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  3. It's probably alarmist, but this has me thinking: What if governments and bastard oligarchs actually manage to reverse the personal computing revolution of the last 50 years?

It's probably alarmist, but this has me thinking: What if governments and bastard oligarchs actually manage to reverse the personal computing revolution of the last 50 years?

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  • lmorchard@masto.hackers.townL lmorchard@masto.hackers.town

    It's probably alarmist, but this has me thinking: What if governments and bastard oligarchs actually manage to reverse the personal computing revolution of the last 50 years? Nothing in tech is inevitable, not even individual practical access to hardware.

    Link Preview Image
    Hold on to Your Hardware

    A warning about rising prices, vanishing consumer choice, and a future where owning a computer may matter more than ever as hardware, power, and control drift toward data centers and away from people.

    favicon

    マリウス (xn--gckvb8fzb.com)

    ireneista@adhd.irenes.spaceI This user is from outside of this forum
    ireneista@adhd.irenes.spaceI This user is from outside of this forum
    ireneista@adhd.irenes.space
    wrote on last edited by
    #36

    @lmorchard no, yeah, we've been chewing on it also 😕

    1 Reply Last reply
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    • lmorchard@masto.hackers.townL lmorchard@masto.hackers.town

      I know just little enough about the production of ICs to think that building a DIY microprocessor would be akin to when that kid David Hahn tried building a nuclear reactor in his garage in the 90s. But then again, maybe that's what *they* want me to think

      pixx@merveilles.townP This user is from outside of this forum
      pixx@merveilles.townP This user is from outside of this forum
      pixx@merveilles.town
      wrote on last edited by
      #37

      @lmorchard

      It's not crazy impossible. It's hard as hell, but making ICs with much larger transistors is possible. There's prior art.

      Sam Zeloof, iirc, fabbed an amplifier in his parent's garage using a secondhand electron microscope from Craigslist and years of effort. And has since founded a new foundry company that does not have any products yet so fingers crossed. He's not the only one either.

      Both russia and china are making their own ICs too, and catching up.

      Especially if you partner with others, it's doable. The info is out there, the machinery is not cheap but is attainable for probably more like 15% of the population than 0.01%, the knowledge and experimentation and iteration takes a lot of time, and...

      There's a lot of caveats but it _is_ possible.

      1 Reply Last reply
      0
      • lmorchard@masto.hackers.townL lmorchard@masto.hackers.town

        I know just little enough about the production of ICs to think that building a DIY microprocessor would be akin to when that kid David Hahn tried building a nuclear reactor in his garage in the 90s. But then again, maybe that's what *they* want me to think

        brouhaha@mastodon.socialB This user is from outside of this forum
        brouhaha@mastodon.socialB This user is from outside of this forum
        brouhaha@mastodon.social
        wrote on last edited by
        #38

        @lmorchard
        Sam Zeloof has made PMOS integrated circuits (far easier than NMOS or CMOS) in his garage.
        https://sam.zeloof.xyz/

        1 Reply Last reply
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        • lmorchard@masto.hackers.townL lmorchard@masto.hackers.town

          On one hand, I'm kinda looking forward to when bubbles burst and used hardware shows up cheap as liquidated surplus. On the other hand, I've got doomsday thinking like "how hard would it be to manufacture a DIY 6502 or Z80 in my garage?"

          fluffykittycat@furry.engineerF This user is from outside of this forum
          fluffykittycat@furry.engineerF This user is from outside of this forum
          fluffykittycat@furry.engineer
          wrote on last edited by
          #39

          @lmorchard I've been looking into this and 180 nm Fabs are reasonably common because that's what a lot of automotive parts and not use so if you can design something from turn of the Millennium era technology we can reasonably get it manufactured somewhere in the world

          We're going to have to subscribe to the Steamboat Chronicles School of software engineering for a while until this whole mess sorts itself out

          fluffykittycat@furry.engineerF 1 Reply Last reply
          0
          • lmorchard@masto.hackers.townL lmorchard@masto.hackers.town

            It's probably alarmist, but this has me thinking: What if governments and bastard oligarchs actually manage to reverse the personal computing revolution of the last 50 years? Nothing in tech is inevitable, not even individual practical access to hardware.

