I've never been one to complain about Apple locking users into iOS and closed systems but the fact the author considers this 'open hardware' and news worthy worries me. Installing an alternative OS on any hardware shouldn't be a big deal, and it also shouldn't make it 'open'. Open means a lot more than having the ability to install the OS of your choosing.
the fact the author considers this 'open hardware' and news worthy worries me
I would say that it is news, and that it does deserve accolades. Very few consumer electronic devices allow the user to modify the software in any way outside of hacks that are actively prevented.
If not accolades, certainly encouragement: A big public "thank you," even if it might not immediately convince all companies everywhere to release API's and stop locking things down, might at least show that this is one good way to make at least some potential customers very happy.
Not a massive, business-changing boon, but perhaps worth it for tech (and other) companies that are or want to be close to their communities.
>> "I would say that it is news, and that it does deserve accolades."
I agree. My point is that the fact this deserves accolades is bad. Even modern 'open systems' like Android are more closed than most systems were 10-15 years ago. Installing an OS of your choice on a device you own shouldn't be a big deal.
This is very encouraging. The fact that not only this is possible quite effortlessly, but that they actually encourage this kind of customization drastically increases the likelihood of me buying this thing.
I honestly just want the addon that will give everything Eight O'Clock in the Morning/They Live ad-replacements.
On a more serious note, I'm happy to hear that it's not Ubuntu-only. I removed my Linux training wheels a decade ago, so I'd hate to be restricted to a single distribution.
Love this quote: "I removed my Linux training wheels a decade ago, so I'd hate to be restricted to a single distribution." , I'm stealing it from you :)
Well, there's hacking and then there's corporate-approved, "safe" hacking that doesn't ruin product integrity or violate marketing agreements, codicils, riders, add-ons, EULAs and respects the bottom line.
