I want a computer that I own • Hacker News Board

Re: I want a computer that I own

#31

Post by walrus01 » Tue, Mar 09, 2021, 1:16 AM UTC

> Perhaps I am looking for something like the x286 DOS computer I had in the early 1990's

You can do an almost fully GPL compliant Linux desktop by building it yourself today. I can already see people thinking "but what about the closed source binary blobs? my video card? my network interfaces?"

But even your 12 MHz 286 or 386SX/20 had closed source AMI or Phoenix BIOS firmware on it. The motherboard manufacturer in Taiwan and American Megatrends sure weren't handing out the source code to that. And if you had a video card, or a soundblaster, its drivers loaded in config.sys were also closed binary blobs.

Re: I want a computer that I own

#32

Post by asymptosis » Tue, Mar 09, 2021, 1:17 AM UTC

runjake wrote: post #17

Build a PC and install Linux on it and be done with it.

Yes, my thoughts exactly. You can't quite escape concerns about motherboard and cpu manufacturers baking in little security holes, but it's better than buying some pre-packaged system or laptop. Chuck Linux or a BSD on there and boom you've got back most of your general purpose computational freedom.

Of course, you can't change the crappiness of the broader infrastructure, but "give me wisdom to accept what I cannot change" and all that. Choose your battles.

Re: I want a computer that I own

#33

Post by jay_kyburz » Tue, Mar 09, 2021, 1:18 AM UTC

I want to live in Utopia too, but in the meantime I'm happy with Linux.

Re: I want a computer that I own

#34

Post by ARandomerDude » Tue, Mar 09, 2021, 1:18 AM UTC

eeZah7Ux wrote: post #26

kokx wrote: post #15

I have a similar feeling, but with modern smartphones. Owning my computer is still relatively possible. I can build a computer from parts which I can choose, and have a choice in which operating system to install on them. Laptops are slightly more closed, but even on those I can choose the OS myself. Modern smartphones however, seem like walled gardens in which I have no control at all. I cannot choose any of the par…

Buy a PinePhone. It might very well be more open and trustworthy than some laptops or desktops.

Where? Everywhere I've seen is preorder or out of stock. I'm sure it's a great device but the supply chain just isn't there if my phone dies today.

Re: I want a computer that I own

#35

Post by jodrellblank » Tue, Mar 09, 2021, 1:19 AM UTC

monkeyingaround wrote: post #24

koverda wrote: post #8

> Except for a handful of very over-priced models that I can't afford to buy. This statement here made me pause for a bit. He wants a computer with specific features, but doesn't want pay for the models that offer those features because they are too expensive? Everyone wants to have their cake and eat it too, but unfortunately, reality has constraints.

As someone who has watched the increasingly absurd price of laptops over many years in relation to what one should expect for the price, I'd say I have people like you to thank.

As someone who has watched laptops get thousands of times faster, smaller, lighter, more battery life, clearer higher resolution screens, smaller chargers, faster connectivity, quieter fans, I flagged your comment for signing up a new account to post a personal attack.

Re: I want a computer that I own

#36

Post by kokx » Tue, Mar 09, 2021, 1:20 AM UTC

eeZah7Ux wrote: post #26

kokx wrote: post #15

I have a similar feeling, but with modern smartphones. Owning my computer is still relatively possible. I can build a computer from parts which I can choose, and have a choice in which operating system to install on them. Laptops are slightly more closed, but even on those I can choose the OS myself. Modern smartphones however, seem like walled gardens in which I have no control at all. I cannot choose any of the par…

Buy a PinePhone. It might very well be more open and trustworthy than some laptops or desktops.

I love the PinePhone. It is an amazing project, and I'm definitely considering buying one. However, it does not solve my main problem. For most scenarios I still need a "normal" smartphone with either iOS or Android. Apps like WhatsApp and banking apps are unfortunately needed for a large part of my daily life. At risk of either socially isolating myself or bringing major inconveniences without having them. All unavailable outside of the walled gardens.

I really want the PinePhone to be a solution here, but unfortunately I know it isn't.

Re: I want a computer that I own

#37

Post by ARandomerDude » Tue, Mar 09, 2021, 1:21 AM UTC

jay_kyburz wrote: post #33

I want to live in Utopia too, but in the meantime I'm happy with Linux.

Exactly. Utopia (ou topos) literally means "nowhere" or "no [such] place" in Greek.

https://www.etymonline.com/word/utopia

Re: I want a computer that I own

#38

Post by dom2 » Tue, Mar 09, 2021, 1:21 AM UTC

koverda wrote: post #8

> Except for a handful of very over-priced models that I can't afford to buy. This statement here made me pause for a bit. He wants a computer with specific features, but doesn't want pay for the models that offer those features because they are too expensive? Everyone wants to have their cake and eat it too, but unfortunately, reality has constraints.

Income shouldn't be a barrier to having technology that you own completely, a concept that until recently was common.

Re: I want a computer that I own

#39

Post by marcodiego » Tue, Mar 09, 2021, 1:21 AM UTC

You can have computers that you own today. There is a list here: https://ryf.fsf.org/categories/laptops .

If you want something more powerful, there're these:

  - https://ryf.fsf.org/categories/workstations-and-servers

  - https://ryf.fsf.org/categories/mainboards

Also, Andrius Stikonas achieved a blob-free fully functioning (AFAIK) RockPro64 more than a year ago: https://stikonas.eu/wordpress/2019/09/15/blobless-boot-with-...

People have to vote with their wallets and pressure vendors.

Re: I want a computer that I own

#40

Post by reilly3000 » Tue, Mar 09, 2021, 1:22 AM UTC

eeZah7Ux wrote: post #26

kokx wrote: post #15

I have a similar feeling, but with modern smartphones. Owning my computer is still relatively possible. I can build a computer from parts which I can choose, and have a choice in which operating system to install on them. Laptops are slightly more closed, but even on those I can choose the OS myself. Modern smartphones however, seem like walled gardens in which I have no control at all. I cannot choose any of the par…

Buy a PinePhone. It might very well be more open and trustworthy than some laptops or desktops.

So far we're struggling with some really basic issues with our recent Pine Phone- including severe echo on calls, slow ui etc. Its a WIP and will undoubedly improve over time, but its definitely not a turnkey daily-driver type of experience.