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Pine64 is a different model than your typical commercial operation. They are trying to get freedom respecting devices into the hands of hackers at the lowest p

Pine64 is a different model than your typical commercial operation. They are trying to get freedom respecting devices into the hands of hackers at the lowest price point possible. They even subsidized device costs for a run of their laptops after lcd panel prices increased. But, usually, they just suspend production until component prices improve. They just began offering a more commercial (supported) experience on some devices if you pay a little more. But, historically, if you purchased a Pine64 device there was no expectation of support beyond a 15 day hardware warranty. They also want to emphasize the difference between the part of the org that sells stuff, and the main org. All commerce takes place on pine64.com. Everything else (forums, wiki, etc.) is on pine64.org. Basically freedom loving hobbyists building stuff and getting it into the hands of other freedom loving hobbyists. And, if it weren't for that second part, none of their devices would be usable. They rely on the community to develop the software for their devices. Not for everyone. But, a worthwhile trade off for some of us.

Jiro 5y ago
Not having a SD card isn't "they rely on the community to develop the software", it's hardware. Not designing the thing to include a SD card is their own fault. And "well, if you disassemble a later model you can add an SD card by hardware hacking" is absurd. Commercial products leave out the SD card 1) to encourage you to pay for their own services for purchases, rather than plopping some videos/mp3s/ebooks on a SD card, and 2) so they can price discriminate by offering less storage on some models. Pine64 doesn't have that excuse.
- sillystuff 5y ago
  It is more like, yeah we blew it, but the cost of new tooling for injection molding an updated case would increase the cost of the (very low volume) device too much to reach a price point that would be accessible to as many hackers as possible. We'll add the port on newer revisions of the board, so you can either embed a card inside the device, or make/modify your own case. Lots of hackers all around the world don't make anywhere near the incomes of e.g., SV developers. So, this is more, "Lets keep the price down to make the community as large and inclusive as we can." The projected price point of the e-reader is, unfortunately, already too high for many.

Jiro 5y ago

Not having a SD card isn't "they rely on the community to develop the software", it's hardware. Not designing the thing to include a SD card is their own fault. And "well, if you disassemble a later model you can add an SD card by hardware hacking" is absurd. Commercial products leave out the SD card 1) to encourage you to pay for their own services for purchases, rather than plopping some videos/mp3s/ebooks on a SD card, and 2) so they can price discriminate by offering less storage on some models. Pine64 doesn't have that excuse.

sillystuff 5y ago
It is more like, yeah we blew it, but the cost of new tooling for injection molding an updated case would increase the cost of the (very low volume) device too much to reach a price point that would be accessible to as many hackers as possible. We'll add the port on newer revisions of the board, so you can either embed a card inside the device, or make/modify your own case. Lots of hackers all around the world don't make anywhere near the incomes of e.g., SV developers. So, this is more, "Lets keep the price down to make the community as large and inclusive as we can." The projected price point of the e-reader is, unfortunately, already too high for many.