- cross-posted to:
- privacy@programming.dev
- cross-posted to:
- privacy@programming.dev
Lol, proton trying hard to get more customers. Every service they offer can be replaced be free and open source alternatives, or much cheaper and arguably more sovereign services
I wish they would add a Sheets/Excel competitor to go with the Docs competitor they have in Proton Drive now. My needs for a spreadsheet application fall squarely into a crack of being so little that its not worth hosting something myself but large enough that it is a good value add for some hosted service I am already using or paying for.
Self hosted: https://github.com/suitenumerique/docs
Buzzword bingo (P2P, CRDT, E2EE): https://github.com/coast-team/mute
Meanwhile Linux users are left lacking features. What is this, 4 brand new services from Proton in as many months. MullvadVPN, Tuta, and Addy are looking more and more attractive every time you skip over Linux.
I’m regretting both prepaying for so many years of services and having so many email domains.
I think I’m going to self host a mail server next and see how good it is.
Linux application this time? Still waiting for native support on Proton Drive.
Its coming soon https://proton.me/blog/drive-roadmap-summer-2025
Username checks out
Still waiting for ProtonVPN support for Linux distributions other than Ubuntu/“Gnome Debian”.
The Flatpak and Arch (I know, unofficial versions) packages appear to be broken for quite some time, and Proton devs have closed a bug report for it as it’s not a “supported platform”.
Not to downplay, not having support for Arch, but neither does Mullvad so its not a proton only thing.
MullVad at least worked reliably for me on Arch
What’s broken about them? I just installed the package from the AUR a couple of days ago and it seems to be working fine for me.
Not sure if it was an issue with the flatpak version or AUR but it would have only one successful launch. Once you’d restart the app or PC, it would not launch at all, or it would launch, show server list but throw errors when trying to connect to a VPN server.
So I just tried to replicate this issues two ways:
- I disconnected from the VPN, shut down the app, then restarted it and reconnected. I was able to establish a connection and checking my IP and for DNS leaks both showed I had a solid connection.
- I rebooted the PC and when I was back on the desktop, I started up the app and it connected almost immediately after hitting the quick connect button. I tested again and it passed.
Maybe they’ve since corrected the issues you were seeing?
That’s not great! Come to think of it, I don’t think I’ve stopped the application or restarted the PC since I installed it a couple of days ago. I’m gonna test it after work today and see if it behaves similarly and I’ll report back what I find.
There are RPMs as well, but yeah, Proton has terrible Linux support overall.
IIRC there is are community Flatpaks for most of their apps and they work fine.
Like I have Proton Mail/Calendar, VPN and Pass all installed on my Bluefin workstation
Proton recommends not using the community built apps.
Jitsi?
Is Jitsi e2e on group calls?
Right?
At this point I think I need to recalculate the cost for VPN and secure email. I’m paying for those, potentially value add things like drive are languishing (although I was hopeful with the community rclone adapter) and they are using funds for a lot of stuff that is irrelevant.
There is a use for proton meet but is it really want the broad customer base wants? It feels like their leadership has a vision and customer needs are being bypassed.
They are stretching into the business sector. This is important for that.
This makes a lot of sense. I wish I had a better feel for when they would shift focus from product introduction to product improvement again though.
I remember when people thought offering VPN was a distraction from improving their email features.
This complaint is getting old.To someone who is/was interested in Proton’s email service but not their VPN service this may still be a fair point though imo. I don’t think it being a rehashed complaint here automatically invalidates it.
Not automatically, no.
But when a company roles out lots of new products that not everyone uses but many do, without abandoning development in their existing products? Yah, that complain gets tired, and I feel I’m justified in dismissing it out of hand.
It’s old because it shows ignorance of the situation, and vast misunderstanding of how companies are run and things are made.
I’m waiting on a lot of things from Proton, mostly around them hiring more Linux Devs so they can flesh out that platform.
But that being said, they haven’t said they aren’t doing it, it just isn’t happening on the timeline I want. So I’m good. If I’m ever not good with that I can choose to not renew.
Other products and features doesn’t take away from my wish list. If they have 500 devs on staff and none of them are Linux experts, then them working on other projects doesn’t take anything away from me, it only adds.
If the prices don’t go up, you have a point.
A possible counter argument could be that other customers don’t use the services you do use and in the end it all evens out, but you’d need to look at the data to know if that actually is true. Perhaps if the all-in package has become less interesting for you and you could downgrade your membership to only get premium vpn or mail.
But that aside, i totally agree the vision of the leadership only makes sense if it is based on the needs of customers and I also doubt whether they are Protons main interest.
That is absolutely true and I’ve been quite happy with the VPN and email offerings. I spend most of my time in tech literate communities where the call for Linux drive support is loudest and I’m not tied to all the other spaces.
For me the question really becomes if I can save by switching providers or switch to a provider whose path better aligns to where I want to go. Drive is something I’ve had my eye on for a while as a way to make my subscription more valuable, instead all the ‘value add’ offerings they promote are not worth anything to me.
Yeah. I would love to use proton drive on projects with other people. But I can’t argue for proton drive when it doesn’t have basic spreadsheets and presentations.
I also can’t leave Google drive until proton has those.
Proton even bought Standard Notes but rather than port those features over they keep standing up other products.
(It’s starting to feel like Proton is going to end up being a hosted Nextcloud)
I already have encrypted video conferencing with Matrix, but I just tried Proton Meet (I’m a Visionary customer) and it was indeed a smooth experience starting up a meeting. I will likely use it whenever I need to videoconf with some random.
What alternatives have you tried that you can recommend? Looking for something like zoom.
Not the person you replied to, but maybe jitsi?
How do they have an entire webpage about the product with absolutely zero information about how to use it?
Wdym? Says if you’re on a lifetime or business subscription you just need to contact them
LOL what? Why should I have to contact them? What a weird suggestion…
Proton Meet is in closed beta testing.
So possibly you can’t yet
edit: based on discussion here you can probably access it at https://meet.proton.me/ if you’re a Visionary subscriber (maybe they’ll have sent you an email about testing it?). For everyone else it just says “coming soon”.
A signal alternative based on signal protocol outside of surveillance pact “eyes” would be nice
Proton? Nope. Jitsi.
But will my account be canceled if Im a journalist?
Edit: I have been corrected, this was apparently incorrect information.
That was proved to be fake
Thank goodness! Thank you, I didnt hear that part of the story.
it’s not that clear. if you are interested, go reddit and read the post and comments.
https://www.reddit.com/r/ProtonMail/comments/1ng1apv/clarifying_recent_misinformation/
So supposedly the account wasn’t suspended or the reasons we thought, but, they aren’t denying it got suspended and they won’t say why. They do seem to be quite vauge. Thank you for the link