Re: What's the best Handheld gnu/linux machine for 2017?
 

I agree the phone is still "on paper", because I'm working 100% on the Moto Keyboard Mod at the moment.

Moto Keyboard Mod has working prototype and we are working on final units for certification and launching. You can see on twitter @LivermoriumLtd It's not vapourware.

And on engineering side, the "Pocket PC" is actually being easier than Keyboard Mod. I don't see the showstopper for not being able to make it.

Livermorium is not a big company and I can't support 2 projects working together. Everything will be better once we get the first product officially launched with Moto.

Re: What's the best Handheld gnu/linux machine for 2017?
 

I confirm the GPD Pocket is not perfect,
but it is very nice out of the box.
I have already begun testing various distros to get a handle on it.
Having a keyboard again is like being back in paradise.

[Using external RF and BT keyboards with my tablets is horrible,
but onscreen keyboards are also pathetic.
My ACER w4-821 power supply smoked last week,
but this arrival means the ACER will not be missed at all.]

The GPD Pocket probably has a few more bugs to sort,
but it is here, now, and not priced out of reach.
It can be bought, it can run linux very well,
and is not tied into whatever dreamscape some walled-garden-dev
wants to inflict on consumers.
And that is pure gold.
(Ubuntu Phone was and still is a miserable disappointment)

The Purism is a very hopeful direction,
but as I alluded to above,
if the hardware needs a specific software
then this locks out Linux solutions already coded and ready to go.
And makes creating new solutions a headache of learning new
integration steps.

If we cannot load and run something
open-source and completely configurable,
in favor of some dev group's idea of
what we must be running on their hardware,
then my interest will ice over very quickly.

It is my opinion the GPD Pocket is demonstrating a way forward.

The Pyra, if they stick to their plans,
should also be an amazing machine.

Re: What's the best Handheld gnu/linux machine for 2017?
 

@Venemo:
In my opinion the GPD people got one thing right (in contrast to the Gemini people) and that is providing a trackpoint. For me, this is indispensible when using a Desktop OS like Ubuntu. You definitely need a precision pointing device – otherwise any desktop OS is pointless. The N900 has a stylus and therefore Easy Debian is fine.

Re: What's the best Handheld gnu/linux machine for 2017?
 

GPD Pocket

I'm very pleased with my GPD pocket, though I can see some might not be.

GPD (it seems to me) obviously ran into some issues, technically and commercially along the way, and did the best they could in the circumstance. I think they were out of their depth trying to produce the Linux version (the way they present firmware images and git repos alone shows that). The various community members working on it have produced much better results. I installed Linux Mint from the Nexus511 image from reddit (f.hate reddit though:mad:) and it works really well. Theres a few things I probably haven't tested yet (microphone springs to mind) and as yet no data support on the USB-C.
My unit has the lid sensor / standby issue - cured by removing the hall sensor IC. I also found one screw missing internally when making the mod - not sure if that was deliberate or accidental, but I added the missing item without problem.
Build quality is excellent, it feels really robust. Only time will tell of course. IT's a little heavy to be pocketable, even if you have suiable size pockets.
It's a great little useable linux box. e.g. Last night I was working on a Mathcad calculation in WinXP in virtualbox on it, while sat in front of the TV. Also scribbled a couple of short python scripts and ssh into a couple of other machines. Battery life is great - I was at 75% after probably 3 hours use. Lots of times I wouldn't bother dragging my laptop to customer visits unless I anticipated wanting it - I will certainly have the GPD along in similar situations now though. (I won't be leaving it datalogging inside a lamppost overnight like I do my Toughbook though :eek:)

Gemini - seems it should be much more pocketable than the GPD. I was initially skeptical it would end up with a linux distro available, but that seems more likely now. Great pedigree on the mechanical design. If I had written an ideal device spec before this existed, it would have been close to this... Psion5 mechanics and form factor are probably as close to perfect as I can imagine.

