I want to talk about this because of a conversation I had with a colleague on a lunch break a few days ago. I am a doctor, and I was talking to him about how angry I was (and still am) about the fact that the COVID vaccines, when they were first invented, were not made public, but instead were patented and sold. This basic fact made millions of people around the world suffer. I was rambling about how scientific information should always be free. How we should be able to use the internet as the greatest library our ancestors could have only dreamt of, instead of putting information behind paywalls. Even back in med school I was an avid user of sci-hub and I wasn’t ashamed of it one bit. I still use sci-hub to keep up with new researches so I can treat/inform my patients better. And I hate how some of my colleagues think that I am stealing others’ work.
Anyways, so I was rambling on and on. I sometimes do that. And my friend said something so strange and unrelated (in my eyes) to the conversation. He said “Look at you, defending open access to medical information for everyone, yet you only use Apple products.” I was like, “What? What do you mean?” He explained, “Man, all the things you use are made by Apple. Your laptop, tablet, phone, watch, earbuds or whatever, made by the company that is one of the main adversaries when it comes to right-to-repair and open source software.” So you need to see here, I’m not a tech guy. It’s just not my field. My job only requires me to read textbooks and keep up with new researches in my field, which any device can do. So I was like, “I… I don’t think I follow.” So he briefly explained what open-source software is, and how it’s related to my idea of free and open access to information for everyone, but this time it’s not in our field but programmers’. And when I almost reflexively said “Well we’re not programmers” he said “I mean, when it comes to software, it’s the programmers’ and developers’ thing. But free and open source is an idea. It applies to everything. And I think you’re supporting a company that opposes your views by buying their products.”
We didn’t have much time left so that was the end of that conversation. And I have been thinking about it since. When buying tech products I mainly care about if they are integrated with each other or not. Like if I turn on Do not Disturb on my watch, I want my phone, tablet and laptop to go quiet as well. Or I like being able to answer a phone call on my laptop. And I love the aesthetics of Apple products, at least more than what other companies have to offer.
Every evening since that conversation I’ve been looking up stuff related to open source software. Linux, distros, the philosophy behind it all, Linus Torvalds, Steve Wozniak, Arch, "read the wiki", terminal, GUI, AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA my brain is filled with so many things at this point that I don’t understand anything at all.
So, TLDR; I’d love to hear your opinions about Apple. Most people (myself included) buy Apple devices because of the ecosystem, the design, privacy (?), consistent updates (especially on mobile), or for you might say, a lack of knowledge in the field of tech. Do you support Apple or are you against them, or are you indifferent? Do you think people who are not in the tech field as well should look into and use open source software? Leave your thoughts below! ^^
I personally don't support Apple.
Their ecosystem is great, their workflow is seemless, their products are sleek and well designed.
The keyword here is
their, because they only care about you as a consumer, your device isn't yours to change, either in software department by locking down IOS or creating their own standards instead of adopting open existing ones like whatever the fuck is their messaging protocol instead of RCS (creating the whole green bubbles vs blue bubbles shenanigans) or not adopting proper graphics APIs like Vulcan in MacOS etc..., in the hardware department they block and try to stop independent repairships, while pricing theirs so that is more feasible buying a new one device than fixing it, claiming they took the charger in the boxfor the environmentor removed the headphone jack, bravely as they said, becausethere was no space, putting wired earphones to waste and promoting their battery powered earphones which will eventually die with no way to replace the batteries and become e-waste.All that rant, to say they do some shit, and are somewhat anti competitive and consumer, but if their workflow fit's you, don't feel bad for continuing using it and supporting them because the worth you may produce, with such workflow, to do world and the society arround you, may outdo their bad, you specially being a doctor, just try to fight your fight, getting away from them if you so wish, and if you can't, support those who do like the free software foundation or Foss projects that you like or see value in them and you would already be doing wonders.
Etheir way if you need help in any transition you that you mentioned there like switching to Linux their sublemmy? would gladly take you.