5 ms·

I already boycott all Apple products, after using only Macs for years. Google doesn't seem to do any rent-seeking (as MS) nor does it try to lock down its plat

I already boycott all Apple products, after using only Macs for years. Google doesn't seem to do any rent-seeking (as MS) nor does it try to lock down its platform to prevent any competition whatsoever (as Apple). FRAND is a shitty situation, but I think it's fair to claim even with that, Google is a much less threat to freedom than Apple or MS. Just don't count on them to provide privacy as well. I'm hoping for Mozilla to become a major player in phones; they seem fairly dedicated to both freedom and privacy.

r00fus 13y ago
> Google doesn't seem to do any rent-seeking (as MS) nor does it try to lock down its platform to prevent any competition whatsoever (as Apple). FRAND is a shitty situation, but I think it's fair to claim even with that, Google is a much less threat to freedom than Apple or MS. I take it you don't advertise with Google? Google is just like any other company - they want to increase margins on their main revenue streams, and commoditize other areas so other large companies that gain revenue in those spaces are so weak they can't challenge Google. For a long time, Google was not rent-seeking on their advertising platform, and gained a lot of cred. Then they bought double-click and it's been downhill from there. Google knows they're the biggest/only game in town and their prices (on their main revenue stream) reflect it.
lake99 13y ago
> Just don't count on them to provide privacy as well. On the bright side, Google won't go thermonuclear on you if you choose a Google-free mod. The Cyanogenmod guys conveniently provide instructions to install "google packs" if you choose to do so. I will not do business with companies that are into thermonuclear war. The first and last Apple product I used was an iPod, years ago. Having to convert my music and videos to specific formats made the iPod lose its luster.

r00fus 13y ago

> Google doesn't seem to do any rent-seeking (as MS) nor does it try to lock down its platform to prevent any competition whatsoever (as Apple). FRAND is a shitty situation, but I think it's fair to claim even with that, Google is a much less threat to freedom than Apple or MS. I take it you don't advertise with Google? Google is just like any other company - they want to increase margins on their main revenue streams, and commoditize other areas so other large companies that gain revenue in those spaces are so weak they can't challenge Google. For a long time, Google was not rent-seeking on their advertising platform, and gained a lot of cred. Then they bought double-click and it's been downhill from there. Google knows they're the biggest/only game in town and their prices (on their main revenue stream) reflect it.

lake99 13y ago

> Just don't count on them to provide privacy as well. On the bright side, Google won't go thermonuclear on you if you choose a Google-free mod. The Cyanogenmod guys conveniently provide instructions to install "google packs" if you choose to do so. I will not do business with companies that are into thermonuclear war. The first and last Apple product I used was an iPod, years ago. Having to convert my music and videos to specific formats made the iPod lose its luster.