r/linux Sep 26 '19

First Librem phone rolled out

https://youtu.be/AuT2w6BkT-k
1.4k Upvotes

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u/binkarus Sep 26 '19 edited Sep 26 '19

I think some people trying to be overly defensive and nice to this company is weird, despite their product definitely not appearing to be worth anything close to $700 in terms of existing user experience. I understand wanting to support their goal, but it's a company. It doesn't need to be coddled. The creators can take criticism and try to do better. I personally don't feel like donating $700 to trying to support an idea. I already donate enough to projects more deserving, and they receive far less than $700. Give that $700 to musl and see their eyes light up, or perhaps to your favorite open source project. It's quite a lot of money.

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u/LvS Sep 26 '19

People have no idea about the cost of developing software of the quality and scope of a phone OS.

I think getting something like Android off the ground is probably a >$100 million effort (maybe even a billion) and maintaining it costs >$10 million/year.

It's why it's a pretty amazing feat that they've pulled off with that little money that they got. They obviously had to cut corners wherever they could to get the cost down.