            Link Preview Image
            Hold on to Your Hardware

            A warning about rising prices, vanishing consumer choice, and a future where owning a computer may matter more than ever as hardware, power, and control drift toward data centers and away from people.

            favicon

            マリウス (xn--gckvb8fzb.com)

            fluffykittycat@furry.engineerF This user is from outside of this forum
            fluffykittycat@furry.engineerF This user is from outside of this forum
            fluffykittycat@furry.engineer
            wrote on last edited by
            #40

            @lmorchard I've been hoarding any computer that runs for a long time now, looks like I was right to do so

            1 Reply Last reply
            0
            • ghostonthehalfshell@masto.aiG ghostonthehalfshell@masto.ai

              @lmorchard

              Oh, they’re absolutely are. Just look at all the laws that are being passed now and some states. I think it’s Colorado. I just read who wants to put identification personal identification into the OS.

              fluffykittycat@furry.engineerF This user is from outside of this forum
              fluffykittycat@furry.engineerF This user is from outside of this forum
              fluffykittycat@furry.engineer
              wrote on last edited by
              #41

              @GhostOnTheHalfShell @lmorchard both parties have gone full mask off. All my worst Nightmares are happening before my eyes

              1 Reply Last reply
              0
              • lmorchard@masto.hackers.townL lmorchard@masto.hackers.town

                It's probably alarmist, but this has me thinking: What if governments and bastard oligarchs actually manage to reverse the personal computing revolution of the last 50 years? Nothing in tech is inevitable, not even individual practical access to hardware.

                Link Preview Image
                Hold on to Your Hardware

                A warning about rising prices, vanishing consumer choice, and a future where owning a computer may matter more than ever as hardware, power, and control drift toward data centers and away from people.

                favicon

                マリウス (xn--gckvb8fzb.com)

                twohundredmotels@mastodon.socialT This user is from outside of this forum
                twohundredmotels@mastodon.socialT This user is from outside of this forum
                twohundredmotels@mastodon.social
                wrote on last edited by
                #42

                @lmorchard trully great read. thank u!

                1 Reply Last reply
                0
                • fluffykittycat@furry.engineerF fluffykittycat@furry.engineer

                  @lmorchard I've been looking into this and 180 nm Fabs are reasonably common because that's what a lot of automotive parts and not use so if you can design something from turn of the Millennium era technology we can reasonably get it manufactured somewhere in the world

                  We're going to have to subscribe to the Steamboat Chronicles School of software engineering for a while until this whole mess sorts itself out

                  fluffykittycat@furry.engineerF This user is from outside of this forum
                  fluffykittycat@furry.engineerF This user is from outside of this forum
                  fluffykittycat@furry.engineer
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #43

                  @lmorchard I could see countries building their own computer hardware industries as a matter of basic access and security against shocks. How many countries would pay 50 billion dollars to have enough a Guaranteed Supply of computers for people and businesses?

                  1 Reply Last reply
                  0
                  • lmorchard@masto.hackers.townL lmorchard@masto.hackers.town

                    On one hand, I'm kinda looking forward to when bubbles burst and used hardware shows up cheap as liquidated surplus. On the other hand, I've got doomsday thinking like "how hard would it be to manufacture a DIY 6502 or Z80 in my garage?"

                    casandro@f-ckendehoelle.deC This user is from outside of this forum
                    casandro@f-ckendehoelle.deC This user is from outside of this forum
                    casandro@f-ckendehoelle.de
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #44

                    @lmorchard Well don't worry, thanks to the efforts of "Web designers", you'll never be able to display even the simplest web site on them.

                    1 Reply Last reply
                    0
                    • lmorchard@masto.hackers.townL lmorchard@masto.hackers.town

                      On one hand, I'm kinda looking forward to when bubbles burst and used hardware shows up cheap as liquidated surplus. On the other hand, I've got doomsday thinking like "how hard would it be to manufacture a DIY 6502 or Z80 in my garage?"

                      gilesgoat@toot.walesG This user is from outside of this forum
                      gilesgoat@toot.walesG This user is from outside of this forum
                      gilesgoat@toot.wales
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #45

                      @lmorchard The 6502 seems been made 'in a garage' various times by different people .. but I never heard so far of a Z80 ..

