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> Well, you could say one definition is that a general purpose computing device is a tool that lets you run what you want in whichever way you want to install i
by hnick 6y ago
> Well, you could say one definition is that a general purpose computing device is a tool that lets you run what you want in whichever way you want to install it (sort of, of course one could nitpick exceptions).
It does seem a bit tautological. A vendor can restrict access then simply argue this is not a general purpose computing device because look, you can't run the things we don't let you run.
- the_af 6y agoIt seems tautological but if you think about it, it's what it actually means. A general purpose computing device is a device that can be used for any computing. If you restrict it, it ceases to be general purpose. If you turn it into a locked-up appliance, like a Playstation, it's not general-purpose anymore. General-purpose is when you can install whatever software will run in that architecture, unimpeded.
- hnick 6y agoI don't necessarily disagree, but does that imply that whether or not something is a general purpose computer is reliant on the current software status of the machine rather than the hardware? You can crack some smartphones or install Linux on older Playstations. Tautological was in reference to the argument about whether or not we should be able to install things if an iPhone is a general purpose device. If that status relies on what software lets us do, then the answer is always going to be no, because if they don't let us then we aren't allowed to.
- the_af 6y agoAh, now I see what you mean. Good question. I'd say the hardware within is general purpose, but the overall "product" isn't because it has been artificially constrained.