Cosmo Communicator 2-in-1 Phone/Mini Laptop can now Dual Boot Debian Linux and Android

The Cosmo Communicator

The Cosmo Communicator was released as a crowdfunded handheld device mixing smartphone and a small laptop features such as keyboard and display. It was launched in late 2019 and ran Google Android.

Didn’t Ship with Linux Support

The original units were shipped and fulfilled the requirements of the crowdfunding campaign, but still were missing something the company had wanted to provide: support for Linux.

Debian Linux Support

This is now fixed as Planet Computers, the company that makes Cosmo Communicator, just released a version of Debian Linux, that can be installed on the system, with the tools that the company has provided for free on its website.

Other Linux Phones

There has been some movement in the world of Linux Phones, with the advent of the Purism Librem 5 and the Pine64 PinePhone using the familiar touchscreen interface found in the vast majority of smartphones.

Quick Basics

The system is equipped with a MediaTek Helio P70, 6 GB RAM, 128 GB Storage, and 2160 x 1080 pixel display, all powered by a 4,226 mAh battery.

The Latest Feature

The latest model comes with a touchscreen display on the top of the clamshell when closed, that will show notifications, time and allow calls to be made when the unit is closed.

IndieGoGo

The single unit and the gold unit are still available via the “InDemand” program” on Indiegogo running after campaigns have been funded. The accessories are still available, like the car mount, and the connectivity kit.

The Dual Boot Option

From the documentation on the Planet Computers website, there are five options for installing Linux, as offered when the unit is ready for partitioning after the firmware for the system is installed. You can dual install Android and Linux, or one or the other.

Available options:

Reserve all space for Android
Reserve 90GB for Android and 30GB for Linux
Reserve 60GB for Android and 60GB for Linux
Reserve 30GB for Android and 90 GB for Linux
Reserve all space for Linux

A Word About Issues, May or May Not Be

There are several thousand comments on the IndieGoGo Page for the units. There seem to be some issues with hardware, and some people not receiving units from the original 2019 timeline. Being unable to read all the comments it is hard to tell just how prevalent any issue might be, or if issues have been resolved already.

Pricing

The Single Cosmo Communicator costs $749 USD and the Gold Costs $1,999 USD. Planet Computers updates the campaign regularly, with the multi-boot announcement having been published on February 24, 2020.

Additional Reading

The Liliputing.com article also contributed to this article as well as the CNX announcement and the Planet Computer website documentation.

Stephen Vicinanza

Stephen started writing about technology after publishing sci-fi short stories. His first White-Paper, written in 2008, was well received and inspired him to continue writing about technology. Today he writes in the technology space full time, covering a multitude of topics. During the time he wrote part-time he edited hundreds of titles for large publishers, in science and technology. He lives in Staten Island, with his wife and children.