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Comment by microtonal | Hacker News Reader

For someone who values their privacy at least a little bit, Google and Windows are no options.

Outside Pixel, updates on Android are an embarrassing shit show. I did a three year detour to Android, but never again. Update after update things were broken until and you had to wait 6 months to get an update that was supposedly fixing things.

As someone who considers privacy important, Linux and BSD are the only credible alternatives to the Mac. Unfortunately, a lot of software that I use nearly daily is missing, because the Linux ecosystem does not have a strong ISV ecosystem (Little Snitch, OmniGraffle, Things, DeckSet, LaunchBar, Alfred, Arq, 1Password, Tweetbot, Affinity Designer/Photos, etc.) and does not support some hardware well (Sonos, etc.).

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the software you list shows a disinterest in considering alternatives. if you’re already considering Linux or BSD, it behooves you to also consider open source alternatives to your applications, especially when at least some of the responsible companies are currently engaged in predatory business practices (1Password).

BitWarden is a fantastic FLOSS alternative to 1Password, Emacs’ org-mode for Things is perhaps the finest of its kind and easy to get started with with a distro like Spacemacs, a plethora of Alfred alternatives, Marp for DeckSet, i could go on but at this point i just want to throw up my arms and shake you.

i’ve switched dozens who were sick of proprietary lock-in. it doesn’t sound like you’re sick enough.

I have a Linux desktop machine at home besides a Mac and regularly try open source alternatives. I also use org mode besides Things, and have a custom Emacs configuration with evil, ivy, magic, and whatnot.

However, the open source alternatives for the software I mentioned (and other software) are simply not good enough for me. The additional 'problem' is that open source software that I use, such as Emacs, Latex, compilers, etc. work fine on macOS.

(I used Linux and BSD full-time on the desktop from 1994-2008.)

You can't judge all Android phones the same. One Plus has pushed Android 8 a few weeks ago and their beta channel is on the November security patch.

Stop buying Samsung.

True. And the cross-macOS/iOS app ecology is just too compelling. I’m captive.

What data do you think windows sends to microsoft that macOS doesn’t send to apple? Why do you think windows has worse privacy than macOS?

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