Thread: What's the best Handheld gnu/linux machine for 2017?
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2017-09-19 , 16:56
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#146
Originally Posted by chenliangchen View Post
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.
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.)

Originally Posted by JoOppen View Post
In my opinion the GPD people got one thing right (in contrast to the Gemini people) and that is providing a trackpoint.
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.

Originally Posted by theonelaw View Post
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.
Nice to hear some good about that device, as their Indiegogo page is full of complaints.

Originally Posted by theonelaw View Post
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.
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.)

Originally Posted by epninety View Post
It (GPD pocket) '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 )
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).

Originally Posted by epninety View Post
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.
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.

Originally Posted by epninety View Post
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.
Sadly, I agree.

Originally Posted by epninety View Post
Pyra - haven't been following this one, other than it seems to have been 'around the corner' forever.
Yep, that's my assessment about it too.
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