                      1 Reply Last reply
                      0
                      • lmorchard@masto.hackers.townL lmorchard@masto.hackers.town

                        It's probably alarmist, but this has me thinking: What if governments and bastard oligarchs actually manage to reverse the personal computing revolution of the last 50 years? Nothing in tech is inevitable, not even individual practical access to hardware.

                        Link Preview Image
                        Hold on to Your Hardware

                        A warning about rising prices, vanishing consumer choice, and a future where owning a computer may matter more than ever as hardware, power, and control drift toward data centers and away from people.

                        favicon

                        マリウス (xn--gckvb8fzb.com)

                        jasonb@sigmoid.socialJ This user is from outside of this forum
                        jasonb@sigmoid.socialJ This user is from outside of this forum
                        jasonb@sigmoid.social
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #46

                        @lmorchard What if the opposite happens and hackers/users start to pull away from big tech.

                        They create smaller mesh networks that are local with just fewer connections to the larger internet? No more always connected BBS style connections?

                        They stop the upgrade cycle and put OSS OS's on their old computers? Focus on personal programming.

                        They throw out smart phones for e-ink phones that have basic functionality and no browser?

                        What if the users walked away? Took it back to the 80s?

                        1 Reply Last reply
                        0
                        • lmorchard@masto.hackers.townL lmorchard@masto.hackers.town

                          It's probably alarmist, but this has me thinking: What if governments and bastard oligarchs actually manage to reverse the personal computing revolution of the last 50 years? Nothing in tech is inevitable, not even individual practical access to hardware.

                          Link Preview Image
                          Hold on to Your Hardware

                          A warning about rising prices, vanishing consumer choice, and a future where owning a computer may matter more than ever as hardware, power, and control drift toward data centers and away from people.

                          favicon

                          マリウス (xn--gckvb8fzb.com)

                          sonic2k@oldbytes.spaceS This user is from outside of this forum
                          sonic2k@oldbytes.spaceS This user is from outside of this forum
                          sonic2k@oldbytes.space
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #47

                          @lmorchard
                          This speaks to me on many levels.

                          How many perfectly good systems am I rescuing from the e-waste lately? Plenty.

                          People think I am mad, spending more money on "old shit" than I ever did on a new system.

                          I predicted this trend, and I suffered for attempting to educate others about it. Those who do not wish to listen shall be doomed by their own ignorance.

                          I don't give a shit if it's old. If it runs Linux and is compatible with the web, fuck the corporates and their drive to force me to upgrade.

                          1 Reply Last reply
                          0
                          • lmorchard@masto.hackers.townL lmorchard@masto.hackers.town

                            It's probably alarmist, but this has me thinking: What if governments and bastard oligarchs actually manage to reverse the personal computing revolution of the last 50 years? Nothing in tech is inevitable, not even individual practical access to hardware.

                            Link Preview Image
                            Hold on to Your Hardware

                            A warning about rising prices, vanishing consumer choice, and a future where owning a computer may matter more than ever as hardware, power, and control drift toward data centers and away from people.

                            favicon

                            マリウス (xn--gckvb8fzb.com)

                            kkarhan@infosec.spaceK This user is from outside of this forum
                            kkarhan@infosec.spaceK This user is from outside of this forum
                            kkarhan@infosec.space
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #48

                            @lmorchard OFC they wajt that because that'll #disempower the average person, and create a wide base if #TechIlliterate #consumers!

                            1 Reply Last reply
                            0
                            • dandean@indieweb.socialD dandean@indieweb.social

                              @lmorchard I’m mixed - would this also be the end of profit-motivated planned-obsolescence?

