A smartphone that runs Android, launches Debian, and dual-boots Windows 11(nexphone.com)
6 pointsby emrekosmaz9 hours ago2 comments
  • emrekosmaz9 hours ago
    Hi HN — I’m Emre, founder of Nex Computer (NexDock). After ~14 years working on “phone-as-PC,” we’re announcing NexPhone: a smartphone that runs Android by default, can launch a full Debian Linux environment on demand, and can dual-boot into Windows 11.

    Write-up with background + rationale: https://nexphone.com/blog/the-tale-of-nexphone-one-phone-eve...

    Curious what HN thinks about the tradeoffs here: dual-boot vs virtualization, Linux as an app vs full replaceable OS, and what the “killer workflow” is for a phone-as-PC device. Would love to hear use-cases / critiques.

    • necovek9 hours ago
      To separately answer the killer workflow: I'd love to reduce a number of devices, and another one might be an e-ink note taking screen to dock to (yes, I've got a reMarkable Paper Pro and Kindle Scribe). But other than docking to my keyboard, screen(s), external camera/mic and network, phone, laptop and eink with pen is what I care about.

      I'd also want more built-in, fast storage (2tb) to keep my basic data always with me (photos, documents...).

    • necovek9 hours ago
      I'd love it to be the other way around: Linux is native, and you can start an Android environment in the userland for the few Android apps I can't avoid :)

      I don't care about Windows, but it's useful if I want to deal with a Windows only app (a few from the government locally).

      • necovek9 hours ago
        But note that I am unlikely to get one today: with a drawer full of Linux phones (from Motorola A1200, Nokia N900 and N9, Palm Pre+, HP Pre 3, PinePhone, Meizu MX4 shipped with Ubuntu, and Nexus 4 running Ubuntu), I'd really be looking for something that does exactly what I want with enough performance to actually dock to my 8k TV or 4k dual screen setup.
    • shams939 hours ago
      Even if it couldn't do win11 it would be amazing, but also transforming into a work pc setup is ingenious. Then there are the environmental benefits of reducing the footprint of eventual e-waste.
  • mystifyingpoi9 hours ago
    Could anyone using a lapdock everyday share their experience? How do you use it? Does it make sense to buy a device that requires another device to function?
    • necovek7 hours ago
      Like a smartwatch? ;)

      The point is that you'll have one anyway (your phone), so the other is to make it more powerful. But I can imagine some cases where it is suboptimal (you need a MFA token read off your phone for a web page login?).