Hacker News Reader

So basically rented mainframes like IBM did in the '60s but with ads?

I agree about free software but that only works as long as the hardware doesn't get too closed down. At some point even reverse engineering won't keep up with it. We need more free/libre hardware.

View on HN

The rented mainframes were, imo, far less egregious than what's awaiting all of us. It'd probably be less "massive B2B transactions to cut down on costs and outsource operating a hugely complex machine to its manufacturer", and more "everyone participating in society making mandatory perpetual payments to be allowed to use tightly-controlled devices that they must manage their entire lives through".

> making mandatory perpetual payments to be allowed to use tightly-controlled devices that they must manage their entire lives through

This is the mainframe experience for companies that run on z/OS, the licensing makes Azure look simple by comparison

https://ibmlicensingexperts.com/ibm-mainframe-licensing-z-sy...

Imagine all buildings in New York replaced with mainframes, people living and working inside the mainframes. An Ad on every wall, every floor, internal and external. Actually it sounds kind of cool.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com