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> unless users' freedom to own their devices is taken away This is a really easy problem to fix though, we are already quickly moving in that direction. Every

> unless users' freedom to own their devices is taken away This is a really easy problem to fix though, we are already quickly moving in that direction. Every big provider is moving towards more and more hardware and software lockins, and since everyone is doing it slowly consumers aren't reacting. I'd be surprised if general purpose computers aren't seen as a niche market in 20 years and illegal in many parts of the world in 40 years. Here is roughly how it will happen: As more people are locked in general purpose computing will get an increasing density of bad actors. Big tech will publish studies showing that almost all viruses, malware, scams, child porn etc comes from general purpose devices, and therefore push for regulations to ensure everyone uses a locked down device. Anyone who argues against that will be attacked with arguments such as "Are you really going to prioritize your hobby at the expense of children getting sexually abused? There is no need for anyone but criminals to own a general purpose computer!".

ehnto 5y ago
There is an enormous amount of software being written every day, much of it outside of silicon valley, much of it outside America, there are far more forces at work here than the SV tech monopolies and while I absolutely find the picture you're painting to be believable I feel (hope) it might not survive reality. It requires the big powers to work together, and for every other actor to not contest it, for governments to accept and endorse the monopolies, and we're already seeing some fighting back in those fronts. I imagine the monopolistic orchestration will pull itself apart long before general purpose computing dies. I suspect we'll see much ado about all of this in court at some point, it will be sad to even get to that point, but even if the consumers are happy campers I really doubt other businesses, and other stakeholders (nations included), will be.

ehnto 5y ago

There is an enormous amount of software being written every day, much of it outside of silicon valley, much of it outside America, there are far more forces at work here than the SV tech monopolies and while I absolutely find the picture you're painting to be believable I feel (hope) it might not survive reality. It requires the big powers to work together, and for every other actor to not contest it, for governments to accept and endorse the monopolies, and we're already seeing some fighting back in those fronts. I imagine the monopolistic orchestration will pull itself apart long before general purpose computing dies. I suspect we'll see much ado about all of this in court at some point, it will be sad to even get to that point, but even if the consumers are happy campers I really doubt other businesses, and other stakeholders (nations included), will be.