How do you know? You had no chance to compare!

The following is stripped down findings on the experiences thus far with UT and PM after 3-4 days worth of hours of inspection on device.
Specifically I purchased 3 nexus 5's for this purpose so as to be able to bounce back and forth between them instead of repeated wiping and installing over and over to compare, or use (currently) problematic and un-updated multibooting methods.

Plasma was an easy install. (INITIALLY. More on that later)
A brain dead rutabaga on life support could do it...
(even click and pasters could do it.)

Touch 15.04 (stable) was even simpler with their installer.
A rock could do it...
Everything that 15.04 has as a plus is pretty much the same for 16.04 (except enough apps brought up)



First.
Ubuntu Touch (UT)

-UT app store has about 400+ / - apps (130 being games), sparse is a good word to use.

-For example UT having only "a" ...as in "singular" option ..of 1 browser or 1 email client..in a world of devices with multiple options ..is not a good start.

-what apps they do have, on the whole, work decently ,

-the onscreen keyboard is decent in size in portrait, without taking up real estate.

-the scopes are a good feature.

- pop out unity sidebar with running and pinned apps is a good feature.

-Ut needs about 5gb of device to run (initially) but that flexes up and down dynamically...(and increases with more installed programs of course.)

-15.04 is solid with a battery life comparable (or slightly better ) to android.

-I tried out 16.04, it is just as good with few issues, but they have not brought the bulk of their apps up to it yet.

-Telephony, Wifi, BT, are fine and problem free.

-in 15.04 camera works and in 16.04 it works, but like it's OS competitors video issues have yet to be resolved.



-I recently fiddled with "containers" to bring some apps over from 'buntu.
As was previously mentioned by preflex and his experience with "containers", I concur.

-It is a pain. and considering the needed space for any given "container" on device (roughly a min of 500mb , and on a device such as a 16 or 32 gb nexus 5 , that is a lot.."just" for the "container" to take).

-The process is not fun, it is not average-user friendly.

-The process as well can have issues (as per preflex's mention).

this all makes the totality of learning curve for "containers"

-for those new to it,

-the number of steps and requirements,

-the nature of the process being prone to error in result,

-the cost in space to the device,

-the need for the desired desktop programs "containerized" to be touch screen friendly (or the need for the use of mice and keyboard peripherals to be used),

-and the same issue that is currently (being worked on by all the OS's ) , dealing with the resolution disparity of the device to the x11 program in question.

All that being said, on "containers", Canonical (at the time) UT I believe was attempting to offer additional alternatives to just their own touch apps .
Even with UT's "success" in delivery, it should be a reminder for those OS's attempting currently
(and I know that there is at least one if not two other OS's that are pursuing "containers" as an additional option)
to provide "containers" ,
thinking it is a good idea.

It is not.

-Not until the res to x11 app disparity is dealt with,

-not until the "container" size cost is managed better.

-not until there are more touch screen friendly desktop apps( which is a small nuisance more than a big issue)

-not until the process ends with a better chance of success than currently.

-not until a friendly user gui "container" creation is made.






Here is the link to installing the very friendly gui for UT:
https://docs.ubports.com/en/latest/u...e/install.html
which has a number of devices that run (some with issues they are still ironing out) other than just the nexus 5.

and for those who need walk throughs or are fearful of bricking or totally ruining your device or getting it stuck in a loop ...
exact instructions always give a sense of calm to a process rather than worry and anxiety.
It is supposed to be fun and exciting exploring new landscapes after all...

addictive tips has decent ones...
such as :
https://www.addictivetips.com/ubuntu...ndroid-device/

I will not bother reposting the entire last paragraph for the other OS's at the bottom of their respective posts...
I will conclude that no matter how bad it gets...with the state you end up with from the OS being tested ...
As long as you follow a basic instruction set to the letter ....
(FOR THIS please refer to the very bottom of the very first post in the thread) you will be able to recover your device (well on the nexus 5 it worked over and over and over again ...other devices ...maybe...I got a lot of testing devices ..but I don't have everyone on the planet y'know )...
Then you will be able in a heartbeat to get back from an ugly situation your device has ended up in.


