Comment by 45h34jh53k4j | Hacker News Reader

Comment by 45h34jh53k4j | Hacker News Reader

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I think something that is missing from this is that it is no longer safe in this time to use old software. It is an existential threat to your own information, which is increasingly linked to your personal device like a phone or tablet. You will be hacked by a drive by exploit, or a mutant ad network. Its no longer about risky behavior, simply existing today online with old software can put you at grave risk.

How long should apple support these devices? 5 years seems reasonable, and very few vendors of hardware offer anything like this.

I agree it sucks, and there is no reason a 5 year old ipad needs to be dead -- but in context this is fine. If you had a 5 year old car that allowed random drivers to stab you in the face remotely, people would replace their cars and not complain that this was a problem.

> If you had a 5 year old car that allowed random drivers to stab you in the face remotely, people would replace their cars and not complain that this was a problem.

Ironically, some cars in the takata airbag recall are 15 years old [1] and basically stab you in the face, yet contrary to what you said, the recall continues, and is payed for by the car manufacturers. People didn't just say "oh well I guess I'll buy a new car".

https://www.nhtsa.gov/recall-spotlight/takata-air-bags

It is no longer safe to use old browsers. Old software works as well as it ever did, subject to your OS being able to run it. There is a world of offline desktop software that surpasses the cloud in features and functionality.

Cool, please let me know how i can update safari on my ios8 (ipad mini).

You can't -- and in this age the OS and the applications are an indistinguishable blob.

Only on mobile. Apple and MS are trying damn hard to make that so on PC but they will never win that war.

You should really be blaming the rapid pace of updates that we have all come to expect.

Maybe go with a device that allows other browsers to be installed next time.

> If you had a 5 year old car that allowed random drivers to stab you in the face remotely, people would replace their cars and not complain that this was a problem.

I would absolutely expect the car manufacturer to fix that for free. In fact we just got a recall notice two weeks ago for a part on our 2009 car, which we took in to get a free fix.

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