be me
trying to enjoy computing like a normal person
buy new shiny ARM laptop/tablet/whatever because "future of computing bro"
boot it
realize the entire thing is basically a phone with a keyboard
want to install linux
bootloader: locked
want to install another OS
vendor: "lol no"
remember on x86 you can grab literally any PC from the last 25 years
slap on linux, *bsd, windows, templeOS, whatever cursed thing you want
it just boots
ARM world:
every device its own weird board
custom firmware
random boot chain
vendor blobs everywhere
support dies after 2 years
"open architecture btw"
meanwhile x86 from 2008:
still booting modern linux like a champ
ARM fans: "but efficiency!!!"
cool bro
shame the computer isn't actually mine
feels like the industry reinvented the PC
but worse
locked down
fragmented
disposable
imagine taking the most open ecosystem in computing history
and replacing it with smartphone firmware hell
thanks ARM
very cool
mfw the "future of computing" is basically an appliance you can't control
just like the mainframe era
we went full circle
never go full circle