Sent from my Librem 5.
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.
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.
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.
What would she say if you asked her to install Windows? It doesn't matter. Normal people should either buy preinstalled or ask technical people for help. Using GNU/Linux desktop is as simple as Windows. It will be the same with phones one day, if we push it.
If I install Pop OS on her computer she will just tell the technician she has a laptop because she doesn't know the difference. I would hope that the technician does know the difference, and moreover, knows how to use it (which I assume someone calling themselves a technician would know how to troubleshoot basic stuff on a foreign operating system, but I've been wrong on lighter assumptions)
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
I am not a great fan of the GNOME desktop, though.
I gave a couple of links to my reviews in another comment here.
> Have they updated to a debian 13 base yet?
No, but they're advancing, https://forums.puri.sm/t/when-and-how-to-jump-to-crimson/300...
> fan of their work
Thanks!
Increasingly thinking of relegating my iPhone to 2FA and maybe banking only.
Everything that works on desktop GNU/Linux should work on the phone, too. I use Pika Backup app.
> communication
AFAIK none of the apps you listed officially support Linux ARM, so you have to go through some configuration unfortunately. I do not use any of them, I use Matrix.
> Signal
https://forums.puri.sm/t/signal-app-now-usable-in-portrait-m...
https://framapiaf.org/@lolgzs/113010288224110061
> Whatsapp ... Discord
https://forums.puri.sm/t/how-to-install-whatsapp-and-discord...
https://forums.puri.sm/t/librem-5-web-whatsapp-com-not-worki...
https://source.puri.sm/libremos/tasking/-/issues/1
> Media
Are you talking about watching videos and listening to music? It works fine.
A proper app sandboxing and permissions system?
At the end of the day, I need a bank account, and access to it, would it only be for buying food, or paying my mortgage.
Too bad dual boot is not an option, or VMs.