this post was submitted on 27 Apr 2026
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Well, for one they and their buddies can make new consumer PCs as closed as phones are. Old hardware will eventually run out if they'll keep the cartel knit tight enough.
Besides that, there is a slow but steady push to get rid of cash. Once it's gone, the only convenient way to use money for regular people will be digital banking. I think tech buddies won't have a hard time convincing bank buddies and gov buddies that any device/system not coming from authorized corpo is not safe to support. It would make those resisting assimilate, or quickly fall to the society's bottom.
a couple weeks ago, i have seen for the first time laptops with linux (ubuntu) preinstalled for sale in a store
Dell laptops with Ubuntu preinstalled were available in mainstream stores in Poland in 2000s, not sure if it continued into 2010s. I've often seen them as a kid but didn't understand what Linux was back then.. Were cheaper than ones with windows keys.
It's already happening. Google's device attestation means that apps can insist you run a signed OS (signed by Google, or an authorized partner) or refuse to work. I use GrapheneOS and because of this, I can't tap to pay or use my phone as a car key. No chance they'll ever allow GrapheneOS to join that program because it undermines their data collection and control.