Next.
Plasma Mobile (PM)

Plasma Mobile (PM)

PM is a whole different beast compared to UT.
Night and day comparison.
There is a lot of ability to delve into the OS ,
from slider bars in settings to resize icons, running apps ...etc...
akin to a "zoom" slider ...so to speak..
this is a great idea ..

it needs preset "levels" though...it would a lot easier for the nexus 5 to handle the strain ...if PM had these in the resizing department...
such as 640x480, 800x480, 1024x720, desktop presets...
whatever works best in relation to standard desktop apps that run at their more native size in relation...
(ie: maemo manages ok with x11 progs at 800x480 ....though some apps could display a little bigger ...on our handhelds...
Of course the option to use x11 apps at 1400 res on your nexus 5 with mouse keyboard slimport and a nice huge 50" flat screen is a nice option.... with a display that much larger...)
anyway ...such would be an addition which would help..not just the user but the running OS understand and accommodate a memory of said levels and be able to flex better when used than currently the taxing and straining method on the system.

There is a lot to mess with PM, and it is easy to overtax it by playing with the functions and maxing them out.

Some few reviews have complained of the icons or how the presentation of the "bars" are..
such reviews.. I find not relevant ..icons can be changed.
Most reviews had complaints not from issues on device...but running the mobile os in a sandbox on their pc...which has been stated is NOT relate-able at all to the experience on device...
It wasn't really meant for the pc at all...
So such reviews and their findings are simply not relevant ..

it is elegantly clean and simple interface.
the time from start up to allow the wifi to start searching for a new connection takes time.
But once connected is solid.
The same goes for connection / response times for any of the drop down options..they take time due to running processes after start up.

PM managed (and I am surprised) to deliver their greedily consuming OS onto a device that has only 2gb of ram and 4gb of root, and (now) a modest cpu.
I dare hazard that given 3,gb of ram , or 4gb, or 6gb, or 8gb, and a bigger cpu ...that it wouldn't utilize whatever thrown at it too.
It is not what I would consider a modest or lean OS with accompanying low resource de and wm..
That has it at a disadvantage, since I have heard more than once that lag, stalling, freezing and crashes have occurred to people when using some progs on PM on Nexus 5.

-The list of stuff that can be installed is truly staggering.

ever just longed to be able to install desktop x11 apps from the repos ...on your phone... and just fire them up?
I mean really?
without the nightmare of dealing with god knows what issue first , during or after?
PM does it better so far... than anybody in this race.

- yet again the issue challenge confronting the team is the "res to x11 app disparity"
and finding a way to either make a program that either automatically resizes the resolution to accommodate the app or resizes the app to accommodate the resolution.
-POSSIBLY there is some x11 app tucked away somewhere in the bowels of the the desktop repos that is an excellent temporary or permanent fix that either manually or automatically can adjust settings....that is a perfect fit for the need...
-just gotta find it, (modify it if necessary for the handheld platform), install, run, and lastly utilize it.
God only knows what can be achieved now..

-Term update upgrading ran like a dream with no issues.

-The wifi works fine once connected, camera works fine, video has same issues as it's competitors at this time, BT works fine.

-Telephony would not recog my sim.
That may be due to a number of factors..
(I know that sounds cryptic left like that....but...)
Due to the most important issue that PM faces
((and that impacts the ability at this time to state (what with certainty does and does not work))
IS:
-a serious walkthrough that is current ,
-with proper installation instruction that is current.
-with proper installation components that are current.

Since the fact which affirmed my suspicions was seconded by fw190
TWRP is indeed old (the one that handles everything automatically for official installation)
and I am certain now that many of the problems encountered during and after install by many in the PM forum,
-from not installing at all,
-to not installing properly,
-to all kinds of problems experienced afterwards..

is due in some greater or lesser part to the antiquated version of TWRP.

I know that now.

I tried a few other methods of install,
one being with the most recent TWRP and it installed like a dream.
I remember that .

I have reinstalled it many times now,.. seeing effect of installation methods.
and now believe that depending on how ugly the install went (by what methods used) determines just how bad the problems will be that one will face afterwards..

Now I just have to remember where I put the sheet with the instructions with that particular method that worked so well

Once a proper install is done.
and you have wifi connected.
and you have gotten root on the device..
and you have set up ssh
then resize the root from 4 to 6gb
you'll need it.
then promptly update and upgrade in term
and have fun
-transferring files is not drag-n-drop friendly, one has to follow some simple instruction instead.

it's odd really..
The installation packages (ie: TWRP for example) are outdated.
however.. the team has been very thorough in keeping the OS updated.

Until I do a proper reinstall again with the method that seemed to install properly...(still looking for the sheet around here in the papers... )
I cannot fully trust that whatever lag or issues of non-functionality issues others have experienced or my own experiences... are not in fact ...
the product of flawed installations.

