Comment by baddox | Hacker News Reader

Comment by baddox | Hacker News Reader

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> Because it's the part that people should own after they bought it.

Why? Is that just an arbitrary principle? Why should "hardware" be something we have absolute control over, but "software" is not?

> You can play Fortnite without buying anything on the Epic store.

You can use an iPhone without using the App Store. But in both cases, it's probably just not as good of an experience.

> You can't use an iPhone without being forced by Apple to use the device the way they want.

That seems like some rhetorical gymnastics that could be applied to any product or service. You can't use cheating software in Fortnite either (or at least they presumably have measures in place to prevent it).

> Of course it would!

Okay, then you're consistent. I'll give you that. Presumably you think courts should require manufacturers of literally all electronic devices to provide an easy way for owners to run any software they want?

> Why? Is that just an arbitrary principle? Why should "hardware" be something we have absolute control over, but "software" is not?

I don't disagree with the general sentiment but

1) hardware is your property, you buy it and you should be able to use it the way you want. Also it's harder to replace it, you can easily change the gas station, it's harder to change a car.

2) the problem with Apple (but also Google Play store in many ways) is that you buy hardware capable of doing something that the software doesn't permit. Not because it's not capable of doing it, but because the manufacturer don't want you to use it that way.

But in the general you're right, I'm a big advocate of free software, and I've been since the middle 90s, because I think you should have total control over it. Including changing the parts that don't fit your needs.

I'm also in favour of using cheats if you want to, but in a tournament things have to be fair and that's where I think you shouldn't use them, in the same way I think doping at the Olympic games should not be allowed.

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