Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Ask HN: What Apple alternatives are you switching to?

news.ycombinator.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

41–50 of 493 posts

Re: Ask HN: What Apple alternatives are you switching to?

#41

Post by jstummbillig »

numair wrote: post #20

For those studying MacBook alternatives, I think the most underrated “serious” notebook computer in the world is the Panasonic Letsnote SX/SV. Matte screen that actually works outdoors, removable long-life battery, unassuming vintage design (“let’s not rob that guy, he can’t even afford a new computer”). I haven’t investigated the Linuxability of this thing yet, but it’s super-light and impressive as a mosh terminal…

> think the most underrated “serious” notebook computer in the world is the Panasonic Letsnote SX/SV.

Oh man, I kinda wish I felt different, but this thing gets a hard no just for its aesthetics. Notebooks are both way to omnipresent in my life and manifold to revisit something mid-90s. I do not want my home & life to feel like an old X-Files episode.

Re: Ask HN: What Apple alternatives are you switching to?

#42

Post by netsec_burn »

gjsman-1000 wrote: post #26

To be honest... None. It's a choice. You might wholly disagree, but recent events aren't enough to get me to switch yet, because I think the competition has too many tradeoffs. I can get my photos scanned against a CSAM database... or I can have Google tracking my location constantly regardless of what they say (as they've been proven to be misleading in the past)... or I can use a Linux phone and say goodbye to batt…

AOSP/FDroid would be a middle ground for your requirements, no?

Re: Ask HN: What Apple alternatives are you switching to?

#43

Post by ByteWelder »

gjsman-1000 wrote: post #26

To be honest... None. It's a choice. You might wholly disagree, but recent events aren't enough to get me to switch yet, because I think the competition has too many tradeoffs. I can get my photos scanned against a CSAM database... or I can have Google tracking my location constantly regardless of what they say (as they've been proven to be misleading in the past)... or I can use a Linux phone and say goodbye to batt…

There are plenty of Android flavours that don't have Google apps, like https://lineage.microg.org/ In my limited experience so far, LineageOS works much better than it used to on my HTC Desire. Battery life has been better than any of my iPhones (3G, 4S, 5S, 7 and XS) ever had.

That said, if I had to chose between a Google Android phone and an Apple phone, I'd still pick the Apple one. Luckily there are more choices these days.

Re: Ask HN: What Apple alternatives are you switching to?

#44

Post by gjsman-1000 »

netsec_burn wrote: post #42
gjsman-1000 wrote: post #26

To be honest... None. It's a choice. You might wholly disagree, but recent events aren't enough to get me to switch yet, because I think the competition has too many tradeoffs. I can get my photos scanned against a CSAM database... or I can have Google tracking my location constantly regardless of what they say (as they've been proven to be misleading in the past)... or I can use a Linux phone and say goodbye to batt…

AOSP/FDroid would be a middle ground for your requirements, no?

I've tried that too. But I work from home and not having the ability to use Banking apps on AOSP without a ton of patching and hacks that could fail anytime afterwards is an issue. Also the camera performance on AOSP is noticeably worse in my experience, and I'm not alone.

To make AOSP "usable" for my life, I need to install the Play Store. At which point I've already lost and would prefer an iPhone for my privacy.

Re: Ask HN: What Apple alternatives are you switching to?

#46

Post by ravenstine »

Is the CSAM an issue for macOS? That would be my only concern since I do not own an iPhone.

Honestly, as much as I go to extreme lengths to limit invasions of my privacy, short of going full Stallman, it would take a lot for me to chuck my M1 MacBook Air. I know people say they have a non-Apple laptop that is as good, but that has not been my experience. Every PC laptop I have owned has ended up being a pile of crap for one reason or another. Usually the hardware is flimsy, plastic gets warped and scratched, it gets slower over time, etc. I have never had such experiences with the Macbooks I have owned other than my keyboard giving out on my 2015 MBP a few months ago. This is coming from a former hardcore Linux user who used to look down on people with Macs.

(that said, I would love recommendations on comparable laptops for the day that may come where I ditch Apple)

I really hope that I can prevent or block CSAM on my current Macbook if it's being adopted on macOS.

Re: Ask HN: What Apple alternatives are you switching to?

#47

Post by numair »

przemub wrote: post #32
numair wrote: post #20

For those studying MacBook alternatives, I think the most underrated “serious” notebook computer in the world is the Panasonic Letsnote SX/SV. Matte screen that actually works outdoors, removable long-life battery, unassuming vintage design (“let’s not rob that guy, he can’t even afford a new computer”). I haven’t investigated the Linuxability of this thing yet, but it’s super-light and impressive as a mosh terminal…

Sounds awesome! I've had huge problems with some recent ThinkPads so it seems that it will be a choice between Panasonic and Fujitsu. Thanks for the recommendation.

It’s pretty much a staple item in Corporate Japan, which probably explains why Panasonic hasn’t offshored production as everyone else did.

I think it’d be great to see more overseas business pick up for these computers — it’s one of those classic bits of Japanese technology that looks hopelessly outdated until you use it, and then you hope it never changes. My label for such things is “In-N-Out Burger Technology,” for reasons that should be obvious to my fellow Californians...

Re: Ask HN: What Apple alternatives are you switching to?

#49

Post by rootusrootus »

None. I am hoping that someone attacks me with a few dozen grayscale perceptual hash collisions so I can save them on my device, to iCloud, and hope it slips by Apple's checkers. And NCMEC's checkers, etc. Because I too want to retire as a king, and losing a few friends who can't really wrap their heads around a gray image attack ... well, no biggy, I'm kind of a loner to begin with.
Post reply on HN