A first look at the OpenMoko Neo 1973 [LWN.net]

A first look at the OpenMoko Neo 1973

Posted Sep 7, 2007 16:13 UTC (Fri) by accensi (guest, #11754)
Parent article: A first look at the OpenMoko Neo 1973

Something to think about the FIC Neo1973 aka OpenMoko

From the blog of RoughlyDrafted.com in the article "Apple iPhone vs the FIC Neo1973 OpenMoko Linux Smartphone" (see http://www.roughlydrafted.com/RD/RDM.Tech.Q3.07/B10AE668-...)
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The phone wasn't custom designed for Linux. It is a Windows Mobile unit codeveloped by the Chinese government as a mass produced people's phone. It uses a GSM/GPRS module running the proprietary Nucleus OS. In the OpenMoko version, Linux runs the device's phone-related operations like a small handheld computer connected to a GSM phone interface via a serial port.
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OpenMoko therefore isn't a new “open phone,” it’s merely a version of Linux designed to run on a specific vendor's proprietary implementation of Windows Mobile. Buying an FIC phone to run OpenMoko is like buying a Dell Windows PC to run Linux. You're not changing the world, you're merely funding development of Microsoft's platform while giving yourself the opportunity to work with community software.
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A first look at the OpenMoko Neo 1973

Posted Sep 7, 2007 17:44 UTC (Fri) by ofeeley (subscriber, #36105) [Link]

RoughlyDrafted is sort of annoying in that it states things authoritatively and provides no sources to show from where the information comes.

It's also marred by being rhetorically overblown, for example: "When you buy an iPhone, you get $500 worth of hardware." No, what you get is some hardware for which Apple charges you $500 and no one gets access to the specs.

Or: "Buying an FIC phone to run OpenMoko is like buying a Dell Windows PC to run Linux. You're not changing the world, you're merely funding development of Microsoft's platform while giving yourself the opportunity to work with community software." Oh noes! It wasn't designed to run GNU/Linux so the imaginary strawman of RoughlyDrafted's imagination won't buy a neat little device with open specs (with exceptions mentioned by JE above) which _can_ run GNU/Linux. Making a mobile phone as open as the PC hardware platform is probably the most wonderful thing about this device and if OpenMoko doesn't cut the mustard then perhaps jPhone[1] or some other OS will.

Later he suggests that we should buy iPhones, from the company that has done the most to help itself to community software.

A further ludicrous objection is that because there is essentially a duopoly of GSM providers in the USA it means that there's no point in equipping yourself with a phone which has the potential to run on potential upstart carriers, or more importantly any of the foreign GSM networks experienced while travelling (there are over 700 according to the GSM Association[2]).

The final strange assertion is the belief that Apple will continue to provide better software support than the community (for which he doesn't seem to have much respect.)

He has a point about USB1.1 being painfully slow though.

1. http://www.informationweek.com/story/showArticle.jhtml?ar...
2. http://www.gsmworld.com/news/press_2007/press07_48.shtml