Ubuntu turns to crowdfunding

[oshunluvr]

I realise this opinion is based on what Canonical says it will/can do because the device isn't available yet, but at first blush there is no way you can compare the Edge with the crappy Windows phones. Other than the fact you can make a phone call with both, they have little or nothing in common.

Microsoft phone: Legacy, crappy, closed source OS and few apps.

Ubuntu Edge: Well established Android app base, Solid second cutting edge OS (lets not all forget we're using Ubuntu right now, people!) and it's a new concept. I HATE laptops. Total waste IMO, but here's a single device that can do what my phone does AND what a basic laptop does. Brilliant.

Personally (again just a consumer opinion, not an industry insider) I think it's a mis-charactorization to refer to Windows users as a "Loyal fan base." We have all discussed ad nausium the nasty tricks MicroSith plays to foist their crap on the market place, and they've done a damn good job doing it. I don't know anyone who extoles the virtues of any MS product. Most are either unaware there are alternatives like linux or have no choice - i.e. the company they work for made the decision for them. Their attempt at a cell phone OS failed precisely because it was MS. No one wanted to continue the horrible litany of complaints about their PC's over to their phones and in this case - they were all both aware of alternate choices and virtually no one was forcing that choice. In fact, it wouldn't surprize me to find out that most Windows phone users were not computer users at all.

I doubt the Canonical will knock Apple or Samsung out of business, but they might just have a niche market. If they get a toehold, it could take off and become a really excellent third choice for cell phone buyers. Turst me, with a market place as large as the mobile device market, third place will mean billions.

It's still a vapor device at the moment: but if they follow through with the hardware design they claim, it will be the best phone currently available. The real issue will be price point. $675 (current minimum) seems high when you compare it to the Nexus 4, but if you consider the idea that it could replace another computer in your life, it approaches a resonable cost for the function you get. Heck, the sapphire screen would be worth an added $200 alone. My watch has a sapphire crystal and I can assure you - it does not scratch. I have been wearing this watch daily for 12+ years and banged it into stucco, worked on cars, layed tile - you name it - and not a mark. Besides, my current phone - HTC sensation - cost me $499 two years ago. The Edge is a bargin if the claims are true.

One final point: SADBFL aside, I have benefited greatly from the work of Canonical without contributing a dime to them. I have supported other linux projects (distros, games, etc.) through the years but oddly not the one I have arguably benefited from the most. KDE is great and I love it, but it's not the part of the my OS's that does the heavy lifting. Maybe buying one of these as a counter to the MS-Tax makes it even more worth it.

Either way it will be interesting to watch and personally I hope they succeed. Cell phone companies in the US are organized crime and I support anything that forces them to play better with others - like phones being marketed by outside companies.

[kubicle]

I think I might actually want one.

Is that wrong?

No, if you understand you're getting a pig in a poke.

Caveat emptor.

[GreyGeek]

mmmm.... Indeed, Steve!
Help me out. I'm having a difficult time. Which one is the Win8 and which one is the Ubuntu?

I read somewhere that Microsoft's holds 2% of the smartphone market share. (They claim 5%). IF Canonical currently held that percentage they'd be exactly where Microsoft is in the smartphone market -- dead in the water.

[claydoh]

http://blog.novacut.com/2013/07/what...lly-about.html

[SteveRiley]

I think I might actually want one.

Is that wrong?

If minimal market share, few apps, and no hope of taking a bite out of Android and iThing, then you can already choose one now

Technologically and aesthetically, Edge may very well beat everyone. But being so late in the game, I find myself wondering if continued investment is really the wisest use of Canonical's limited funds? If Microsoft can barely make dent into their own vast, loyal customer base, what hope does Canonical have of selling anymore than a few thousand of these things?

I dont know if I believe these numbers. I just added up the donation totals from each category and got $823,320, which is over $3.5 million short of what they say they have earned. There are some undisclosed donations, but not enough to account for $3.5 million. I have a feeling Canonical has been making large undisclosed donations to create hype and unwarranted hysteria.

Don't forget that the counter for the $830 donations was reset to zero. They are definitely playing games of one sort or another.

Edit: The $830 donations may have been switched to a lower level but not included in any of the current pledge totals. That doesn't help making the sums add up though.

[whatthefunk]

I dont know if I believe these numbers. I just added up the donation totals from each category and got $823,320, which is over $3.5 million short of what they say they have earned. There are some undisclosed donations, but not enough to account for $3.5 million. I have a feeling Canonical has been making large undisclosed donations to create hype and unwarranted hysteria.

[oshunluvr]

I think I might actually want one.

Is that wrong?

[SteveRiley]

"Pledges"? Sheesh. How about a CD boxed set and a tote bag?

The commenters on that OMG! article express euphoria after sending their money. Ridiculous.

[whatthefunk]

I wonder are we now going to see a series of limited availability special offers to ensure that the target is reached on time?

Ubuntu Edge Prices Lowered, Devices Available from $625

Prices lowered to $625, $675 and $725. I'd be annoyed if I had just contributed $830 and minutes later found that I could have paid $205 less.

All part of the master plan I bet.

That would really piss me off too. I wonder how low they are willing to go.

I wonder are we now going to see a series of limited availability special offers to ensure that the target is reached on time?

Ubuntu Edge Prices Lowered, Devices Available from $625

Prices lowered to $625, $675 and $725. I'd be annoyed if I had just contributed $830 and minutes later found that I could have paid $205 less.

All part of the master plan I bet.

[mastablasta]

I'm certain most of the early bids come from "sources close to Canonical" to create initial lift. No one in their right mind would spend 600/800$ to buy a future prototype phone from a struggling company. The phone will be basically Android with beta quality (at best) ubuntu option. And it'll probably be a brick after a while as no repair shop in the world knows how to fix it (if they could get spare parts from somewhere).
.

i think it's a portable desktop PC that can also be used as a phone. it runs desktop applicaitons right?

[oshunluvr]

Love it, Steve - LOL

[SteveRiley]

Hm......

[kubicle]

$2.5m have been raised in just eight hours but I'm sure the donations, contributions or whatever will soon start to slow down.

I'm certain most of the early bids come from "sources close to Canonical" to create initial lift. No one in their right mind would spend 600/800$ to buy a future prototype phone from a struggling company. The phone will be basically Android with beta quality (at best) ubuntu option. And it'll probably be a brick after a while as no repair shop in the world knows how to fix it (if they could get spare parts from somewhere).

I'd say the whole idea is another "publicity stunt".