Last Updated on March 24, 2023 by pg@petergamma.org
We managed before to install Ubuntu desktop on a Raspberry Pi 4. It runs slow, but we can install it on an SSD, and nerds can overclock the Pi4 from 1.5 gigaherz to 2.0 gigahertz. We saw an instruction on YouTube how easy it is to share a folder between two Ubuntu PCs, it is almost as easy as folder sharing in a Windows 10 network. So why then not to choose a Ubuntu desktop PC and Ubuntu mini PC as a Linux phone alternative and share folders for data exchange? Ubuntu desktop version has an app store which offers many things our heart desires, but not the Open Store of Ubuntu Touch.
Ubuntu can also be installed on the Raspberry PI CM4, and there is a 5 inch display available, the Raspberry Pi Pad 5:
We ordered a Raspberry PI CM4 at Digitec Switzerland last year: one month delivery time was anounced. Or did we read the date of the shipping time incorrectly. Whatever, after a month we have read the information at Digitec, that delivery time could eventually be up to a year from now. Four month later, Digitec gave us a refund: the CM4 we ordered is no longer available. Can we buy the CM4 also somewhere else? We did not find a well-known seller in Switzerland who has it on stock.
Our next finding was, that the Raspberry Pi Pad 5 is no longer available for instanace on Aliexpress. But there are are new solutions available on the market, expansion boards for CM4 modules for instance without display. These are also available for Banana Pis. Banana Pi has some YouTube demos of a CM4 which is compatible with the Raspberry PI CM4 which shows Ubuntu Mate running on it. Eventually, a mini PC with Ubuntu Gnome or Mate is more suitable for our purpose than a Linux phone. But we will not review those, since by experience, prices for those might rise if we review those. This happened for instance with EEG caps which where sold on Aliexpress which we reviewed.
We also have observed, that new products for instance on Aliexpress come on the market at a low price, as for instance the Orange Pi5. But shortly after that, prices for these devices are increased.
It currently does not matter much which device to choose as far as prices are concerned, the price for a LattePanda V1, a Orange Pi5, a Raspberri Pi CM4 or a Banana Pi CM4 are in the same price range. Are their prices linked to each other? Here we have alternative models, which make these devices more attractive for users. With Linux phones, we do not know of much competing devices and devices which ware interesting for us personally.
Ubuntu Mate is recommended over Ubnutu Gnome by experienced Raspberry Pi4 users, because of performance reasons.