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Not sure why I would want a handheld computer. But I still need a phone (calling, SMS) occasionally. So I use that also for browsing and messaging, too. GNU/Lin

Not sure why I would want a handheld computer. But I still need a phone (calling, SMS) occasionally. So I use that also for browsing and messaging, too. GNU/Linux would be a great plus. What are my realistic alternatives? Realistic meaning not a huge amount of work and/or unreliable/buggy system.

saidinesh5 2y ago
If you just want calling, sms, browsing and messaging, and some amount of GNU/Linux, your main options are: 1) Any officially supported sailfish OS device ( https://shop.jolla.com/ https://shop.jolla.com/ - which includes their licensed and officially blessed version for older sony xperia services) 2) Any ubuntu touch supported devices: https://devices.ubuntu-touch.io/promoted/ https://devices.ubuntu-touch.io/promoted/ Would be very stable... And good enough for daily use.. But honestly even degoogled Android on a well supported phone like Pixel + Termux is fairly good enough to use these days. I don't see the value of running desktop Linux software on these devices anymore...
- usr1106 2y ago
  1) Yes, I am a Sailfish user. I have been quite happy with the older generation hardware up to Xperia X. From what I read the newer generations have been more problematic. Yeah, after having skipped some I ordered the bleeding edge Reeder and was bitten by the disk encryption bug. Have been busy recently, should finally check what is the repair situation for that... Android: After my Xpdria X HW got unusable as a daily phone I have used Android (mostly without Google). But general administration seems to be a lot of work a lot to learn. In GNU/Linux I know what to do without any extra effort. Time is limited...
- dotancohen 2y ago
  A phone with Termux recently had the USB port go bust. I could neither charge it nor use ADB to back it up. But I was able to SSH into my desktop and back up the important files (voice notes, photos) via scp with the clock ticking at 3% charge and dropping. Very impressive and honestly being able to install ncdu on the phone to quickly find large, important files was a revelation in the usability of both bash and Android.
  - usr1106 2y ago
    Yeah, I have installed Termux. And learned to hard way that you need to install extra packages e.g. to access the clipboard. I also read something about some turmoil in the community with unmaintained packages or what it was. Yet more time needed to really understand the situation.
  - h73 2y ago
    Termux is a game changer for any power user out there. I would still like a dedicated handheld Linux device (case in point Gemini PDA) simple because it's neat. GPD MicroPC is still one of my favorite machines in my gadget drawer, but it still has "portable PC" vibes, not "tinkering/hacking device" ones. Maybe I'm just trying to justify spending more money on neat hardware.
    - dotancohen 2y ago
      > Maybe I'm just trying to justify spending more money on neat hardware. Just get a good bluetooth keyboard. In my opinion, best money spent.
      - afandian 2y ago
        This one's excellent if you need a recommendation. Folds up into a pocket. https://us.targus.com/products/ergonomic-foldable-bluetooth-antimicrobial-keyboard-akf003us https://us.targus.com/products/ergonomic-foldable-bluetooth-...
        dotancohen 2y ago
        Yes! That is the one that I use too - it's always in my bag.
  - saidinesh5 2y ago
    Adb over network also would work for this no?
    - 2y ago
- jraph 2y ago
  > I don't see the value of running desktop Linux software on these devices anymore... Running desktop software, not really, but I see 3 main points of interest for an alternative to Android (which could be mobile Linux): - Getting rid of the proprietary bits, in particular userspace drivers (which could be achievable with some degoogled Android running a mainline Linux kernel too) - Getting rid of Google's control over the platform's main distribution channel for apps, and on the overall design of the platform. Let's remind that Google makes money with ads and the design of Android is likely guided by this. Let's also remind that Google is letting key AOSP apps die (AOSP keyboard, the phone app, the SMS/MMS app, the calendar app). - Getting rid of having to build apps using the Android SDK, which is huge, bloated, and requires you to accept Google terms and conditions
Asmod4n 2y ago
I for one am seeing the future of desktop PCs to be fully in the handheld space and the desktop part becoming obsolete. The current gen handheld AMD APUs are super fast. All that’s needed is one external PCIe 5 connector so you can plug in a GPU when you are at home and you can have a PC with a 6 TB SSD, 64 GB RAM and a 16 core CPU in your pocket at all times while on the go.

