“Just install Linux on it” is the “just change the engine of your car” of tech.
Not everyone is a mechanic, not everyone wants to be a mechanic, and, if we want a world where freedom is the norm, we must stop expecting everyone to become a mechanic.
Note: this is not because these people are too dumb to be mechanics. It’s because they’re brain surgeons and space-shuttle pilots and they have three kids and they care for a loved one and they don’t have time to also be a mechanic.
We are not going to compete with the mainstream car industry by promoting engine replacements. We are going to compete with the mainstream car industry by building better cars that are safer and more sustainable. But those cars aren’t going to grow on trees. We must fund the organisations that will create them from the commons for the common good.
@aral
1/3
The tech is not the main problem anymore. Large part is just older people's rejection of new/different things. Inertia.
My parents (in their 80ies) happily run Linux because I installed it and they never "learned" Windows before.
@aral
2/3
My kids (primary school) run Linux. I also put it on their and a couple of friends' schools-notebooks. They boot into Linux for school tasks because the Linux apps are easier and more capable. Irritates the teachers big time tho.
But try to get a 40 year old non-techie, who spent decades getting used to and work around Win idiosyncrasies, to switch? No way.
@aral
3/3
3-pronged strategy:
1. Get Linux into schools. That is an extremely hard and unfair political fight against GAM.
2. Get Linux into
administration, publc service, etc. Same political fight.
3. Make GAM surveillance based business model illegal. So that free ( beer) cloud services tied to prop. surveillance tech becomes unprofitable.
Summary: Forget the tech, it's politics, baby.