Mecha Comet looks like a fun little modular Linux handheld

If this thing could also make phone calls out of the box without an external attachment I'd buy it and ditch my old Android phone in a heartbeat.


Last edited by Drakker on 10 Jan 2025 at 1:53 pm UTC

This device reminds me of the Nokia Linux mobile phones - The N900 running Maemo Linux and the N9 running Meego Linux. Those phones came out at approximately the same time as the first Android and Apple phones. They were doing really well and a hit with users, and had capabilities above Android and Apple phones of that era. However Steve Elop (who used to work for Microsoft) was taken on at Nokia as the new CEO, and he pushed Windows phones as the prime directive. This split up the company, ruining Nokia going forward, and the wonderfully-capable Linux phones got abandoned. Windows phones ended up failing and competing poorly against Apple and Android devices. Nokia became a shell of its former self. A splinter-group of ex-Nokia staff put together the Jolla company and have Linux phones running their own SailfishOS (but they are way behind the tech giants Apple and Google).

In recent years I have become better informed about the privacy invasions which Big Tech companies (Apple, Google, Amazon, Tesla, Microsoft, etc) are inflicting on society. Apple and Google's phones are designed to snoop on users and collect loads of information. Each person gets profiled, targeted, and ultimately manipulated. I go out of my way to prevent data collection, to conserve my privacy. (There are lots of ways to do this, e.g. Using Firefox or Brave browser, using Ublock Origin tracker blocking, using privacy search engines/not Google search, using Linux desktop, and using Degoogled Phones.)

Currently I run a selection of custom firmwares on Android phones. Some firmwares are replacing Android with Linux. Some firmwares replace 'stock' Android (as provided by the phone manufacturer) with AOSP firmwares (Android Open Source Project, the base operating system before Google adds their spying proprietary components).

Some Linux firmwares (that can be used on specific Android phones): Droidian, Ubuntu Touch, SailfishOS, PostmarketOS.

Some decent degoogled Android operating systems: GrapheneOS, CalyxOS, LineageOS, e/OS (E Foundation), DivestOS, LMODroid.

As with the Pilet - i somehow really want one, but i just can't justify it/imagine enough stuff to do with it to justify the purchase

and it has an ethernet port! Woooo!!!!

but boooo kickstarter yet again

I'll keep an eye on it though and see if it makes it to proper market.

Having ethernet and USB ports makes the device useful for people working in the auto industry as well as those working in networking. Smart idea.

Having ethernet and USB ports makes the device useful for people working in the auto industry as well as those working in networking. Smart idea.

Network architect's dream. I didn't have an ethernet tester when we were building our home, so I was just walking around the house with the electrician to every room with my heavy ass laptop with a usbc->eth adapter dangling off of it, and perching in mid air to connect to the wall socket and test it. This device would be perfect for that!

Both this and pilet look insanely cool

I do like the discussions around how cool it'd be to have a little open source linux phone

Had my midrange phone about 6 years and needing an upgrade, mostly because it's battery is starting to go but honestly would love something more open-source

Same reason I never bought a tablet, not a big fan of how closed down they are, so I'd love a little open source tablet like the pilet as well

I would do unspeakable things for a linux phone that could be used as a daily driver. Unfortunately this does not exist, and it doesn't look like it'll be existing anytime soon either. Sad.

The Pinephone is getting there, but its specs are anemic at best. At least thing thing makes up for the low specs with its wonderful connectivity, which makes it more desirable in my opinion.

I was just walking around the house with the electrician to every room with my heavy ass laptop with a usbc->eth adapter dangling off of it

You and me both, that was exactly my painful experience too. However, I do think the eth, while awesome, is overkill here. A little usb->eth dongle would suit me.

Edit to add, I went back to look at the Pilet again and while both are appealing (particularly the larger Pilet model), I have to say this Mecha is waaaay more stylish. And I love the modular keyboard and gamepad options. Just a shame these are Kickstarter projects. Got a wait on hands, I guess.


Last edited by scaine on 10 Jan 2025 at 11:17 pm UTC