we need laws that require companies to unlock boot loaders when they drop support, or at least provide the means to do so.
Or just always? I buy a device, I want full control over it.
That is not too much to ask.
Not really true. Plenty of Linux distributions dropped 32bit support years ago and 32bit systems are a lot younger than 20 years (last ones were some Intel Atoms released around 2010).
When talking about Linux desktops it includes distros like Debian, who will support i386 until, at least 2028. Even some fast moving distros like OpenSuse Tumbleweed still support i386.
I’m running crunchbang++ on my i686 box.
Can I play command and conquer on all i386 Linux install? Otherwise I’m sticking with DOS.
OpenRA
“32bit systems are a lot younger than 20 years”
I don’t follow. The i386 is almost 40 years old now. Can you elaborate?
it may have began 4 decades ago, but what matters is that only one decade ago new hardware was still being released.
And new processors stopped supporting x86-32 a decade ago?
nope, new processors still do. At least on intel/amd processors. it’s only software that decided to drop support
I have Linux running strongly on two laptops from 2007. If I still had my old Dell from 2003, I’d bet I could get the latest Puppy Linux running on it. Maybe even something like Debian or Arch32, if I maxed out the RAM.
I’ve tried Arch32 a while ago, the project isn’t that well maintained (like I appreciate they’re trying), I’ve had MX Linux before, worked great, just a bit outdated, I moved my 32bit machine to Void Linux, it seems to have the best support yet ! I’m running cutting edge kernel and dev tools on that old fart
I replaced ChromeOS with Linux forever ago when they dropped support for my hardware. It would be a brick if not for Linux.
deleted by creator
This implies that LeapFrogs are better computers.
Well, LeapFrogs are for kids. Chromebooks are supposed to be for… students, I guess?
The three finger swipe between tabs gesture is pretty sweet though and I wish I could have it on other operating systems
Unless you used Ubuntu 32 bit, then they’ll just drop you like a sack of potatoes, in that regard Canonical is no better than Google
