Comment by fsflover

11 hours ago

(GNU/)Linux on mobile is the true sustanable, independent OS. It relies on the existing, strong Linux development, natively runs existing Linux apps and guarantees you lifetime updates. What else do you need?

Sent from my Librem 5.

26 comments

fsflover

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mft_  10 hours ago

According to the website[0] I’d need 20+ hrs idle time, video recording, Bluetooth, and GPS.

I’m being gently snarky, of course, but the goal shouldn’t be an MVP that nerds who are deeply into privacy or FOSS or hate Google can tolerate - it should be something that disinterested normies could seamlessly and happily use.

[0] https://puri.sm/products/librem-5/

  • seba_dos1  10 hours ago

    Well, it idles for about 22 hours, can record videos, does multi-constellation GNSS and both classic and LE Bluetooth.

    The way to make disinterested normies able to use it is to have lots of nerds capable of fixing various papercuts themselves switch already and contribute rather than complain.

    • abustamam  9 hours ago

      Thanks for sharing! I hadn't heard of this before. IMO any competition in this space is good competition.

      But the reality is that it's not quite that straightforward. Linux desktop is a perfect example of that. We have tons of nerds working on the Linux ecosystem. Many on distros meant to ease transition from Mac/Windows to Linux (like Pop OS).

      But if I were to tell my mom to install Pop OS, she would look at me like I'm crazy.

      In some ways, Linux has become "cool" — Steam Machine and Steam Deck run Linux, and they're popular. Unfortunately, they're popular within a niche, and even then, they're popular for only a slice of digital life. People don't do work on a Steam Deck and I can't imagine many doing work on a Steam Machine.

      Mobile phones are completely different though because most people have one phone. And that phone needs to do everything they need it to do. It needs to run the apps they need. It needs to play the games they want. It needs to integrate into everything. And it also needs to look trendy, because smartphones have become a bit of a status symbol of sorts.

      So, while I agree that us nerds must become part of the solution than the problem, it's not enough. We need buy-in from major service providers. We need marketing. That's all stuff that the typical nerd can't/won't do.

      2 replies →

mghackerlady  8 hours ago

>fsflover

Username checks out (I kid, I'm also a fan of their work).

Also, if you're using PureOS, what's that like? Have they updated to a debian 13 base yet? Pretty much the only thing stopping me from at least trying it out is the super old version of GNOME

RGamma  10 hours ago

How well do communication apps work on it (Whatsapp, Signal, Discord)? Backups? Media (not as important)?

Increasingly thinking of relegating my iPhone to 2FA and maybe banking only.

codethief  7 hours ago

> What else do you need?

A proper app sandboxing and permissions system?

  • fsflover  6 hours ago

    The parent wasn't speaking of a perfectly secure OS but about "preparing the lifeboats". Also, GNU/Linux somehow sufficiently secure on desktop, especially if you rely on the apps from the FLOSS repos.

jaggs  10 hours ago

If mobile Linux runs through the same kind of tortuous adoption and rejection cycle that desktop Linux is still doing, then it's a non starter before it begins.

  • seba_dos1  10 hours ago

    I've been happily using it on several phones since 2008 (and writing this on one of them right now), only two years shorter than on my desktops/laptops. "Non-starter" is in the eye of the beholder.

  • fsflover  8 hours ago

    > that desktop Linux is still doing

    What are you even talking about? My non-technical relatives have been using Debian for many years already.