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https://twitter.com/paulg/status/1387065619011543040 https://twitter.com/paulg/status/1387065619011543040 >Usually when people talk about grand things like cha

https://twitter.com/paulg/status/1387065619011543040 https://twitter.com/paulg/status/1387065619011543040 >Usually when people talk about grand things like changing "the future (business model) of computing," they're full of it. But not this time. Suhail has been working on this for 2 years. There's a good chance it's the new default infrastructure. What is missing is 'business model' in parenthesis. Then maybe it makes some sense. This kind of managed service is definitely not for me, but it may be the future (business model) of computing. Ultimately we get the technology we 'deserve'. General purpose computing was a short lived experiment but ultimately nerds could not convince or train enough lay people to appreciate the power it gave them. We're slowly sliding into a future where large corporations control basic access to computing. We're going to have to beg to be given permission to program our own devices. Its already happening on smartphones, tablets. PCs are next.

andiareso 6y ago
This. It honestly makes me so sad. It feels the vast majority (non-tech) of people just don't understand how important it is to be able to create and have control of the things you "own". Damn it's going to suck if everyone goes the way of Apple and starts to lock things down. I really hope these anti-trust suits open things back up. Whatever happened to the "Think Different" campaign in where it literally portrayed us being slaves to corporations forcing us to consume the way they wanted us to. Damn. Just so crazy. IDK why this post is putting it all in perspective, but the next decade is going to do some miles on me... It feels like we are slowly losing power. Very slowly.
- machello13 6y ago
  Eh, if it makes you feel better it's probably not going to happen. PCs and Macs won't become any less tinkerable. Gatekeeper can be turned off with a single terminal command, iPhones and iPads are becoming more tinkerable, not less. Shortcuts basically exposes a visual scripting and automation language. It's really not doom and gloom.
  - slimsag 6y ago
    iPhones and iPads are becoming more tinkerable because Apple aims to ultimately merge MacOS and iOS in my opinion. Once that happens, there will be more security and a more unified platform to develop on - no doubt - but I will be shocked if they do not also take the opportunity to lock down what software you can develop, publish, and run on Macs over time.
1vuio0pswjnm7 6y ago
Sales of development boards will continue to anyone who wants to buy, including lay people. No one is going to be prevented from "building their own PC". A majority of "nerds" in recent times have had a proclivity to take jobs with companies that seek to "control basic access to computing." I am skeptical that they are seriously trying to convince or train "lay people" to avoid their employers. More like the other way around. If these "business models" fail, nerds lose their jobs.
- Bancakes 6y ago
  I don't see any apple M1 dev boards.
  - 1vuio0pswjnm7 6y ago
    Assuming this comment is from a "nerd", this illustrates exactly the point I am making. Trying to "convince or train lay people" to admire companies that allgegedly seek to control "basic access to computing". Apple computers are pre-built, they are not DIY PCs.
  - g_p 6y ago
    M1 devices actually have quite an interesting boot security model, so you can install a custom kernel and OS and boot it, without compromising the security of the platform for normal users that have never heard of an operating system. While a dev board would be cool, a Mac mini with the hardware UART enabled over a USB C cable is getting pretty close! Trade offs like these arguably could help to keep general purpose computing alive, as they show it is possible to deliver a secure device to customers that can be used however you like, running whatever software you like, without iOS style "no choice available".
  - PragmaticPulp 6y ago
    M1 laptops are general purpose computers already. You can also install an open OS. Dev boards aren't necessary when an entire functioning laptop only costs $999. An M1 dev board be would way, way more expensive than that and far less functional.
  - 6y ago
imwillofficial 6y ago
Just in time for a dystopian cyberpunk future baby! I for one have already started work on my nifty “cyber deck”
ljm 6y ago
I've joked once or twice before (over the past few years) that we're coming back, full-circle, to mainframe-style infrastructure with dumb terminals. Subscription services (even for software on previously steady release cycles), serverless infra, cloud computing, etc... the overall business model is shifting back to buying compute time to perform a certain task, or these startups essentially re-selling general purpose compute time as marked-up specific purpose compute time. With some UI slathered on top to make it look sexy.
- gogopuppygogo 6y ago
  If quantum computing lives up to its hype the transition will be incredible.
  - stephc_int13 6y ago
    No, quantum computers are not really general purpose computers...
- icey 6y ago
  It seems like computing has oscillated between thick and thin clients since the beginning.

