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’d highly encourage everyone to use more FOSS stuff. Think of it this way, you believe all information should be free and open, what if every technological advancement was too. How far could we go?
Right now Apple got big and bad because they made the best stuff and worked real hard to isolate themselves from everyone else so they could build a walled garden. What if your first introduction to a computer was one that started open and free? What if the brilliant minds that integrated the Apple ecosystem did it openly so everyone could enjoy it going further? Also, what if every harmful technology had been done in the open so watchdogs could tell you if some software was harmful to you?
I think the world would be far better off. You could prove things are good and bad, you wouldn’t have so much driven by greed but by the good intentions of good people.
FOSS, sometimes has all the features if you know where to look. There is an awesome Linux app called KDE connect that almost bridges the gap between phone and Linux. It can’t do calls, but that’s because unlike apple it can’t reroute them. It can do texts, send links and files back and forth, control media, run arbitrary command from your phone, and it does all that not just between phone and computer, but also computer and computer, all devices you connect to it. It’s amazing what good people with brilliant minds can do with so little. They didn’t even need millions of dollars to do it, just some creativity.
I love the philosophy and have so believed in it because there are small places where you can get a glimpse of what incredible things we’d have if we just stopped being entitled and greedy.