Image description:

Shopping for a laptop as a Linux user:

Screenshot from the Simpsons where Otto is talking to Marge and Homer standing next to a window in their house with a caption “Oh wow, windows!.. I don’t think I can afford this place.”

  • Rikj000@discuss.tchncs.de
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    7 months ago

    I hate that nowadays everything comes with pre-installed spyware and that they charge you for it makes it even worse…

    • Want a TV? Suck on our Android TV with Google spyware embedded
    • Want a phone? Get our Android with Google spyware, or go for an Apple with Apple spyware
    • Want a computer? We’ll shove Windows spyware down your throat

    Ffs I just want devices that I own to not spy on me, and I can’t even buy them anymore…

    Each of them require flashing a custom privacy respecting OS onto it,
    and that’s a real problem…

    • Samsy@lemmy.ml
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      7 months ago

      Nice list, I would add routers (not everywhere). But for example here in Germany you get a device from your ISP for free but don’t try to change the DNS settings because your ISP wants to know what you are doing online.

      Only alternative is a fritzbox which is highly overpriced for a simple router+modem. >200€ for a cablerouter.

      I had to buy a used fritzbox, need to nearly hacked them for activating the deactivated bridge-mode and put a cheap Asus router on it with flashed openwrt.

      I needed 6 months for the whole setup.

      • HappyRedditRefugee@lemm.ee
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        7 months ago

        Unless you are using DoH or DoT it does not matter which DNS server you have configured on the modem/router, DNS requests are sent as plain text so your ISP can still see them and will know which sites you are seeing.

        OpenWRT with DoH or DoT bypasses that problem, alternatively a VPN with custom DNS. Also a Pihole or Adguard instance never hurt. But at the end of the day someome owns those DNS servers and will likely log your use.

    • AngryCommieKender@lemmy.world
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      7 months ago

      I build computers and sell them, and will put whatever OS you want on them, except Windows. If you want windows, I take $150 off the price of the tower.

      • Rikj000@discuss.tchncs.de
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        7 months ago

        I’m a developer, modder and privacy advocate, I know how to put a custom OS on my hardware, but I’m a minority.

        However the average joe does not,
        and they, the majority,
        are forced into using spyware.

        Often without them even knowing so,
        which is a true issue

    • anon5621@lemmy.ml
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      7 months ago

      Unfortunately it’s concept which were in the past.Nowdays u are not owning ur device,you are actually just renting it. Unless new laws are passed that will prohibit such a business model.

      • Rikj000@discuss.tchncs.de
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        7 months ago

        I do own my devices.

        Companies want you to not own the devices, and rent them through a subscription model,
        however I refuse to do that.

        If you do that / fall for that,
        then you’re part of the problem making such a future a reality…

    • captainlezbian@lemmy.world
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      7 months ago

      The tv thing is the most insane. Like I grew up used to knowing phones are all tapped and computers too. But I pay to not have ads on tv but my tv itself has ads. And I can run a Linux computer and we’re getting somewhere with spyware and ad free phones even if it’s not yet where I need to switch, but tv, fucking hell

      • Baku@aussie.zone
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        7 months ago

        It’s not even the spyware or ads that piss me off the most about “smart” TVs, it’s how they always seem to lag to fucking shit. I’ve mostly used lower end ones, but even a few mid range ones I’ve used are still laggy pieces of shit that obviously have the cheapest components imaginable. Which for a normal tv is fine, expected even! But on a “smart” tv where to do anything at all you have to dig through their shitty, counter intuitive “smart” menu, it just sucks.

        And then you want to watch some normal tv after a long day and the fuckin thing won’t let you because it demands it installs an update, which thanks to those cheap components, takes far longer than it should

    • Clent@lemmy.world
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      7 months ago

      Apple spyware? Cute that you make shit up to justify your victimhood. The vendors that install actual spyware appreciate your ignorance.

        • Clent@lemmy.world
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          7 months ago

          That wasn’t the accusation.

          There are many who use Apple laptops as Linux laptops.

          • oce 🐆@jlai.lu
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            7 months ago

            I don’t understand your initial point. He’s talking about what you get when you buy a new PC. If you buy an Apple PC, you’ll get Apple spyware. It doesn’t imply anything about some Apple buyers putting Linux on their PCs

            • Clent@lemmy.world
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              7 months ago

              Apple spyware means exactly what to you? You can’t just make shit up because you hate Apple. Then on top of that expect someone who is more knowledgeable to accept your ignorance.

              When people ask for advice and reject the most common paths that professional take because they cannot get over their own ignorance, they aren’t actually asking for advice. They are playing victim and looking for their fellow ignorants to ditto them.

              • cuerdo@lemmy.world
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                7 months ago

                I 100% guarantee you that any Apple product is collecting your data and squeezing as much profit as possible out of it. Why? well, Why not!

            • Clent@lemmy.world
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              7 months ago

              There are a lot of smart people making sure Apple hardware supports Linux. There is a limited number of variations, the hardware itself has high built quality and Apple pushes support into the Linux community so the hardware can more easily run Linux.

              The same cannot be said about any random windows laptop.

              As others have noted, if you want a Linux first laptop, there are options.

              However this idea that Apple spies on its users has no merit. It’s a claim I have only witnessed being made by the witless.

              I’ve been in the internet long enough to know not to expect fools to accept they are fools.

              Unlike the morons of the internet, I am always ready to be proven wrong. However, it doesn’t look like that’s about to happen here.