PinePhone Pro [GNU/Linux smartphone] has been discontinued

I really like the phone/desktop convergence concept. Mostly I think because I want the freedom / open experience of my desktop on my phone though, I think.

But I think most folks interested enough in the concept are also rich enough to afford a phone and a laptop, and if you want a keyboard for your phone you might as well just use a laptop.

I still think conceptually it's the right direction for tech that our devices should be so flexible, but it's hard enough in practice that it's not generally done.

I feel the same way, but while there are definitely actual hardware limitations preventing phones from being identical to computers, the problem is mostly a choice. Why aren’t ipads with keyboard cases able to be used exactly like laptops, for example? I think companies seized on the combined accessibility and restrictiveness of smartphones to justify design choices which are more about profit. Restricting the app library makes apple a great amount of money. Ads are hard to block across a mobile device, why else if not for more money? I think the circumstances of smartphone development gave them the opportunity to make these choices and we’ve gotten locked in since.

> Why aren’t ipads with keyboard cases able to be used exactly like laptops

Small screen - cannot fit many controls or code. Small keys - cannot type fast. No touchpad - cannot do precise clicks, therefore cannot have many controls on the screen. Try imagining something like editing lots of small notes in a music editor with your fingers...