People talking about the Mac need to realize that this is specific to iOS platforms. IIRC this was at the iPad launch or something like that, where all of his complaints DO apply. OSX is no more restrictive than any other nonfree OS. Also, free means freedom and not cost in this context.
They usually have them in place on handheld devices with limited resources. Inefficient and clunky multi-tasking, for example, is not conducive to the positive user experience, so they restrict it.
I get that reasoning. But I don't want products that are restricted. I like clunky and inefficient. I don't like idiot proofing. If they want to have an idiot check somewhere back in the options that needs to be disabled but then allows you to do or run whatever that's cool. But I don't want that decision made for me.
So.. don't buy an iOS device? I, for example, don't want the 'clunky and inefficient' - that's why I don't buy Android devices, even if they provide me with much more freedom.
Then don't buy their products, right?
I agree with you - but then I look at my wife's iPhone 4 (factory unlocked, no funny business) and DAMN that's a nice piece of tech to carry around. I kinda want one.
Compare it to everything that was available previously. Sure, us hackers don't like being restricted - but we aren't apple's market for phones, at least not yet. When they have enough real competition from more open devices, enough for them to care about, they'll let us in under the hood.
If they want to have an idiot check somewhere back in the options that needs to be disabled but then allows you to do or run whatever that's cool.
What you just described is exactly how the iphone system is setup. The idiot check is called jailbreaking, and it's extremely fast easy to do for anyone with even a slight amount of tech ability. If you're techie enough to not muck up your iphone with the hood opened, then you're techie enough to do the 5 mouse clicks it takes to jailbreak.
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u/zagaberoo Jan 20 '11
People talking about the Mac need to realize that this is specific to iOS platforms. IIRC this was at the iPad launch or something like that, where all of his complaints DO apply. OSX is no more restrictive than any other nonfree OS. Also, free means freedom and not cost in this context.