                              li@tech.lgbtL This user is from outside of this forum
                              li@tech.lgbtL This user is from outside of this forum
                              li@tech.lgbt
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #49

                              @dandean @lmorchard no you'd get situations like playstation plus a few years ago where they removed psvita and ps3 games from it, and then made it cost more

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                              • kali@discuss.systemsK kali@discuss.systems

                                @lmorchard can you not pick up right wing conspiracy slogans and just run with them *SMH*

                                li@tech.lgbtL This user is from outside of this forum
                                li@tech.lgbtL This user is from outside of this forum
                                li@tech.lgbt
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #50

                                @kali @lmorchard tbh i associate it with libertarian shit more .. than i do with conservative far-right shit, which isn't much better, but eh

                                but also is this even really a conspiracy (?) im pretty sure that trying to destroy personal property of like technological everything is very much their stated and open goal for like awhile now

                                kali@discuss.systemsK 1 Reply Last reply
                                0
                                • li@tech.lgbtL li@tech.lgbt

                                  @kali @lmorchard tbh i associate it with libertarian shit more .. than i do with conservative far-right shit, which isn't much better, but eh

                                  but also is this even really a conspiracy (?) im pretty sure that trying to destroy personal property of like technological everything is very much their stated and open goal for like awhile now

                                  kali@discuss.systemsK This user is from outside of this forum
                                  kali@discuss.systemsK This user is from outside of this forum
                                  kali@discuss.systems
                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #51

                                  @Li @lmorchard it is 101 wording from the the great reset conspiracy theory which is the pretty little sister of the great replacement theory.

                                  kali@discuss.systemsK li@tech.lgbtL 2 Replies Last reply
                                  0
                                  • kali@discuss.systemsK kali@discuss.systems

                                    @Li @lmorchard it is 101 wording from the the great reset conspiracy theory which is the pretty little sister of the great replacement theory.

                                    kali@discuss.systemsK This user is from outside of this forum
                                    kali@discuss.systemsK This user is from outside of this forum
                                    kali@discuss.systems
                                    wrote on last edited by
                                    #52

                                    @Li @lmorchard maybe i am picky but i don't like it.

                                    1 Reply Last reply
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                                    • kali@discuss.systemsK kali@discuss.systems

                                      @Li @lmorchard it is 101 wording from the the great reset conspiracy theory which is the pretty little sister of the great replacement theory.

                                      li@tech.lgbtL This user is from outside of this forum
                                      li@tech.lgbtL This user is from outside of this forum
                                      li@tech.lgbt
                                      wrote on last edited by
                                      #53

                                      @kali @lmorchard fair, i think i mostly just hear it from the clippybros .. these days which is enough to not want to interact with it tbh

                                      1 Reply Last reply
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                                      • lmorchard@masto.hackers.townL lmorchard@masto.hackers.town

                                        It's probably alarmist, but this has me thinking: What if governments and bastard oligarchs actually manage to reverse the personal computing revolution of the last 50 years? Nothing in tech is inevitable, not even individual practical access to hardware.

                                        Link Preview Image
                                        Hold on to Your Hardware

                                        A warning about rising prices, vanishing consumer choice, and a future where owning a computer may matter more than ever as hardware, power, and control drift toward data centers and away from people.

                                        favicon

                                        マリウス (xn--gckvb8fzb.com)

                                        bussphomet@app.wafrn.netB This user is from outside of this forum
                                        bussphomet@app.wafrn.netB This user is from outside of this forum
                                        bussphomet@app.wafrn.net
                                        wrote on last edited by
                                        #54

                                        Yeah pretty sure if they do that
                                        They will be in a eating lead situation.

                                        Because I am not renting or spending any money on a machine I have no control over or has local storage.

                                        If people had actual spines them doing this would enact a mass "stop paying taxes" movement.

                                        We have more power than they make you think you have, you stop paying taxes for a few days and they will cave quick. Or if not you can always just shoot anyone that comes by to collect, at that point its a nothing to lose everything to gain through force moment anyway.

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                                        • R relay@relay.mycrowd.ca shared this topic
                                        • maddiefuzz@masto.hackers.townM maddiefuzz@masto.hackers.town

                                          @thomasfuchs @lmorchard I’m not sure they’re gonna win that one, for the pessimistic reason that it’s quickly becoming An Industry that will surely lobby.

                                          chewie@mammut.gogreenit.netC This user is from outside of this forum
                                          chewie@mammut.gogreenit.netC This user is from outside of this forum
                                          chewie@mammut.gogreenit.net
                                          wrote last edited by
                                          #55

                                          @maddiefuzz @thomasfuchs @lmorchard

                                          Just a moment...

                                          favicon

                                          (blog.adafruit.com)

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                                          • R relay@relay.infosec.exchange shared this topic
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