Will you leave the Apple ecosystem because of CSAM?

[macOS Lynx]

If I could never touch Windows again, I would be so happy. I don’t even dislike Microsoft (I love the Xbox and Office brands) but I hate Windows so much. I only have it on my desktop because the only 2 PC games I play are a mega bitch to run on linux currently.

 

[Mendota]

If I could never touch Windows again, I would be so happy. I don’t even dislike Microsoft (I love the Xbox and Office brands) but I hate Windows so much. I only have it on my desktop because the only 2 PC games I play are a mega bitch to run on linux currently.

Well, if Windows allows you to play those games that are so important to you, then you actually have reason to be happy with it. Can't have it both ways. You are providing proof of Windows value. Microsoft has and still puts a lot of effort into making Windows game ready, direct X, etc. In Windows 11 they are incorporating auto HDR. It does not matter to Microsoft why you use Windows only that you use Windows.

 

[nickdalzell1]

All my games run fine in Linux, actually, better than in Windows. Don't know what you are even talking about. Took some effort sure, Fallout 4 had major issues but now runs like a clock.

Helps tons that Steam has Proton support. I force-enable it and that automagically allows a ton of 'unsupported' games to run. Those that don't work with that solution (fallout 4) takes a lot of time in Terminal and research.

 

[xxray]

I find myself at a crossroads. This whole CSAM scanning issue has really given me a kick in the butt to get switched over to privacy-focused software.

I was so excited to finally downsize to a small phone with the iPhone 13 mini after wanting to for years, but now I’m considering the Pixel 5 with GrapheneOS instead. But I’m so invested in the Apple ecosystem from the Apple Watch to Apple Card to AirPods Pro to Find My that just can’t really be replaced.

I also just don’t really like Android design, and I’d always be 6 months behind on the latest tech because that’s how long on average GrapheneOS takes to be ready for the newest Pixels. But I would like more privacy, and I like the choice that Android would provide, like to install GrapheneOS or set Signal as my default messaging app.

Idk, I just feel so stuck. Everytime I switch to Android, I always end up switching back to Apple and staying with Apple much longer. This is the deepest I’ve ever been in the Apple ecosystem, and to leave, I’d be paying money to lose out on convenience, polish, features, and my preferred ecosystem.

It’s amazing how, overnight, I went from never seeing myself ever leaving Apple to feeling the need to get out of Apple’s ecosystem and having a very bad taste left in my mouth.

 

[Mendota]

Well, none of my games run in Linux, and I have tried. The performance was abysmal. I really didn't sweat it as I have nothing against Windows and nothing to gain trying to make Linux work for that. I pretty much use every system to it's strength and leave it at that. Since Linux is open source, I run open source software on it.

 

[macOS Lynx]

All my games run fine in Linux, actually, better than in Windows. Don't know what you are even talking about. Took some effort sure, Fallout 4 had major issues but now runs like a clock.

Helps tons that Steam has Proton support. I force-enable it and that automagically allows a ton of 'unsupported' games to run. Those that don't work with that solution (fallout 4) takes a lot of time in Terminal and research.

One of the games, Overwatch, has to rebuild shaders after every update. It runs perfectly fine otherwise, but anytime there’s an update the game runs like ass for a week as it has to rebuilt every shader as it encounters it.

The other is Apex Legends, which runs but you can’t play it at all because it uses EAC, so unless they build a native Linux version it’s a bust.

 

[MrTSolar]

I’ve used windows since 3.11. Windows 2000 was good, 7 was good but I can’t stand windows 10.

I have it running on a computer in the basement.

As a support tech, I couldn't stand Windows 10. Forced updates and constant tweaks made life aggravating, but the real pain was the fact that shutting down the computer wouldn't actually completely shut down Windows. You had to select Restart. Most users were smart enough to try shutting down and powering back up to resolve small issues before submitting tickets, but of course that doesn't work with 10. By the time I got out of that job, we finally got most to understand that Restart fixes problems.

On my own machine, I don't mind it now. The sound effects still annoy me, but that's an easy fix, as is disabling all the telemetry. With some prudence, it's not that hard to use it without being tied to Microsoft. Pretty much any pre-built machine that came with Windows 7, 8, or 8.1 can get 10 for free. Plus, since marketshare, EVERYTHING works on Windows.

XP SP3 is my favorite, 7 was pretty good. Vista was a beautiful mess.

 

[dk001]

Technically I can't stand Android 11 in stock form. Thankfully all my favorite software and UI mods that work in Android 2.3 still work on 11 (2.3, Gingerbread, was my favorite version). I also got updates disabled for everything. Sure, one day my Walmart app will probably need a manual update since eventually the server that the version I'm running will die, but other than that, my older apps work and most don't even need the internet.

Windows 10 can be made tolerable with Star dock's mods, including making it look exactly like Windows XP or Vista or 7.

I do like Stardock's stuff.
Goes pretty well on my X280 hybrid.

 

[dk001]

There are a lot of options out there.

While using a bunch, I was deeper into Apple for the "it just works" and "privacy".
As IJW went by the way side and Apple was less and less fixing long term bugs, I went back to Android and Windows (mostly as that is the OS I use for work). My Apple was dwindling.

Now with this latest, I suspect I will end up with an iPhone for work but not sure what they will do from an MDM perspective with iOS15 and a mix of Android and Windows. I am looking at putting Linux on my older X230 but have little time to spare right now. I'll not be speeding up my migration from Apple but this reinforces that my decision to move was the right one.

Now I need to find a good tablet.