Librem Purism - I think it's too soon to have an opinion. I hope they succeed - whatever they come up with will be some alternative to the major players, and that must be a good thing. Too far off for me to get excited about though :o

Neo900 - Reusing the N900 mechanics is too limiting IMHO, even if it had arrived in a reasonable time. To work at all, it would have had to be a drop in replacement while N900 owners were still using their devices daily en masse. Now it would just feel a step backwards, even with brilliant hardware behind the screen.

Pyra - haven't been following this one, other than it seems to have been 'around the corner' forever.

'Chenphone' - I have high hopes for this one. More a 'more useful phone' than a 'more portable laptop'. Chen has been very open about his design aims and decisions. I don't think Chen can ship this year, though I obviously hope I'm wrong. Thats not because of any doubts of Chens capability, simply cynicism borne of 25+ years doing hardware design projects. (I don't think he'll miss by many months though :D)

Re: What's the best Handheld gnu/linux machine for 2017?
 

What about diy (pi) handhelds/machines?

http://www.3ders.org/images2017/zero...ted-case-4.jpg

https://i0.wp.com/makezine.com/wp-co...size=550%2C309

Re: What's the best Handheld gnu/linux machine for 2017?
 

Hey Chen, I didn't mean what I said in a negative sense.
I really hope you do the Livermorium successfully (in fact, I'm a potential buyer), but I will place more trust in that when I see the Moto Mod and the Youyota released and the customers happy. (Yes, I know the Youyota is not entirely your project but you know its success will affect your reputation.)

Is the trackpoint really necessary in this form factor? When you're at a desk, you're more likely to just plug in a mouse; when you're on the go, you're more likely to use the touchscreen. At least that's what I think.

Nice to hear some good about that device, as their Indiegogo page is full of complaints.

They say you can run other distros on it as well, which makes me wonder even more why "PureOS" is necessary. Although their intention to enhance the Gnome UX to work on that form factor is a very generous. (And of course, costly.)

Nice to hear about the battery life. Other people seemed to have less than ideal experience with it, but maybe it has been improved with some upgrades.

What's your experience, is it possible to type on the GPD Pocket with thumbs? Can you use it on-the-go (eg. on a tram or bus while commuting), or is it too big for that?

Something I miss from the N900 / N950 era is to have a device with a keyboard I could use for IRC and email (and maybe lightweight coding) while commuting to work in the morings (and back home in the afternoon).

Indeed, let's hope they get it right!
Like I said, I like the Gemini keyboard much-much more than the GPD Pocket. So given the choice of the two, I would pick the Gemini.

Sadly, I agree.

Yep, that's my assessment about it too.

Re: What's the best Handheld gnu/linux machine for 2017?
 

I don't have it at hand right now, but I was thinking about this last night, and the answer is no. I have large hands, but the GPD is a little too big and the weight balance is wrong, to hold in my hands and type comfortably, at least for me. I think essentially it's not comfortable to reach the spacebar with the thumb unless the device is too far forward in the palm to hold comfortably.
Then again, I'm not sure I've held a device like that since N810/N900 because touchscreens are too 'touchy' for my clumsy thumbs, so maybe I'm just out of practice.

Re: What's the best Handheld gnu/linux machine for 2017?
 

At least with the N900 the Stylus is indispensible IMHO when using EasyDebian because the desktop symbols are so small you cannot easily hit them with our finger. That is why Easy Debian on the N9 is not usable. Even when editing a document (one good reason for having a HW keyboard) a precision pointing device (along with the arrow keys) is very helpful to place the cursor precisely.

That is why in particular with a small screen I want to have a trackpoint or stylus. Admittedly, with the Vaio P I was missing the touchscreen (while I liked the track point). So for me it is good to have both.

Re: What's the best Handheld gnu/linux machine for 2017?
 

If I wanted to use a desktop OS with a small screen, I'd increase the font size or scaling (eg. in Gnome you can do both), which would effectively make it readable on the small screen and make the controls big enough for finger use.

Re: What's the best Handheld gnu/linux machine for 2017?
 

Increasing fonts and symbols is one way of using desktop OSs on a small screen. I prefer to take advantage of the high resolution and keeping everything small. That's why I need a stylus or trackpoint. But I guess that's just me.