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I want a computer that I own

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Re: I want a computer that I own

#221

Post by Seirdy »

julienb_sea wrote: post #7

There are approaches that can deliver large portions of this; run an open source linux distribution, running open source browser with open source tracker blocking software. You can run this on an inexpensive system and wipe out all external communication except what you specifically want. This is obviously unrealistic for most people. You can toggle off automatic feedback & updates in a modern OS and you can install…

Even if a browser is FLOSS, I wouldn't say a user can truly "own" a browser any more than an absolute ruler can govern a country alone. Browser engines are complex beasts that have grown beyond what anyone can hope to understand, re-create, or even maintain without billions of dollars of annual funding.

Software needs to be simple for users to be in control.

(Plug: a section of an article of mine covered this previously. HN discussion: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=25982860)

Re: I want a computer that I own

#222

Post by dekiphoros »

ekianjo wrote: post #196
COGlory wrote: post #155

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's not quite a modern smartphone, but it's the best we have at the moment; have you looked into the PinePhone? I have mine running openSUSE Tumbleweed.

Terribly slow for modern usage though. And you are still missing essential apps on this kind of device.

You can run android apps on it with Anbox. And while it's slow, it only costs a mere $150

Re: I want a computer that I own

#223

Post by monkeyingaround »

jodrellblank wrote: post #35
monkeyingaround wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

time well spent then, sleep well

Re: I want a computer that I own

#224

Post by salawat »

drdaeman wrote: post #65
dom2 wrote: post #38

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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

The issue is there is no true demand. Yeah, everyone kinda want a device they own - when faced a very direct question and explanation how things really really work. But typically most people don't even think about ownership of the devices they buy - or even falsely assume they "own" those. And those who are aware about the issue have to either pay premium for their rarity (if that's even available in their market - w…

Homestly, this started going downhill with car or any technology advanced enough for documentation to split between user vs. Admin docs. Once manufacturers were offthe hook for being able to transition all relevant info with regards to operation, maintenance, and servicing along with the thing bbeing sold, it created the ignorance/info-asymmetry marketplace that entrenched engineered knowledge scarcity as a profitable business model.

Re: I want a computer that I own

#225

Post by JKCalhoun »

ocdtrekkie wrote: post #206
BoysenberryPi wrote: post #86

This feels like it was made to get to the top of somewhere like HN but I'm actually very confused. >I want it to be, but which can also be used to communicate securely with anyone on the planet without being observed by a third party. I don't want to be spied on by Microsoft or Google.I don't want the NSA intercepting my conversations or even their metadata. I don't see what this has to do with the actual computer ho…

Yeah, I think the parent started with some good concepts like "a computer I own" and "not being spied on", but then missed the lack of relation between the two. You can have a computer that does not connect to the Internet, or connects to the Internet very little, or only connects to the Internet through specific communication channels you open in a firewall. That's all very attainable. However, as soon as you commun…

I'll go further: when have you ever been able to communicate with guaranteed privacy?

Telephone? Nope.

Ham radio? Nope.

Letters sent through the mail? Nope.

Re: I want a computer that I own

#227

Post by 29083011397778 »

westpfelia wrote: post #194
COGlory wrote: post #155

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's not quite a modern smartphone, but it's the best we have at the moment; have you looked into the PinePhone? I have mine running openSUSE Tumbleweed.

How is it for daily use though? Last I knew Pinephones were still mostly just for developers to work on to one day make it a daily driver.

Some people will tell you that the Pinephone is daily-driver ready. They're right, but only in the sense that using a feature phone is daily-driver ready. It's only feasible if your lifestyle permits it, if you're willing to go without sometimes, if leading by example, and voting with not just your wallet, but whatever you value (be it time, money, or uncertainty) is a deal you're happy to make.

I love my Pinephone. It is undoubtedly my own, with no strings or trillion-dollar corporation helping steer. It's lots of fun to play with, but unless people already half-jokingly compare you to RMS due to your extremism, it's not ready.

Android circa 2009 would be a reasonable comparison: the potential is clear, the software is rapidly evolving, and there's a benevolent dictator at the helm. And that's enough for me to be happy with it :)

Re: I want a computer that I own

#228

Post by mceachen »

p1necone wrote: post #185
superkuh wrote: post #184

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You will never own your smartphone. That would require you to be the licensed operator for the radio transmission. Instead the radio is licensed to the telco (or related) and the telcos have every regulatory and monetary incentive to prevent users from being able to access or control the radio. The government regulators demand the user not have control and the baseband modem manufacturer(s) demand their licensed inte…

You can buy a usb cellphone modem for a PC, the rest of the system still belongs to you.

While this may seem terribly ungainly, Nokia had a debian-based, smartphone-sized touchscreen tablet 18 months before the iPhone was released. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nokia_770_Internet_Tablet

Re: I want a computer that I own

#229

Post by SavantIdiot »

julienb_sea wrote: post #7

There are approaches that can deliver large portions of this; run an open source linux distribution, running open source browser with open source tracker blocking software. You can run this on an inexpensive system and wipe out all external communication except what you specifically want. This is obviously unrealistic for most people. You can toggle off automatic feedback & updates in a modern OS and you can install…

Qubes is a great distro for this, so is Kali; but support boot to USB. But even anonymizers like the TOR Router can still have their entrypoints snooped by hostile nation states to target dissidents. It is extremely hard without the help of non-US ISP to be completely anonymous and un-identifiable. And let's not forget your chips may have Intel Managent Tech which is spyware you really can't shut off that monitors/injects directly into the north/south bridge (I forget which).

One of the fun parts about hitting DefCon every year is how easy it is to learn about what's new in this space. I hope they don't cancel this year: the social information sharing aspect is the best part.

Re: I want a computer that I own

#230

Post by intrasight »

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…

Feel lucky that we can still build computers from parts. And just treat your smartphone as the appliance that it is.
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