• blargh513@sh.itjust.works
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    9 days ago

    It will creep in slowly since most people dont touch any settings on their computer after the initial unboxing and setup.

    Big box retailers will offer discounts on them, much like how you can buy a Chromebook for very little.

    Enticed by cheap computers, people will buy not knowing that any limitations exist. They’ll be encouraged to use centralized app repositories but they can still install some other stuff.

    A year or two later, some things won’t be permitted, computer will make scary warnings when installing, but with enough clicking, you can get past. Until the day you can’t.

    It will be a progression, but it will happen eventually. I honestly am surprised that computers dont require some sort of registration. I’m sure that will happen eventually.

    • hitmyspot@aussie.zone
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      8 days ago

      I wonder if PCs are getting fast enough to do everything that the opposite can happen. Older hardware and free software is as good or better than proprietary with new software. So, even with subsidy, they can’t turn the screw. The problem with mobile is the lack of a competitor, and the duopoly.

      Even Microsoft could not break it. If Linux mobile can port over all android apps seamlessly or easily for devs, with lower fees, then it has a chance. Microsoft paid devs to put their apps on the windows mobile store but even that wasn’t enough.

      Similar to windows, the more they turn the screws, the more people want to leave. There is a boiled frog effect but eventually lots of the frogs die in that analogy, turning off the cash spigot.

      • Tuukka R@sopuli.xyz
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        8 days ago

        I had a Windows Phone, and almost all apps in their app store cost money. And were often of uselessly bad quality anyway. People didn’t want to risk it paying even 7€ for an app that will end up being crap.

        • hitmyspot@aussie.zone
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          8 days ago

          I didn’t, but a friend did and loved it. I’ve heard the os was great. I’m not upset it died. Competition is good, but I don’t think Microsoft would have been good competition. I just wish someone else had taken the mantle.

          Android started out great. It has jest become perverted into a tracker with less freedom.

    • Korhaka@sopuli.xyz
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      8 days ago

      Windows does require registration to any normal user at this point. Gotta setup a micrisper account

      • Onomatopoeia@lemmy.cafe
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        8 days ago

        It’s not required, it just seems required to non-technical people (I know, potato/potato, it’s effectively required).

        • Korhaka@sopuli.xyz
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          8 days ago

          To any normal person it may as well be required, which is why I said it requires it to any normal user

    • DeathByBigSad@sh.itjust.worksOP
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      8 days ago

      Isn’t the serial number already on the box? So its already scanned into a database then you checkout? I know for phones at least, they definitely scan the barcode with the imei at checkout