▲ 679 ▼ How long do we have before PCs get locked bootloaders and corporations ban installation of "non-approved" software? (for context: Google is restricting sideloading worldwide on Android ETA 2027) (sh.itjust.works) submitted 11 months ago by DeathByBigSad@sh.itjust.works to c/nostupidquestions@lemmy.world 245 comments fedilink hide all child comments
[–] gravitywell@sh.itjust.works 19 points 11 months ago (1 child) Such pcs already exist and are used by buinesses and schools all over... Mostly chromebooks and i suppose apple also fits that criteria. But it would be very hard to stop a determined hacker who has physical access to a device and doesnt mind voiding any warranties or user agreements. permalink fedilink source hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] thermal_shock@lemmy.world 7 points 11 months ago (1 child) Most Chromebooks can have other operating systems. Many have a bypass, mine needed to have the battery disconnected from the motherboard while installing the os, then you could connect it back and be done. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] gravitywell@sh.itjust.works 5 points 11 months ago yes most chromebooks if you own them you do what you want because google knows even if they did lock them down more someone out there would be waiting with a soldering iron to figure out how to mod them into running other things. But thats not the same thing as a company that buys devices for their employees and doesnt give said employees permission to open them (without risking their job anyway). The point being, the "demand" for such systems is already mostly met, normal PC users/ gamers wouldnt actually buy a product like that, because if they did it would just be a "Console". You couldnt force it on users because there isn't a monopoly of PCs like there is with phones or game consoles Actually I should have said in my original post, Game Consoles also qualify, because the PS4/5 Xbox whatever, the last 2 generations they're literally just locked down PCs with very specific hardware. permalink fedilink source parent
[–] thermal_shock@lemmy.world 7 points 11 months ago (1 child) Most Chromebooks can have other operating systems. Many have a bypass, mine needed to have the battery disconnected from the motherboard while installing the os, then you could connect it back and be done. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] gravitywell@sh.itjust.works 5 points 11 months ago yes most chromebooks if you own them you do what you want because google knows even if they did lock them down more someone out there would be waiting with a soldering iron to figure out how to mod them into running other things. But thats not the same thing as a company that buys devices for their employees and doesnt give said employees permission to open them (without risking their job anyway). The point being, the "demand" for such systems is already mostly met, normal PC users/ gamers wouldnt actually buy a product like that, because if they did it would just be a "Console". You couldnt force it on users because there isn't a monopoly of PCs like there is with phones or game consoles Actually I should have said in my original post, Game Consoles also qualify, because the PS4/5 Xbox whatever, the last 2 generations they're literally just locked down PCs with very specific hardware. permalink fedilink source parent
[–] gravitywell@sh.itjust.works 5 points 11 months ago yes most chromebooks if you own them you do what you want because google knows even if they did lock them down more someone out there would be waiting with a soldering iron to figure out how to mod them into running other things. But thats not the same thing as a company that buys devices for their employees and doesnt give said employees permission to open them (without risking their job anyway). The point being, the "demand" for such systems is already mostly met, normal PC users/ gamers wouldnt actually buy a product like that, because if they did it would just be a "Console". You couldnt force it on users because there isn't a monopoly of PCs like there is with phones or game consoles Actually I should have said in my original post, Game Consoles also qualify, because the PS4/5 Xbox whatever, the last 2 generations they're literally just locked down PCs with very specific hardware. permalink fedilink source parent