3 ms·
Here's my take. When I was a kid, yes I had the Apple II, I had HeathKit radio kits, etc. And yes we now have iPhone, iPad, etc. But folks those all have SDK's.
by mkramlich 17y ago
Here's my take. When I was a kid, yes I had the Apple II, I had HeathKit radio kits, etc. And yes we now have iPhone, iPad, etc. But folks those all have SDK's. And Linux exists now. Arduino. Mindstorms. Roomba. All kinds of electronic and computer kits for experimentation. Make magazine. Mainstream bookstores now actually have lots of geeky computer magazines and books on the shelves. And the Internet: tons of free software and documentation, all at your fingertips -- all of this quite unlike the 70's/early-80's.
So no, I don't think somehow the iPad is part of some new Dark Age. If anything, we live in a Golden Age for hackers. More so now than back then, taking into account what I cited above.
- lazugod 17y agoThe iPhone and iPad are not the machines that ship with an SDK, though. That lies entirely on the Mac. And yeah, the Mac is definitely part of the hacker's Golden Age.
- mkramlich 17y agoGood point. About Mac, agreed, especially software-wise. Hardware-wise, it may not be as hackable as the Apple II was, but it comes with way more powerful and interesting and useful software.
- deleted 17y ago[deleted]
- dagobart 17y agoI read another piece on the iPad yesterday on a prominent German newspaper. I'm in line with you. My opinion yesterday was that the paper could be a little biased or in hope to get their market share back. A masses-loved closed device might be ideal for that.