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You’re right, OS subscription isn’t a bad idea. It’s a horrific, intrinsically anti-user idea that should be loudly and aggressively smothered every time it re

You’re right, OS subscription isn’t a bad idea. It’s a horrific, intrinsically anti-user idea that should be loudly and aggressively smothered every time it rears its ugly head. There is no version of reality where OS-as-a-service does not become a n irreversible hostage situation, leaving users at the mercy of “line go up” corporate self-enrichment. We’re practically there already. Look at the trajectory of IoT products. Even if you pay extra for a product that is sold as no-subscription - like the PHILIPS Hue line for example - one day you will inevitably discover the hardware that you already paid for is being held hostage until you accept the new Terms of Service and pay a subscription fee. This isn’t hyperbole - it has already happened dozens, even hundreds of times. OS-aaS is a cute idea for a world where the free market is working correctly, bolstered by strong consumer protections and effective enforcement of regulations. There must be a line.

GuB-42 3y ago
The situation in mobile is already worse than an OS subscription. Imagine if I get screwed by Microsoft. I can always install Linux or some other OS on my PC. With mobile, even if I don't pay monthly for the OS, after a few years, the OEM discontinues support and the only option if some hacker didn't build a custom ROM for my specific device is to buy a new device or see my system slowly break down as apps drop support, and that's without considering security. So we are already being "taken hostage" without an explicit subscription, and in a way that encourages throwing away perfectly good hardware and produce e-waste. The locked down hardware is the real big problem. A paid OS subscription on an open hardware platform is bad, but a "free" OS on a closed platform is worse, because while you are hostage in both situations, in the former, you still have usable hardware. IIRC Philips Hue supports zigbee, so you are not completely hostage. With an open zigbee controller, you still have working light bulbs, you can stop using Philips subscription software. Inconvenient, but you don't have to throw away your lightbulbs.

GuB-42 3y ago

The situation in mobile is already worse than an OS subscription. Imagine if I get screwed by Microsoft. I can always install Linux or some other OS on my PC. With mobile, even if I don't pay monthly for the OS, after a few years, the OEM discontinues support and the only option if some hacker didn't build a custom ROM for my specific device is to buy a new device or see my system slowly break down as apps drop support, and that's without considering security. So we are already being "taken hostage" without an explicit subscription, and in a way that encourages throwing away perfectly good hardware and produce e-waste. The locked down hardware is the real big problem. A paid OS subscription on an open hardware platform is bad, but a "free" OS on a closed platform is worse, because while you are hostage in both situations, in the former, you still have usable hardware. IIRC Philips Hue supports zigbee, so you are not completely hostage. With an open zigbee controller, you still have working light bulbs, you can stop using Philips subscription software. Inconvenient, but you don't have to throw away your lightbulbs.