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Comment by user764743 | Hacker News Reader

If only people could get the phone they pre-ordered. The /r/purism subreddit is so much filled with horror stories and dishonest marketing practices by the company that I decided against ordering one.

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I see much of this on the subreddit as well. Though maybe I can be a point of anecdata to the opposite side. I ordered(Librem 5 USA) in December 21, got my phone in July 22. Had some small issues, emailed customer support, got helpful responses. The phone calls and texts fine. There are good apps, a good community, etc. I think there is a loud minority of people that didn't quite understand what they were buying into. A small company and a first product.. you're really speculating by being early. This is not going to be remotely close to the same experience as buying a device with +20y of development from a top 5 most traded public companies in the U.S.. I bought the phone with the understanding, maybe I get the phone in 2022, maybe I don't. Maybe I get the phone and it can't make calls/texts because of a software issue and I'll have to wait for a fix or aid in development.. I would recommend the phone to others who share similar expectations. Though I would recommend the USA version as they seem to be available. It seems those still waiting for phones might be stuck waiting for the chinese model.(chip shortage related? Idk)

I was a super early pre-order and then waited years for SOMETHING. I eventually asked for a refund which they said they'd honor. I've now been in the refund "queue" for over a year or two. I've lost count of the exact number of years, promises and emails at this point.

I understand growing pains, but purism is neither a transparent nor a trustworthy company. Buy a PinePhone Pro and call it a day. It's still not ready for prime time as a daily driver, IMO, but the company is a breath of fresh air in comparison.

When I asked for a refund I was told that they had changed their mind and they were no longer honoring their original policies. I have the phone now and it's pretty much a paperweight. Someday I might want to play around with it but at the moment it's more of a toy and less of a phone.

This is a bummer. Did you order the USA model or the Chinese model?

The US model didn't exist even as a concept at the time I pre-ordered. I ordered before the first lot, but picked Evergreen because I wanted it to work and I didn't mind funding and waiting, but this is crazy.

I realize there's a valid difference between place of origin, but for me sitting here empty handed, the US model just seemed like a way to upcharge for a product that hardly existed in any form.

Chinese? American? Whatever, for me vapor is vapor no matter where it's supposed to be coming from "eventually".

I received my Librem 5. I wrote a short review[0] when I first got it.

Since then it has developed a fault whereby the phone crashes immediately as soon as I switch the wifi kill-switch on. Just instant black screen, nothing happening. Sometimes I have to take the battery out to get it to boot back up. I just don't use wifi. Apart from that it still works great.

[0] https://incoherency.co.uk/blog/stories/librem5-first-impress...

> Since then it has developed a fault whereby the phone crashes immediately as soon as I switch the wifi kill-switch on. Just instant black screen, nothing happening.

Heh, I have never seen or heard of anyone with that issue? You may want to contact their support and ask about it. They are pretty good about helping out with those things.

But other than that, Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play?

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