Once I do a proper install again and test function instead of testing install methods or playing and exploring ....(it is hard to resist )....
I will be able to say yea or nay to some issues.



Even so, it won't change the impact on my final thoughts on PM here. Nor the conclusion I have come to...
All that is left is the 3 OS's to write up.
And those will be far more brief than the UT or PM posts here.


Here is the official install instructions for PM :
https://www.plasma-mobile.org/neon-a...erence-rootfs/
I DO NOT SUGGEST YOU USE IT THE WAY IT IS.
since it will automatically use the outdated TWRP in it.
Rather everyone post all at once in their forum to update their install procedure and I sure they will get right on it.
In the mean time I would suggest stripping away the outdated TWRP and using the latest TWRP instead (I did) and install it and then the other needed bits...(I have no idea where that sheet on what I did right went to...).

You can use the outdated TWRP ...your device won't explode or start singing Madonna songs to you...just expect weird and unexpected results...anytime you wipe and do it again.

And believe me I have wiped and reinstalled PM more times than any other OS on any other device...
Why go through all that if PM seems so unstable?
I don't believe it is actually unstable...
In part it is due to the mad monkeying I have done..
and in part...I can't help it...I REALLY want to get in there and tear the engine apart and see what stuff does
So ...once I screw with it ....I just wipe and start fresh...
and if it gets loopy or begins acting far to weird due to what I KNOW I have done ( ) ...
I just follow the basic instruction on the bottom of the 1st post....
and in a heartbeat you have your old android os fully flashed and on it again..at factory state...
to wait for you to get itchy for going back into PM again



here is the step by step walk through for the concerned ..for PM by addictive tips:
https://www.addictivetips.com/androi...exus-5-and-5x/

be aware that there is a typo with the command "fastboot format userdat" ...put an "a" on the end of it...its supposed to be "userdata"

Also....be aware that you can choose at the end to simply use "./pm-flash" or "./pm-flash -p neon" or "./pm-flash -p arch"

Be aware lastly that this procedure STILL uses that bloody antiquated TWRP



and this is a link to ...well...really the only tips there are for post installation:
https://community.kde.org/Plasma/Mobile

and once I either find that damn sheet ..(have so many here with varying tested instructions..) ...with the method I got that did perfect installs...
I will post it...
or worst case...have to try to remember how I did it and write it down again




next up......

Thanks so much for your thoughts on UT and PM. I must admit that PM intrigues me. Would you please provide a link on the install instructions you used. Maybe put in OP. Thanks!

better still I will put it in the bottom of the last post specifically on PM.
and do the same for the rest.
and I am not done yet.
Just 3 OS's left to (even more briefly ..as in a paragraph apiece ..) write.

Then my conclusion...which will not be what even I originally expected...

so ....onward now...

Next up...

Next...
Sailfish OS (SFOS ...)

well...
I honestly haven't played around with it yet...
But I do think it needs a post here since it is part of the family ...of these OS's...
For now I will leave my thoughts out of this post ...since I really have none ...yet...but I will be trying it out...and then speak from a small modicum of understanding than pure ignorance...
(Also ...even then...I think there are many others here more qualified in their understanding than my cursory inspection...)
So wait til I putter with it in the near future...
and then I will give it a fair shake
and post my brief cursory experience on SFOS right here in this post




Even so...
However good or middling or bad the experience may be...even (immediate) future tense ...

It does not alter the conclusion I have come to.




Next up...
Maru OS
In an weird way I have been looking forward to this next oddball OS...
it's kinda like the platypus of the family....

I just want to finish playing with it for a bit first...

As I messed up my Jolla two days ago (applied mazelock on the latest update...) I'm on UT now for next weeks as my daily driver...
What I'm alsways wondering when switching is why the hell the projects can't just team up... Especially when it comes to core apps there are brilliant ones and really bad ones on each plattform - on UT the mail and calendar apps are ways better than sfos, vpn, account settings,... Are vice versa...
Apps should be compatible around all linux plattforms like on the desktop
For now I'm enjoying dekko as one of the best (though still unfinished) mobile email clients around

I see it as a desperate attempt to get the slice of the Apple pie, forgetting that they are patently not Apple. Everyone is trying to mimic their model, with the "app store", having to have an account to even use the damn phone at all and the like, and for that you need an absolute control. Which precludes any kind of compatibility and cooperation.

Combine that with the perennial problem of fragmentation in the Linux world, with a new "distro" popping up every month, and you have the dismal situation we are in.

