Least qualified user asking for advice

[KABA]

Hey all (anyone)

I've put off the smartphone and stuck with fliphones as all I really want from a phone is to make and receive calls, I hate bloat 

I've minimal Linux experience, use putty for some basic operations

Anyhow I'm game to report on this experience as it relates too novice use and willing to create and push videos for those like myself

Is there a consensus on which software to install for noobs?

Thanks in advance

Robert

[rocket2nfinity]

No, but I'd suggest Mobian or Manjaro phosh. These two are most likely to just work. Usability wise, Ubuntu Touch. But, it's not ready yet.

[KABA]

No, but I'd suggest Mobian or Manjaro phosh.  These two are most likely to just work. Usability wise, Ubuntu Touch. But, it's not ready yet.

Initially I suspected Ubuntu would be my go to until I read over the notes yesterday, my phone is not here yet but wanted to get an idea where I was going, Manjaro had caught my eye as a contender,

A bigger concern after reading the forum is now a provider, I currently use Tracphone minutes and was planning to switch to Cricket as my wife has that, didn't expect they'd be ugly about it, hope I can make one of the two work as I'm not into phone contracts

Thanks for your reply

Robert

[Frankie]

I'm not sure the phone is ready yet to even be used to just make and take calls even so wouldn't worry too much about it yet.

By the time a good solid stable OS comes out it may work with more providers.
Love the device but it's still more for playing with than using as a full-time phone IMO.

Good luck, other people may not agree with me but that's my take so far as of now.
Plan to do more testing today if I can spare some time but for now my SIM is back in another phone.

[marcih]

I can't comment on your question about providers, I'm not familiar with US cell providers and how well they get along with the PinePhone.

About which software to install:

If you're familiar with Android then Plasma is quite similar and actually quite pleasant to use. The caveat here is that it's not exactly complete or ready for day-to-day use. If you know your way around the GNOME desktop then you'll feel right at home with Phosh, it's "based on GNOME technologies".

If you go with Plasma, then Manjaro is pretty much your only choice here (and if you're waiting for the Beta Edition of the PinePhone then that's what pre-installed anyways). If you decide to go with Phosh, I still have to recommend Manjaro over Mobian at this time for the sole reason of Mobian still being on the 1.14 branch of ModemManager, which is much less reliable than the current 1.16 branch that Manjaro carries. Once Mobian (or rather Debian sid because that's what's holding Mobian back) catches up and packages MM 1.16 then definitely switch with Mobian.

There's also sxmo, inspired(?) by the suckless guys; you might want to look into that too since you said you hate bloat. I've no experience with it myself though so I can't comment.

[KABA]

Thank you for your reply, I'm willing to both wait and help as I can, has it been discussed anywhere for Pine to develop a network?

I have no idea the funding needed, anyone have Elon Musk's cell #?

Maybe a starlink co-op could work ;<)

I seen someone had mentioned reaching out to CEO's, perhaps the idea will help with Cricket

[mikehenson]

A bigger concern after reading the forum is now a provider, I currently use Tracphone minutes and was planning to switch to Cricket as my wife has that, didn't expect they'd be ugly about it, hope I can make one of the two work as I'm not into phone contracts

I was on Cricket until they kicked off my Sony phones... So I got a PinePhone and moved to FaithWiress (AT&T). I have been pleased with both the PinePhone and cell service.

https://wiki.pine64.org/wiki/PinePhone_C...th_America

[KABA]

So that BYOP bit means diddly doo

I did jump on the chat today to get the CEO info, yeah, laughable, and they were quick to end the chat when I pressed for an official comment on PINE64

I'll try faithwireless if available NP

TY

[rocket2nfinity]

I've read several have had success with AT&T MVNOs - Straightalk, H2O, RedPocket. Try some of them if you need AT&T service.

[KABA]

I've read several have had success with AT&T MVNOs - Straightalk, H2O, RedPocket. Try some of them if you need AT&T service.

Our local towers are AT&T but ti makes no difference to me personally so long as calls come and go, I'm content to keep tracphone though I do want to get off the minute plans