Hacker News new | ask | show | jobs
by DarkWiiPlayer 2058 days ago
> Computers, especially those with massive market share, should be open to 3rd party installs.

Why? If you don't like it, don't buy their product. I think iPhone is shit because of this, and other tactics to lock the user in, so I don't use it and wouldn't recommend it to anybody.
2 comments
mhh__ 2058 days ago
I think relying on perfect information from the consumer is a little naive?

It's easy to (say) find the phone with the best camera, but you never know you need freedom until it's too late.

link
DarkWiiPlayer 2057 days ago
There are mechanisms to inform the user of this. Tech magazines etc. should be the ones responsible for informing the user that they are being locked in, even if the HW is good.

But in reality, most people know. It's just that they tell themselves they won't ever want to do a thing until they kinda do and at that point they just bought the wrong product for that purpose.

link
mavhc 2058 days ago
Maybe iOS devices should come with a big warning label like cigarettes:

Warning: Apple solely controls what apps you can run on this device

link
DarkWiiPlayer 2057 days ago
The problem is: Installing software on a phone hasn't ever been "normal" before a few years ago, and since then, it has never really been about installing any random program like it is on PC.

We're right in the middle of shift of perspective where smart-phones stop being just cellphones with some extra features but actually peoples main access to general computing.

But to many they still are just "phones", and tech companies are taking advantage of this situation to shape the mentality around them in a different way than with desktop computing. This is their right, although it's obviously evil.

It's the media (tech magazines, youtube channels, etc.) that should be clearing up these misconceptions, but the sad reality is, people don't care. If I try explaining to a non-IT friend why installing any random software is essential, they look at me like I'm wearing a tin foil hat. People don't understand how quickly computation is turning into an important aspect of freedom.

link
alexvoda 2058 days ago
I find that to be a fair proposal.
link