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I absolutely have an expectation of being able to run arbitrary code on my devices! This is what a general purpose computer is. If not, how should developers (

I absolutely have an expectation of being able to run arbitrary code on my devices! This is what a general purpose computer is. If not, how should developers (and hackers) work on stuff then? How should the curious budding programmer get inspired to create? Moreover, how should the motivated user fix a problem they found that the developers didn't consider? Are they beholden to the powers that be? Should they be? General purpose computers sparked a revolution of ideas, products, and productivity; now you'd take that away from us! Why?!

wilg 7y ago
Making devices that are not general purpose computers does not take away general purpose computers.
- Andrew_nenakhov 7y ago
  When people start marketing iPads as replacements for notebook PCs, some users are expecting it to be able to do what they could do on their Mac OS or Linux machines.
  - scarface74 7y ago
    So whose fault is that - the users or Apple?
    - nixpulvis 7y ago
      Clearly Apple's for trying to sell us on this new vision for computing, which is just plain worse. Sorry.
      - scarface74 7y ago
        So people who are suppose to be good with computers aren’t intelligent enough to know how the iOS platform - that’s been out for 13 years - works?
        nixpulvis 7y ago
        You're losing me in this line of reasoning... I know quite well how iOS works. The issue is, to make good software, you need users. If everyone is using iOS, there's no $/time/energy left for the others. To make progress with technology we can't be held hostage by our platforms, as Apple would have things. This is about having both the developers and the users put on the same playing field, and moving forward. Not backwards, like we've been going for years now. Sure there's been some steps in good directions, but ask yourself honestly if technology is truly working for you? Or are you working for technology?
        scarface74 7y ago
        If “everyone” is using iOS - which empirically not true and never will be at the prices Apple charges - have you ever thought that their priorities may be different than yours? Have you ever thought that iOS users not having to deal with the cruft of modern computing operating systems and the insecurities is progress for them? I only hear geeks complaining about the “walled garden”. Most people want something that just works.
        nixpulvis 7y ago
        Right, and last I checked my step dad has just as much trouble with his iPad as with with late Windows computer. He doesn't do a lot with computers. And I'd fathom a guess, it's not just nerds complaining... just look at the music industry, or the news paywalls, but I digress. Everyone's got an opinion, and they all stink, you know. At least with the general approach, you can swap out opinions at will. </rant>
        scarface74 7y ago
        Has your step dad had to worry about viruses, malware, adware, and ransomware on his iPad? Has he had to worry about popular video conferencing software installing a web server in the background that reinstalls itself every time you uninstall it (Zoom)? The “music industry” isn’t complaining about Apple. iTunes and now Apple Music gives more money back to artists than its competitors. What do news paywalls have to do with Apple? As far as revenue, the App Store generates more revenue than the more “open” Play Store even though Apple has less than a fifth of the market share.

wilg 7y ago

Making devices that are not general purpose computers does not take away general purpose computers.

Andrew_nenakhov 7y ago
When people start marketing iPads as replacements for notebook PCs, some users are expecting it to be able to do what they could do on their Mac OS or Linux machines.
- scarface74 7y ago
  So whose fault is that - the users or Apple?
  - nixpulvis 7y ago
    Clearly Apple's for trying to sell us on this new vision for computing, which is just plain worse. Sorry.
    - scarface74 7y ago
      So people who are suppose to be good with computers aren’t intelligent enough to know how the iOS platform - that’s been out for 13 years - works?
      - nixpulvis 7y ago
        You're losing me in this line of reasoning... I know quite well how iOS works. The issue is, to make good software, you need users. If everyone is using iOS, there's no $/time/energy left for the others. To make progress with technology we can't be held hostage by our platforms, as Apple would have things. This is about having both the developers and the users put on the same playing field, and moving forward. Not backwards, like we've been going for years now. Sure there's been some steps in good directions, but ask yourself honestly if technology is truly working for you? Or are you working for technology?
        scarface74 7y ago
        If “everyone” is using iOS - which empirically not true and never will be at the prices Apple charges - have you ever thought that their priorities may be different than yours? Have you ever thought that iOS users not having to deal with the cruft of modern computing operating systems and the insecurities is progress for them? I only hear geeks complaining about the “walled garden”. Most people want something that just works.
        nixpulvis 7y ago
        Right, and last I checked my step dad has just as much trouble with his iPad as with with late Windows computer. He doesn't do a lot with computers. And I'd fathom a guess, it's not just nerds complaining... just look at the music industry, or the news paywalls, but I digress. Everyone's got an opinion, and they all stink, you know. At least with the general approach, you can swap out opinions at will. </rant>
        scarface74 7y ago
        Has your step dad had to worry about viruses, malware, adware, and ransomware on his iPad? Has he had to worry about popular video conferencing software installing a web server in the background that reinstalls itself every time you uninstall it (Zoom)? The “music industry” isn’t complaining about Apple. iTunes and now Apple Music gives more money back to artists than its competitors. What do news paywalls have to do with Apple? As far as revenue, the App Store generates more revenue than the more “open” Play Store even though Apple has less than a fifth of the market share.