andiareso 6y ago

This. It honestly makes me so sad. It feels the vast majority (non-tech) of people just don't understand how important it is to be able to create and have control of the things you "own". Damn it's going to suck if everyone goes the way of Apple and starts to lock things down. I really hope these anti-trust suits open things back up. Whatever happened to the "Think Different" campaign in where it literally portrayed us being slaves to corporations forcing us to consume the way they wanted us to. Damn. Just so crazy. IDK why this post is putting it all in perspective, but the next decade is going to do some miles on me... It feels like we are slowly losing power. Very slowly.

machello13 6y ago
Eh, if it makes you feel better it's probably not going to happen. PCs and Macs won't become any less tinkerable. Gatekeeper can be turned off with a single terminal command, iPhones and iPads are becoming more tinkerable, not less. Shortcuts basically exposes a visual scripting and automation language. It's really not doom and gloom.
- slimsag 6y ago
  iPhones and iPads are becoming more tinkerable because Apple aims to ultimately merge MacOS and iOS in my opinion. Once that happens, there will be more security and a more unified platform to develop on - no doubt - but I will be shocked if they do not also take the opportunity to lock down what software you can develop, publish, and run on Macs over time.

1vuio0pswjnm7 6y ago

Sales of development boards will continue to anyone who wants to buy, including lay people. No one is going to be prevented from "building their own PC". A majority of "nerds" in recent times have had a proclivity to take jobs with companies that seek to "control basic access to computing." I am skeptical that they are seriously trying to convince or train "lay people" to avoid their employers. More like the other way around. If these "business models" fail, nerds lose their jobs.

Bancakes 6y ago
I don't see any apple M1 dev boards.
- 1vuio0pswjnm7 6y ago
  Assuming this comment is from a "nerd", this illustrates exactly the point I am making. Trying to "convince or train lay people" to admire companies that allgegedly seek to control "basic access to computing". Apple computers are pre-built, they are not DIY PCs.
- g_p 6y ago
  M1 devices actually have quite an interesting boot security model, so you can install a custom kernel and OS and boot it, without compromising the security of the platform for normal users that have never heard of an operating system. While a dev board would be cool, a Mac mini with the hardware UART enabled over a USB C cable is getting pretty close! Trade offs like these arguably could help to keep general purpose computing alive, as they show it is possible to deliver a secure device to customers that can be used however you like, running whatever software you like, without iOS style "no choice available".
- PragmaticPulp 6y ago
  M1 laptops are general purpose computers already. You can also install an open OS. Dev boards aren't necessary when an entire functioning laptop only costs $999. An M1 dev board be would way, way more expensive than that and far less functional.
- 6y ago

imwillofficial 6y ago

Just in time for a dystopian cyberpunk future baby! I for one have already started work on my nifty “cyber deck”

ljm 6y ago

I've joked once or twice before (over the past few years) that we're coming back, full-circle, to mainframe-style infrastructure with dumb terminals. Subscription services (even for software on previously steady release cycles), serverless infra, cloud computing, etc... the overall business model is shifting back to buying compute time to perform a certain task, or these startups essentially re-selling general purpose compute time as marked-up specific purpose compute time. With some UI slathered on top to make it look sexy.

gogopuppygogo 6y ago
If quantum computing lives up to its hype the transition will be incredible.
- stephc_int13 6y ago
  No, quantum computers are not really general purpose computers...
icey 6y ago
It seems like computing has oscillated between thick and thin clients since the beginning.