I hear you both...
Completely agree..
As far as the disparate linux distros go...
It is easy to make a spin off distro..
Maintaining it so it is stable...for years...decades...is another matter...
It takes a dedicated team for that.
And so the upstarts invariably fail...
Or really good upstarts that fall...end up becoming the basis for new distro(s) ...Bunsen labs for example...or arch crunch...spun from crunch bang ...which was one of my favourite distros ...that fell..
In main part to the fact...that the creator was still holding on and maintaining it himself...
And just couldn't do it all anymore..
Some distros though ...SHOULD fail...
Such as the Hannah Montana distro..

And yea...
Some apps work better on some mobile plats than others...

Eventually...with the work being done...
A beast will be created that will overwhelm the big corps though...
With UT , Plasma, SFOS, etc...
All of them running headlong toward the inevitable ..
Eventually everyone being able to run everyone else's apps on their platform...including android apps..and maemo apps...
It will make for a chimeric os beast ...
The first os to manage it...will take a big lead...
But the others will follow...
And it will end up changing everything we know and live with...about boundary and limit ..

And once that happens...the alternate mobile os world as we know it is going to be a whole different landscape...
After that disruptive time occurs.
And that time is upon us now...
It is less than years away...it is a year...possibly months...
Then all hell is going to be breaking loose...
I don't know how android or iPhone are going to compete against the titan SFOSMaemoDebianUTDroidPM(etc) Kaiju
I think it will be the beginning of an epic power struggle battle as android and iPhone start losing end users to the amalgamated behemoth.

For us...it will just be a choice with all that can be accessed...
What skin to use...what de ...what wm....

For me...at this moment...
I finished playing with the schizo maru os ...
Pretty good...
Only big issue is that with heavier progs ...in Linux desktop mode...it needs streamlining...curbing some processes...
Maybe a lighter de than lxde...even...
Running intensive progs that are meant for desktop / laptop processing power ...on a smartphone that really wasn't meant for it...is an achievement unto itself...

And so...will wrap up and conclude my assessment of which os's I like ...and why..
And who I think will be the winner inevitably ...in providing a smooth experience with little issue.

As I said maru is the odd man out...
It was interesting take on the concept of convergence...
But yes ...it is not optimal on maru for the nexus 5 to use heavy desktop progs ...at this moment...without really shaving down the de and wm to something more Spartan and less consuming.

UT is great ..
Containers suck.
Its convergent desktop is interesting ...not like Maru's...
...it needs the access to alt os apps badly...having so little in its own library...
Then it will only profit...
I will continue to use it on one nexus 5 for a while yet...

PM was fun..lots..
It does need more work...
But I think their team is closest to what the desired goal is...and closer than the others to that functioning end result that will run alt OS's ..
But PM is all about over the top glam ...
And will tax whatever highest end device it is put on
..I believe...
So even when it is finally a finished product ...
It will take the finest device and want more from it ...
Be prepared for that.
Also be prepared for overwhelming awe on said high end device

SFOS...
I think I will let someone else here who is far more familiar and knowledgeable put their findings in the pot ...
It makes more sense to me to do that here ...

I am aiming to play with lune os on one of my nexus 5's shortly...
It isn't really at the same place the other OS's that have been mentioned...are at...
But...
It has made me curious...
I would like to give it a chance...
See how it performs...


In the end though...
To conclude who I think is going to be the overall winner in the alt os battle to come...

Out of the blue...
I believe maemo is going to triumph...
Leste to be specific...
I do believe maemo is built better to accommodate this need...
And would run smoother than all the other mobile os's...
Maemo has been in this gig for a long time...now...
Its polished...
It runs well with few issues...
It does so with scant resources...
And manages to (fremantle) currently do all that it does...and run...multiple OS's with a 1/4 of the resources that the nexus 5 has...
And in the case of its predecessor (diablo) ..can run even more OS's,De's,and wm's ...with an 1/8th of the nexus 5's resources!
So yep...
Even though Leste isn't a direct contender yet...
It is not even relevant that it isn't ready quite yet...
The advantages maemo already has over the competition... is huge...

I believe once it enters the race...
It will be the defacto os to use...

I am just sitting waiting now...
Hitting the refresh button every couple minutes for when wicket is finished with getting Leste on the nexus 5...


Hear that wicket?


Wait a sec....


Ahh...
There we go...
Just had to hit the refresh button again on that open window on the Leste thread....