Against right to repair and new tech regulations
By Edward Willis (encw.xyz (gopher and web))
Published Jul/4/2024

I own quite a few Apple products. I'm not boasting, I'm making a point, hold on.
I bought them knowing the deal going in. I can't upgrade the RAM on my laptop.
Or remove the SSD. Or do much of anything.

I knew the downsides, and I bought my Apple stuff anyway, because the things my
Apple stuff provides me is more valuable to me then what it doesn't for the
applications I bought it for. And I considered the price I paid to be
worthwhile. Pretty straight forward, and obvious, right?

There is a certain amount of personal responsibility inherent in acknowledging
that fact. If my SSD dies and I can't just pop in a new one, it isn't Apple's
fault, it's MY fault. I bought it. Apple didn't make me buy it. But there is a
push by people who refuse to take personal responsibility for their own
decisions, to have governments tell people what to make and how to make it.

Right to Repair is a prime example of this. If Apple and other companies won't
make devices the way these people want them to, then rather than not buying
Apple stuff as is their right, they'll have the government intervene and force
Apple. They could buy a Framework laptop instead, and reward Framework for
catering to their desires.

I find that approach, running to the government to demand that other's technical
decisions be made to one's own liking, to be misguided.

I think that the iOS App Store alternatives push is wrongheaded as well. Anyone
who wants to use application channels outside of the platform holder's can buy
an Android and have access to a well supported, first rate mobile OS, that
allows them to do just that. It's not like this knowledge is secret.

I think it is high time that people who use a device or platform, or whatever it
is, and wish they were using a different one, or who are otherwise unsatisfied,
to go ahead and either switch, or accept the decision they made. Stop
complaining to government to swoop in and take control of the tech market.