Oh look, EU's chat control doing rounds again. Won't die. Desktop computing dying. Internet becoming a locked-down monoculture. Hmmm... give it 10 years, irrespective of any societal upheaval- feel like it's over. Won't be 2005 again, it's just going to be cable and tech literacy a thing of the past. I don't know anyone who owns a computer irl, anymore.
5 months ago · 👍 m0xee, aelspire
Why... would people try to replace their desktop with a phone? There's no keyboard! · 5 months ago
Nice setup @m0xee, there are some services and hardware (USB keys) to leave alone from smartphone but again, you aren't really that free. @drh3xx that and the fact that some services now require a telephone number. Some of the apps you cite are full of bugs and having a single, portable device with all your contexts mixed (fun, family, work) isn't a great idea. But here we are. · 5 months ago
I have a couple of laptops but tbh I spend most of my time outside of work on my OnePlus6T w/PostmarketOS atm. Modern tech is a shitshow and the expectation that you have a smartphone running a duopoly OS to run apps for parking, health care access, school related platforms (they also pretty much expect your on mainstream socials) etc... really f's me off. · 5 months ago
@chirale I've solved the 2FA problem by storing the keys in a plain text file on a machine reachable over ssh, and I have this script: when I need the code, it connects to that machine (ssh keys get unlocked when I log in), greps this file for service/site names, offers me a wmenu/dmenu selection of what I need the code for, I choose, it generates the code and it types it in using wlpaste/xdotool.
I have it bound to a keyboard shortcut — very handy! It's still a second factor as nothing is stored locally. There is a possibility for this machine to get compromised, but I'd say it's lower than your phone getting stolen. · 5 months ago
@m0xee yes, even on PC you have to rely on smartphone, like 2FA and other specific apps. Having an already-on device kills the PC for many use cases and big tech and govs are pushing. I hope for some form of rejection of smartphones frankly. · 5 months ago
@chirale I suspect, a lot of those might computers sold might be businesses upgrading their fleet to be compatible with new Windows, there are a lot of people who use computer in the office, but personally they own only a phone, iPad or other tablet — or some other sort of consumer device. I'm not worried about it as I'm fine using old computers and there were plenty made already, there is Gemini, there is Fedi — things to have fun online. Businesses and even overnment organisations requiring you to use an app of some sort — that part is very concerning! · 5 months ago
319m shipments of smartphone vs. 55m shipments of PC on Q3 2023 is not exactly dying. Desktop is still a way to keep hardware running for more than 5 years. The literacy problem? Real af. · 5 months ago