Topic: PINE64: Another sad story around power and control
Hey, I was thinking if this newer created thread should even exist or not. Nevertheless: The news about PINE64, the PinePhone (Pro) and Manjaro is absolutely on the point describing many problems we have nowadays even with once free projects. A story also around power and control. But well? Everyone is here to read: https://blog.brixit.nl/why-i-left-pine64/
And to quote:
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But the Pinebook Pro has a similar boot configuration, and thus a similar problem. Some time after the PinePhone Pro was shipped, it was time for a new Pinebook Pro batch, and this discussion started again. The same arguments were re-iterated by all sides all over again, and the discussion went nowhere. PINE64 representatives went so far as to say, quote, "people who want [an SPI chip] can just solder one on". This batch of Pinebook Pros has ended up shipping without Tow-Boot flashed.
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This is the moment I left. I left all the official channels, stepped down as PINE64 moderator. Left the private developer chat rooms. PINE64 cares only about Manjaro, and Manjaro does not care about working with any other distributions. This is no longer a community that listens to software developers. As a representative of postmarketOS, there is no further reason for me to be directly involved with PINE64 if the only opinions that matter are those of Manjaro.
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It is also the end of another illusion: PINE64 being onto supporting a good example of different software-communities working together, supporting many distributions working together on each of the many facets of the software required. Yes, people: In the end, it is also about pure money. And money decides so there is only one mono-culture. We have many examples about that while people tell many many tales. In fact all of them illusions. Yes, PINE64 did good into supporting different parts and getting living community-editions of many systems with different aspects. But now the decisions show another side of the story to end. That is why corporate open-source won't persist and why we need free and libre systems and a functional software-ecosystem, free and libre culture with the major interest for technical emancipation. And I hope the systems around will support and work further, even without PINE64. A sad story for sure!
Certainly anyone who has the power to make you believe absurdities has the power to make you commit injustices: For a life of every being full with peace and kindness, including diversity and freedom. Capitalism is destroying our minds, the planet itself and the universe in the end!