomi wrote: post #122
i_phish_cats wrote: post #34

For those of us who don't have a supported device, there's an android app called [Termux]( https://termux.com/ ) which provides a surprisingly linux-y experience. I sometimes code on my 10" tablet with a small (60%) keyboard.

This + emacs + org-mode + a heavily customized doom emacs means I can track money using ledger, generate workouts using a python script outputting org tables and a lot more. Even worked out how to sync my folder to Dropbox, called from an emacs shortcut.

With a free/standard mobile device (that actually do not exists) you can do whatever you want without limit. Unfortunately OEMs do not want that. And "this" is another Trojan horse to let people think the can run free software hiding the details that their software run in a proprietary jail. With enough time and marketing we will have a new generation of people who find pretty natural download GNU/Linux from an OEM store, forgotten another piece of IT freedom we have till now.

Re: Linux on Dex

#213

Post by rudolfwinestock »

elipsey wrote: post #121

I have pretty much given up on the prospect of running a full fledged FOSS OS on devices that don’t give access to the bootloader’s root of trust, or give you a userland that works with a kernel you can’t control (eg Crouton). It all sounds great until you start trying to do actuall work. As soon as you need anything that’s not provided by the manufacturer software image you start to notice all the foundational thing…

Everyone knows what Microsoft did to the PC market in the 1980s. Everyone knows what the Unix Arts & Crafts movement wants to do to computers today.

Open up the bootloader and computers become commodities (modulo some special cases). The makers of those commodities become hostage to whatever platform becomes most popular on those computers.

Instead of thinking in terms of "freedom," one should think of this situation in terms of power.

Re: Linux on Dex

#214

Post by arbie »

guelo wrote: post #99
nine_k wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I won't hope that a phone would handle 10000 rows much better. But that "Excel" thing might be an answer: the laptop must be running Windows, and Windows users often run an antivirus, and some Windows antivirus software is known to be terrible. (The MS-provided basic antivirus was always fine in this regard, though.)

Indeed one of the biggest drains on corporate productivity are unaccountable bully IT departments. I recently quit a job because I wasn't allowed to escape aggressive antivirus software that made compilation insufferable.

> I recently quit a job because I wasn't allowed to escape aggressive antivirus software that made compilation insufferable.

This seems a drastic response.

Re: Linux on Dex

#215

Post by ObsoleteNerd »

esotericn wrote: post #126
ObsoleteNerd wrote: post #107

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I do lots of work on my phone thanks to Termux and a 60% bluetooth mechanical keyboard. It's one of my most essential apps on Android. Either using it directly or using it to SSH into servers, raspberry pis, etc.

I'd really appreciate knowing which keyboard you're using!

I use an RK61 one from Amazon[0]. Haven't had any problems with it. I use it quite regularly for my phone and some RasPis. I made a little bracket to hold my phone at the top of the keyboard so I can sit with it on my lap or a table and type for extended periods quite happily.

I use my phone as my primary mobile computer (I don't own a laptop anymore) and am very happy with this setup.

[0] https://www.amazon.com/Wireless-Multi-Device-Mechanical-Rech...

Re: Linux on Dex

#216

Post by craftyguy »

shaklee3 wrote: post #164
craftyguy wrote: post #128

> Linux on DeX currently supports one customized Ubuntu image (Ubuntu 16.04 LTS version provided by Canonical) which only operates on selected Samsung devices. (Note9 and Tab S4). A crappy distro on a couple of old devices? No thanks. I'll just wait for the Librem 5 [0] 0) https://shop.puri.sm/shop/librem-5/ Edit: Misread "Note9" as "Note7" (don't ask). Ooops. My conclusion still stands.

It's really odd to bash a flagship phone with great reviews, only to say you're waiting for a phone that nobody will buy or support.

> that nobody will buy

Quite a few people already have bought it.

> or support

Quite a few applications will run on it. Linux on ARM has been a thing for years... it's not like this is some walled garden bullshit 'ecosystem' that has to be painstakingly grown from nothing.

It's really odd to support manufacturers who create walled gardens in order to lock in customers and prevent users from actually owning the device they purchased.

Re: Linux on Dex

#217

Post by esotericn »

ObsoleteNerd wrote: post #215
esotericn wrote: post #126

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'd really appreciate knowing which keyboard you're using!

I use an RK61 one from Amazon[0]. Haven't had any problems with it. I use it quite regularly for my phone and some RasPis. I made a little bracket to hold my phone at the top of the keyboard so I can sit with it on my lap or a table and type for extended periods quite happily. I use my phone as my primary mobile computer (I don't own a laptop anymore) and am very happy with this setup. [0] https://www.amazon.com/Wire…

Oh wow, that's a really good price as well.

And the buttons are in the right place (!)

Thank you.

Re: Linux on Dex

#218

Post by pjmlp »

rudolfwinestock wrote: post #213
elipsey wrote: post #121

I have pretty much given up on the prospect of running a full fledged FOSS OS on devices that don’t give access to the bootloader’s root of trust, or give you a userland that works with a kernel you can’t control (eg Crouton). It all sounds great until you start trying to do actuall work. As soon as you need anything that’s not provided by the manufacturer software image you start to notice all the foundational thing…

Everyone knows what Microsoft did to the PC market in the 1980s. Everyone knows what the Unix Arts & Crafts movement wants to do to computers today. Open up the bootloader and computers become commodities (modulo some special cases). The makers of those commodities become hostage to whatever platform becomes most popular on those computers. Instead of thinking in terms of "freedom," one should think of this situation…

They liberated it.

If it wasn't for IBM's mistakes, all computers would be like Apple and the mobile platforms.

Ecosystem silos where everyone would be throwing away their ST, 500, Acorn, Apple, etc every time it was time to upgrade.

Re: Linux on Dex

#219

Post by pjmlp »

asveikau wrote: post #209
de_watcher wrote: post #180

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Just like with the Ubuntu Phone: we just wanted a regular X11 on the phone, not a copy of Android app space on Android base.

Nokia N900 had regular X and a forked Gtk+. I liked that thing. They didn't really support it well. Then Elop came.

We should not forget the weight of the board on his decisions.

Re: Linux on Dex

#220

Post by pjmlp »

gcb0 wrote: post #70
Jaruzel wrote: post #69

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> DEX opens a door for next generation Mobile Desktop , where you SmartPhone is also your Desktop Computer. Remember, Microsoft tried this with Continuum for Windows 8/10 and Windows Mobile, it failed. No-one actually wanted the core of their desktop inside their phones. People have partitioned off different use-cases for their PC and smartphones, and the overlap is smaller than designers think.

we still need the pc revolution on mobile devices. we are still in the mainframe/timeshare stage.

That revolution was due to a mistake on IBM's part.
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