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Should you still buy your next smartphone — or subscribe to it instead? Apple, Samsung … are betting that leasing, subscriptions, and guaranteed buyback programs can make upgrading more attractive. (techcrunch.com)
submitted 3 weeks ago by to c/technology@lemmy.world
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[–] 3 points 3 weeks ago (2 children)

some subscriptions are fine though, like email or a vpn.

you could argue there should be no need for a vpn but... it is what it is

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  • [–] 24 points 3 weeks ago (1 child)

    Services as subscriptions: fine. They are ongoing agreements that require an unspecifiable amount of labor, it makes sense to pay as you go.

    Subscription goods? Fuck that. If I am in posession of it and responsible for maintaining it in a specific state of operation and quality, I basically own it anyway.

    Charging me monthly for a pocket-sized computer with the added stipulations that the seller gets to dictate what I'm allowed to do with it, probably installs spyware on it (on top of the OEM and OS spyware), and if I break it (or otherwise violate the terms of use) I have to buy it anyway and they still get to keep it? They've basically reinvented a mix of payphones and library PCs, but more invasive and more expensive

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  • [–] 2 points 2 weeks ago

    They've basically reinvented a mix of payphones and library PCs, but more invasive and more expensive

    No this isn't even the same thing. Library PC is made available to you for free (paid via taxes). Payphone was a bit a different breast, as they supposed to make phone service available at any place when before we had cellphones, although they were also available for free (you paid for making calls though).

    Over here they want to remove ownership. Instead of owning a house, you rent an apartment, instead of owning a car you pay to use self driving one, instead of owning a movie or music (yes, I know) you pay for streaming service, and now you won't even own the computer in your pocket.

    Basically they want society where we don't own anything and only pay subscription fees to live. This push toward that world is called technofeudalism. Only billionaires own things and we are just serfs at their mercy.

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