As someone that started with 8 and 16 bit computers, I am fine with single purpose computers.
Instead of giving money to Microsoft or Apple, support OEMs producing hardware with Linux pre-installed like Tuxedo and System 76.
Instead of giving money to Microsoft or Apple, support OEMs producing hardware with Linux pre-installed like Tuxedo and System 76.
Want to switch default browser? Adding yet one more step to stop you.
Want to boot other operating system? Now you have to go to UEFI setup and change boot settings.
etc.
PC only got out of control, because Compaq was clever on their reverse engineering process, and IBM failed to uphold their ownership.
At this point, the simplest explanation is malice.
WSL focus on Linux, because the Linux kernel ABI is the new POSIX.
However, what makes sense for Microsoft may not be in our best interest.
I tried not giving money to apple, but it was money wasted tbh. Like seriously, $2k for a barely useable laptop.
This is manifestly not the case. Perhaps in the very early days but not in the last several years.
Although Clevo can sell their own version of the hardware, it is not really the same[2]
[0] Based on my experience. I ordered a laptop a long time ago and they explained they were working with Clevo to get the firmware fixed so that suspending worked reliably. This is before the OpenBoot + EC stuff came about.
[1] https://support.system76.com/articles/open-firmware-systems/
[2] https://twitter.com/jeremy_soller/status/1322954964549824512
[3] Clevo is System76's ODM. Most OEMs (e.g. Dell, HP) work with ODMs to put together the final product the OEM then offers. I posted the public Dell ODM list in another thread. System76 wanted to bring laptops in-house; I don't know the status on that. But System76 and Clevo work together to offer the final laptop based in a Clevo base[4]. And now (like, in the last 4 years) System76 started also adding open source firmware in some places.
[4] https://twitter.com/jeremy_soller/status/1322960532303872000
I'm also okay with single-purpose computers. Like the computer in the thermostat that controls the boiler, or the timer for the sprinklers. An OS-locked computer is still a general-purpose device, and describing it as "single purpose" muddies the waters.
> Instead of giving money to Microsoft or Apple, support OEMs producing hardware with Linux pre-installed like Tuxedo and System 76.
Why is this an "XOR" instead of "AND"? I prefer purchasing from OEMs that provide pre-installed Linux, AND I find it morally repugnant when manufacturers assert ownership over a device after having sold it.
No one should complain about regressing 30 or 40 years?