[amelius]

When do people realize that an iPhone is not a general purpose computer and was never intended to be one?

[CameronNemo]

I think iphone owners on here understand what apple intends for their devices, but simply like the alternatives less. So they try and hack around the restrictions placed on their iphones.

[smoldesu]

Because the iPhone is capable of being a general purpose computer, and the only one stopping it from being one so far is Apple.

[bitwize]

General purpose computers, as we understand them, are a niche market and potentially quite harmful in untrained hands. Apple is targeting the mainstream consumer. They still sell GPCs though, under the Mac brand.

[joshspankit]

Even more harmful: smaller and smaller numbers of people who actually understand how computers work.

[smoldesu]

Apple is welcome to build the "mainstream computer", but they should do so with respect to the protocols and open-source space around them. If they continue their oppressive approach to hardware and software development, they'll have a hard time defending themselves when people accuse them of a monopoly.

[kmeisthax]

When Apple marketing stops saying otherwise.

[nabla9]

Computer appliance, a computing device with a specific function and limited configuration ability.

[marcellus23]

Have you considered that your idea of a general purpose computer might just be different than pretty much everyone else?