Oh it makes me SO mad!
Mad!! !!!

https://youtu.be/WzqSuHy8G-o

Ideally DIY is the way go but you run into closed source issues related to hardware and drivers etc. All these projects, despite good intentions, seem to inevitably hit a wall. It would be great if some manufacturers just offered decent hardware and said, "Here it is! Do what you want with it. " Anyways, Purism seems together enough that I think they might succeed. While they have a big empasis on security related issues, I really just want the ability to make and install an app like the good old days!

Agreed.
On both counts...
It would make things easier if manufacturers didn't make pieces of garbage.
And ...DIY. is very likely going to end up being not just the only choice ...but the norm.
All the pi devices and phone attempts ..and not just DIY ...but kits and almost fully assembled product ...is taking the world by storm ...
If manufacturers and devs cannot fill the empty space...pi will.
Plain and simple ...
It isnt a hope or dream any more...
It is a reality happening ...and a threat ...if the manufacturers and devs can't step up...then step aside...

It is coming and may end up steam rolling over many many companies and people ...who thought they had control of the market and the consumer

I have had enough BS to last a lifetime...
As soon as I can find out...
I will be ordering a PITalk.

Not that a company support is the panacea.

I recently bought a GPD pocket with Linux preinstalled.

Preinstalled!!!

Guess what? It does not work. Applications crashing and not starting again until I log out and in again, that kind of thing.

I played with it for abut 30 minutes and put it away. I may even end up installing Windows on it. I know it's a heresy but I am too old and too fed up with things that you have to put together yourself with zip ties and sticky tape. When I buy something, I expect it to work out of the box. End of story.

There we go...
yet another half assed job done...
Good thing you mentioned this pichlo ..
I was eyeballling the gpd for a while...

Nope...
I think the real innovations that are being done ...by people who are making a difference now...with a decent community size to offer some help from peers...and actual successful problem solving to boot ...
is in and has been in the Pi world..for some time now...
Some things may be simply bought and run..out of the box...
Most may be DIY ...
and some may be a combination of the two..
But at least there is honesty there..
and they seem to get ***** working, and get ***** done.
period.

That is where I have been starting to tinker lately...
But I am quickly becoming a full blown convert..
If the Pi can become my next daily driver...

I will be inquiring about purchasing a PITalk kit..
shortly...

SB components are out of stock at the moment ...from what I understand they JUST started shipping all the kickstarter orders on the 11th of April...
So I imagine they are a wee bit busy...
I will be writing them and asking if they have or are going to do another run of the devices...
If they are..
I'll buy one for sure.
Screw Apple
Screw Android
Screw the b-tards who make something that "seems" stable only for them to drop it or discontinue it
Screw all the half assed devices
Screw all the half assed attempts
Screw all those with a half assed attitude that generates the former two ...

If Leste proves viable ...great...
Hell...
I can be patient and wait until Hades comes and does a tap dance on my front porch for me...
But I will be crucified on Melba toast with soggy gherkins before I just sit and wait, pining for the fjords, and "make do" any longer...

If I can't buy one...
If I have to build it myself...
out of earwax and pipe cleaners...
A Raspbian smartphone will do me just fine ...



Update:
Just got a hold of the company...
I will be chatting with them over the coming week....
I'll see what transpires...

Well...
bad news...
I don't suggest getting a ZTE phone if it was on your "x-mas wish list"

even worse...
anyone have a ZTE phone??

and I feel for you if...
anyone have stock or shares in ZTE???

If any of the above apply to you...
"ooh-oh! Spaghetti-O's!!!"

The company is fcuked.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-u...-idUSKBN1HO2BD

Yes, I concur.
Time to put an end to this.

Yes, looks like ZTE and Huawei are being blacklisted by US Gov and several companies. A shame as they make some nice devices. So I guess my Huawei phone is my last one for the foreseeable future.... Wonder what to replace it with this fall.