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> The treadmill is powered by "intellectual property". Abolish "owning" ideas, and you abolish the treadmill. How so?

• account42 3y ago
  A lot of devices become obsolete by no longer receiving security and compatibilty updates long before the hardware is unusable.
  • Zambyte 3y ago
    Exactly. If a single company could not be granted an artificial monopoly over upgrading and repairing a system due to "intellectual property" laws, no company could decide when a device has become EOL. If anyone could maintain a system, anyone would maintain a system.
    • idle_zealot 3y ago
      I'm not sure Chromebooks are the best example of this issue. Last I checked you can install normal Linux on one.
      • RuggedPineapple 3y ago
        With some caveats. I've run used chromebooks as my only laptop for about 5 or 6 years now. You have to undo write protection (usually a screw on the motherboard) and flash an aftermarket firmware.
      • thefurdrake 3y ago
        Does normal linux provide firmware updates for chromebook-specific hardware?
      • Zambyte 3y ago
        I never said they were the best example. Nor was that really the sentiment of the comment I originally replied to, or my reply to it.