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I want a computer that I own

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Re: I want a computer that I own

#361

Post by fsflover »

monkin wrote: post #297
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…

There should be just a phone for hackers and hardware/open source enthusiasts. They would have a toy to play with without a need to bash other “walled garden” platforms which isn’t for them apparently. As ordinary consumers don’t want to or do not have a knowledge on how to do those advanced tasks most HN users want. And, that’s great! They shouldn’t know that, maybe there will be some cultural shift in the future, w…

Such phones exist: Librem 5 and Pinephone.

Re: I want a computer that I own

#362

Post by xxs »

shrew wrote: post #352
xxs wrote: post #324

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>I like iOS, but not Android. Let me explain why. No Firefox on iOS, hence useless.

Honest question: is it simply the fact you can't use a Gecko engine on iOS that makes it useless to you? My impression is that the Firefox shell offered is still able to provide the various anti-tracking privacy features that many would point to Firefox for, and the variety of browser shells available should mean that you'd be able to find a UI to your liking if Safari's isn't. At that point, the only thing I can see…

> Honest question: is it simply the fact you can't use a Gecko engine on iOS that makes it useless to you?

No plugins/add-ons effectively.

Re: I want a computer that I own

#363

Post by nicbou »

Nicksil wrote: post #131
aiisahik wrote: post #105

This is literally something that NEVER crosses the mind of the average consumer. We should have a HackerNews version of "first world problems" and call it "HackerNews Problems". You now have a computer that is 10,000 times faster than one you had 30 yrs ago at half the price. Oh and it fits in your pocket. A lot of time and money went into creating that. Those people need to get paid. And yes you pay for it with some…

Perhaps because most people don't know what we know. I don't think about my car's airbags all that often because I'm not a mechanic or frequently in contact with sources of the latest airbag news. Two weeks ago I take my car in for some work and the mechanic walks out to me with this puzzled look on his face and asks why I have yet to have my airbags replaced; talks about how dangerous this brand is and goes on about…

It's time for us to find a new source of analogies. Why is it always cars?

Regardless, cars increasingly feature the same sort of profit maximising nonsense: subscription-based services, problems that can only be solved by authorised dealerships, systems that can disable the car remotely, planned obsolescence etc.

There is an equivalent demand for Just A Car from people who don't want to fall into this trap.

Re: I want a computer that I own

#364

Post by FourthProtocol »

approxim8ion wrote: post #315
missedthecue wrote: post #52

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You could buy a flip phone

Most old flip phones support up to 3G, which is being phased out. The 4G ones run either Android (so a worse experience with the same spyware) or KaiOS (which is still fine but not very available).

KaiOS is sponsored in part by Google, and includes Google software. I know because I have the yellow banana phone (Nokia clone). I bought that with exactly the expectation that it's free of trackers and so on, but no. Apps on KaiOS cannot be uninstalled.

Re: I want a computer that I own

#365

Post by fsflover »

jamesrr39 wrote: post #308
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…

With regards to changing parts on a phone, ifixit made a comparison of different phones and how easy they are to change parts for. Something to consider taking a look at when buying a new phone. https://www.ifixit.com/smartphone-repairability

See also: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RCccpgposh4.

Re: I want a computer that I own

#366

Post by mschuster91 »

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…

> and even doing simple reparation tasks like replacing a battery is a nightmare these days

I went ahead and bought a SM-T575 tablet a couple weeks ago. The only tablet I could find in the 8-inch range that had a somewhat decent CPU/GPU, a camera with light, NFC and a replaceable battery - while still being waterproof. And it's not made out of hard plastic that will shatter at the first fall. For all that joy however, it was a fucking PITA to root it and I only succeeded because of a helpful soul messaging me on Reddit of all places.

Seems like the only place one can find stuff supposed to live longer lives is in the expensive Enterprise section of manufacturers for a hefty premium - similar to "smart TVs" where the only "dumb TVs" available are "digital signage" type. And that's not good. We need regulation in this space, and fast.

Re: I want a computer that I own

#367

Post by XorNot »

bboygravity wrote: post #329
bayindirh wrote: post #313

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'll play the (intentional) Devil's Advocate here to present an alternative viewpoint. I like iOS, but not Android. Let me explain why. I personally love Linux, Unix philosophy (I'm even sometimes an old beardy zealot about POSIX standards and the old way ), and inherent customization possibilities. On the other hand, I don't want to manage my phone like a desktop or laptop computer, or a server because of a plethora…

> iOS takes all of these away. Complete backups are built-in (I know android has it, but I don't know how bulletproof is this) Not to burn you down, but to burn Android down: no, Android does not allow you to take complete backups. Let alone "built-in". The only backups that are made are forced to Google cloud and only backs-up apps that where downloaded through Google Play and app settings for Google stuff. It is an…

It is ongoingly stunning to me given all Google's BS that Android has no backup option which will get my apps, their data and the state of my home screen back exactly the way I left it if my phone is destroyed.

I run a custom honescreen: it's just another Android app! And yet everytime I have to set that back up again manually.

Re: I want a computer that I own

#368

Post by fsflover »

HideousKojima wrote: post #259
boring_twenties wrote: post #237

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Owning my computer is still relatively possible. Sorry to burst your bubble, https://libreboot.org/faq.html#intelme

https://puri.sm/learn/intel-me/ Purism was able to completely disable Intel's ME

Not completely, but to a large extent: https://puri.sm/learn/software-freedom-in-perspective/

Re: I want a computer that I own

#369

Post by rini17 »

Expensive? Depends on where you are looking. I am writing this from 10 year old 4-core AthlonII (pre-PSP) PC. These is surplus of these widely available for pennies. Will do everything I need except 4K video (might be solvable by GPU upgrade). I only regret I have not built Phenom system with ECC memory.

I am worried more about software. I'd like to have a compatible privacy-oriented browser with governance that puts quality and transparency first.

Re: I want a computer that I own

#370

Post by coldtea »

DaiPlusPlus wrote: post #336
bboygravity wrote: post #329

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> iOS takes all of these away. Complete backups are built-in (I know android has it, but I don't know how bulletproof is this) Not to burn you down, but to burn Android down: no, Android does not allow you to take complete backups. Let alone "built-in". The only backups that are made are forced to Google cloud and only backs-up apps that where downloaded through Google Play and app settings for Google stuff. It is an…

> Android does not allow you to take complete backups Can't you enable developer mode, open a terminal and just run `dd`?

Even if it id, is that an acceptable mechanism for users to take backups of their mobile phone?
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