I want a computer that I own • Hacker News Board

Re: I want a computer that I own

#601

Post by dhanvanthri » Tue, Mar 09, 2021, 5:50 PM UTC

My daily driver is a thinkpad X200 that I librebooted myself.

I kid you not when I say that I derive immense pleasure from using it. Apart from a few (equally freedom respecting) devices I find, I literally never feel like I'm wanting for anything.

I can't recommend it enough. I don't have the words.

Re: I want a computer that I own

#602

Post by chipotle_coyote » Tue, Mar 09, 2021, 5:54 PM UTC

unethical_ban wrote: post #549

coldtea wrote: post #447

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> That was supposed to be an honest question with an honest answer. There was no need for a snarky remark. Well, somewhat snarky. It's still a legimate question. Why would one "need" plugins on a mobile browser? What kind of functionality that mobile Firefox doesn't provide? > The topic is about owning your own hardware/software combo - so having addons/customization is the definition of it. Well, the topic is about…

Why would you want to block ads on your desktop browser but allow them on mobile?

There are ad blockers for Safari. There may be folks waiting to pounce with absolutely true complaints about how unsophisticated they are compared to what's possible in other browsers, but in practice they do a sufficient job.

Re: I want a computer that I own

#603

Post by [deleted] » Tue, Mar 09, 2021, 5:57 PM UTC

danogentili wrote: post #493

Razengan wrote: post #466

Earlier quoted context omitted.

All the Apple haters keep missing the point for why Apple users prefer “walled gardens”: They are fucking beautiful respites from all the crap outside their walls. Apple has refunded me without question whenever an app tried to scam me, no matter how big people popular it was, whereas apps using third-party payment systems almost never give any refunds.

Imagine actually using free and open-source apps from free and open source app stores&operating systems instead of buying an overpriced rehash of open source software.

[deleted]

Re: I want a computer that I own

#604

Post by ho_schi » Tue, Mar 09, 2021, 5:58 PM UTC

I understand the author. While I'm more suspicious about the hardware companies than the governments. But care about both. And look pure software companies, which try to sell you services instead of code, executable and support. When hardware- and software are integrated be extremely wary - usually you only get an appliance.

I try to follow these guidelines:

1.) Used and buy only general purpose computers, where you can swap hardware and operating-system. Or even better, firmware.

2.) Avoid Big Tech: Apple (literally all), Microsoft (Surface) and Google (Pixel)

3.) Laptops: Invest into vendors which allow all purpose computing or especiall Linux. Big ones are Lenovo and Dell, small ones are {System76, Purism, Tuxedo, ...}.

4.) Desktop: Built it yourself or order some from a shop which built it for you.

Actually the Pixel Phones are rather good. But Google is not better than Apple. Miracast is really complicated but good. Google? Disables Miracast in the Pixel phones and tries people to lure into Chromecast, which is inferior and requires practically always Internet. If you want send content two meters across the room you don't want Internet! And Pushmail? Only with GMAIL on Pixel. We are in 2021 and this phones don't provide Pushmail for IMAP servers which actually provide this feature. Even Apple is better there, and Apple also provides CalDAV and CardDAV. But Apples doesn't provide file system access nor allow you to use your devics as you want!

Lenovo and Dell improved their Linux support a lot in recent years - so I consider them pretty positive. But nothing is perfect.

PS: Probably I receive downvotes because saying negative things about Apple is not well received here. Silicon Valley Clique?

Re: I want a computer that I own

#605

Post by boring_twenties » Tue, Mar 09, 2021, 6:11 PM UTC

rouzh wrote: post #298

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

Happy to deflect your bursting! :) https://www.raptorcs.com/content/base/faq.html

Thanks!

Re: I want a computer that I own

#606

Post by kube-system » Tue, Mar 09, 2021, 6:15 PM UTC

colejohnson66 wrote: post #538

franga2000 wrote: post #503

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yep, that's the one. I've heard people referring to it as "the NSA bit" because it was supposedly implemented at the request/demand of the NSA.

If true, the irony of the NSA asking not for their hardware to (possibly) spy on them is rich.

What is ironic about it? All spy agencies, everywhere on the planet, do two things:

* spy on others

* try not to get spied on

Re: I want a computer that I own

#607

Post by antman » Tue, Mar 09, 2021, 6:19 PM UTC

chipotle_coyote wrote: post #599

antman wrote: post #546

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So yes you also need to install itunes to backup on your computer, because why directly mount it as a usb drive without an apple app? That would also need zero effort from apple, but I was talking about an online backup with since forever established protocols.

"I can't back it up completely" and "I can't back it up completely the way I want to " are two different arguments. It's fine if the second is the argument you actually want to make, just be clear you're making it.

I appears to me that my actual statement "backup to other servers" is clear enough.

Re: I want a computer that I own

#608

Post by boring_twenties » Tue, Mar 09, 2021, 6:19 PM UTC

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

No? Your link says nothing about "completely," you just made that up. What it does say is that they remove the "nonessential" bits, plus flip the HAP bit. You can do both of these things yourself with me_cleaner, but it's not good enough. Exploitable vulnerabilities have been found in the bits that cannot be removed.

edit: E.g. https://nitter.dark.fail/rootkovska/status/93845887552266649...

Re: I want a computer that I own

#609

Post by [deleted] » Tue, Mar 09, 2021, 6:22 PM UTC

kube-system wrote: post #606

colejohnson66 wrote: post #538

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If true, the irony of the NSA asking not for their hardware to (possibly) spy on them is rich.

What is ironic about it? All spy agencies, everywhere on the planet, do two things: * spy on others * try not to get spied on

[deleted]

Re: I want a computer that I own

#610

Post by shams93 » Tue, Mar 09, 2021, 6:22 PM UTC

sammorrowdrums wrote: post #346

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…

Well it is early days but Librem and System76 (and several others like Pine64) are making huge headway in the open hardware space. I know there have been lots of failures in this area but I think we are getting to a threshold point where building on top of these companies acheivements is quite possible. Linux on Mobile and open EC and Coreboot etc. are all making rapid progress at the moment. I would still say we are…

For me Lenovo have been in between the pure and wonderful but too expensive for me of System 76 and the Pinebook Pro which I own but is too slow and low end to use for my daily get stuff done machine, which instead is an ideapad 3 with ubuntu 20.04.