saidinesh5 2y ago

If you just want calling, sms, browsing and messaging, and some amount of GNU/Linux, your main options are: 1) Any officially supported sailfish OS device ( https://shop.jolla.com/ https://shop.jolla.com/ - which includes their licensed and officially blessed version for older sony xperia services) 2) Any ubuntu touch supported devices: https://devices.ubuntu-touch.io/promoted/ https://devices.ubuntu-touch.io/promoted/ Would be very stable... And good enough for daily use.. But honestly even degoogled Android on a well supported phone like Pixel + Termux is fairly good enough to use these days. I don't see the value of running desktop Linux software on these devices anymore...

usr1106 2y ago
1) Yes, I am a Sailfish user. I have been quite happy with the older generation hardware up to Xperia X. From what I read the newer generations have been more problematic. Yeah, after having skipped some I ordered the bleeding edge Reeder and was bitten by the disk encryption bug. Have been busy recently, should finally check what is the repair situation for that... Android: After my Xpdria X HW got unusable as a daily phone I have used Android (mostly without Google). But general administration seems to be a lot of work a lot to learn. In GNU/Linux I know what to do without any extra effort. Time is limited...
dotancohen 2y ago
A phone with Termux recently had the USB port go bust. I could neither charge it nor use ADB to back it up. But I was able to SSH into my desktop and back up the important files (voice notes, photos) via scp with the clock ticking at 3% charge and dropping. Very impressive and honestly being able to install ncdu on the phone to quickly find large, important files was a revelation in the usability of both bash and Android.
- usr1106 2y ago
  Yeah, I have installed Termux. And learned to hard way that you need to install extra packages e.g. to access the clipboard. I also read something about some turmoil in the community with unmaintained packages or what it was. Yet more time needed to really understand the situation.
- h73 2y ago
  Termux is a game changer for any power user out there. I would still like a dedicated handheld Linux device (case in point Gemini PDA) simple because it's neat. GPD MicroPC is still one of my favorite machines in my gadget drawer, but it still has "portable PC" vibes, not "tinkering/hacking device" ones. Maybe I'm just trying to justify spending more money on neat hardware.
  - dotancohen 2y ago
    > Maybe I'm just trying to justify spending more money on neat hardware. Just get a good bluetooth keyboard. In my opinion, best money spent.
    - afandian 2y ago
      This one's excellent if you need a recommendation. Folds up into a pocket. https://us.targus.com/products/ergonomic-foldable-bluetooth-antimicrobial-keyboard-akf003us https://us.targus.com/products/ergonomic-foldable-bluetooth-...
      - dotancohen 2y ago
        Yes! That is the one that I use too - it's always in my bag.
- saidinesh5 2y ago
  Adb over network also would work for this no?
  - 2y ago
jraph 2y ago
> I don't see the value of running desktop Linux software on these devices anymore... Running desktop software, not really, but I see 3 main points of interest for an alternative to Android (which could be mobile Linux): - Getting rid of the proprietary bits, in particular userspace drivers (which could be achievable with some degoogled Android running a mainline Linux kernel too) - Getting rid of Google's control over the platform's main distribution channel for apps, and on the overall design of the platform. Let's remind that Google makes money with ads and the design of Android is likely guided by this. Let's also remind that Google is letting key AOSP apps die (AOSP keyboard, the phone app, the SMS/MMS app, the calendar app). - Getting rid of having to build apps using the Android SDK, which is huge, bloated, and requires you to accept Google terms and conditions

Asmod4n 2y ago

I for one am seeing the future of desktop PCs to be fully in the handheld space and the desktop part becoming obsolete. The current gen handheld AMD APUs are super fast. All that’s needed is one external PCIe 5 connector so you can plug in a GPU when you are at home and you can have a PC with a 6 TB SSD, 64 GB RAM and a 16 core CPU in your pocket at all times while on the go.