 

[jseymour]

But I’m so invested in the Apple ecosystem from the Apple Watch to Apple Card to AirPods Pro to Find My that just can’t really be replaced.

I had an Apple Card. I canceled it. It was a nice card. The Apple Cash was nice. But it was, after all, just another CC. Our Visa card gives us points. I use that instead. Same with Apple Pay. It was nice doing contact-less payment and getting card use notifications, but not critically necessary. Apple Pay, too, is history. There are other earbuds that work as well as, or perhaps better than, Apple AirPods. (Which, ironically, is one Apple thing that does work with Android.) "Find My..." is nice, but I haven't really needed it, per se.

Of your list, the only thing I will truly miss will be my Apple Watch. I'm hoping some Android hardware manufacturer steps up their game, soon.

Other than the Apple Watch <-> iPhone <-> iPad integration, I've removed, de-linked, etc. any and all integration between our iStuff and everything else.

I also just don’t really like Android design,

Can't help you with that. If you don't like it, you don't like it. Personally, I found advantages to both Android and iOS. So, for me, that's a wash.

and I’d always be 6 months behind on the latest tech because that’s how long on average GrapheneOS takes to be ready for the newest Pixels.

Personally, I don't see that as a problem. No offense, but I don't get the "gotta have the latest and greatest OS features" thing. Never have, and I'm a tech geek. Yeah, back in the bad old days when many manufacturers were very slow to release Android updates--sometimes never at all, it was a bad thing. But six months behind? That I can do standing on my head

It’s amazing how, overnight, I went from never seeing myself ever leaving Apple to feeling the need to get out of Apple’s ecosystem and having a very bad taste left in my mouth.

I'm with you on this one. As of the afternoon of Thursday, Aug. 5, I was happy as a clam in my Apple-wrapped digital life. By the same time twenty-four hours later I was "We gotta get out of this place."

I'm now at the point, as I noted, above, that I've so dis-entangled myself from Apple that, other than the loss of my Apple Watch, it would be painless. And I'd get a couple things back I've missed ever since the switch to iOS (like a decent email app).

 

[crymimefireworks]

I find myself at a crossroads. This whole CSAM scanning issue has really given me a kick in the butt to get switched over to privacy-focused software.

I was so excited to finally downsize to a small phone with the iPhone 13 mini after wanting to for years, but now I’m considering the Pixel 5 with GrapheneOS instead. But I’m so invested in the Apple ecosystem from the Apple Watch to Apple Card to AirPods Pro to Find My that just can’t really be replaced.

I also just don’t really like Android design, and I’d always be 6 months behind on the latest tech because that’s how long on average GrapheneOS takes to be ready for the newest Pixels. But I would like more privacy, and I like the choice that Android would provide, like to install GrapheneOS or set Signal as my default messaging app.

Idk, I just feel so stuck. Everytime I switch to Android, I always end up switching back to Apple and staying with Apple much longer. This is the deepest I’ve ever been in the Apple ecosystem, and to leave, I’d be paying money to lose out on convenience, polish, features, and my preferred ecosystem.

It’s amazing how, overnight, I went from never seeing myself ever leaving Apple to feeling the need to get out of Apple’s ecosystem and having a very bad taste left in my mouth.

Same here. Apple's 2019/2020 privacy push sparked me to fully commit. I own something in basically every Apple product category on the market. 16 MBP, iPad, watch 5, airpod pros and maxes.

Check out my other posts here to hear about my journey. Switching to a System76 laptop is doable.

Leaving iPhone will be more challenging. I turned off Siri today. That will have to go eventually, so starting to transition now. Leaving Messages will be hard but doable. Linux phones like PinePhone and Purism are interesting.

Tablet will be easier from an OS standpoint but there are few Linux tablets. Replacing Watch with...Garmin? I only use the activity functions.

I like your idea of using Graphene to transition. Makes it a bit less abrupt. I'll keep a record on this forum of how my move goes.

 

[crymimefireworks]

I'm with you on this one. As of the afternoon of Thursday, Aug. 5, I was happy as a clam in my Apple-wrapped digital life. By the same time twenty-four hours later I was "We gotta get out of this place."

I'm now at the point, as I noted, above, that I've so dis-entangled myself from Apple that, other than the loss of my Apple Watch, it would be painless. And I'd get a couple things back I've missed ever since the switch to iOS (like a decent email app).

Same, an abrupt transition. I was super happy, had bought more Apple products this past year than ever. That brilliant "Mind your own business" ad. Privacy is a human right billboards. Go Apple!!

And then boom. It's over. August 5th, 2021.

 

[MacBH928]

Guys dont let Apple fool you to think its the only option out there, while Windows sucks from a user point perspective and from a privacy perspective Linux has developed a lot lately and now its just as easy to use as Mac or Windows. It looks awesome, look what you can do with it: EX1 EX2 EX3

Its getting more popular and its 100% more privacy as its open source, Steam is supporting it and releasing its next hand-held console based on linux so that will make it even more popular. There is also a free app called WINE that lets you run Windows apps to a certain limit and many things are now done in the browser any way. There is also a Linux distribution called Asahi that is working on making Linux work on M1 apple computers. Donate if you like the idea.

You can get an almost 100% open source computer from Purism , they even have a Mac Mini replacement.

Choosing a linux distro can be overwhelming to understand all the difference, all you have to know that they are mostly the same and any one of them could be made to look like the other, go with Linux Mint for most user friendly. Similarly you can also go for ElementaryOS for a closer to a Mac look/experience.

 

[Rodan52]

Already being done, bro.

See, what did I tell ya! 🤣

 

[WriteNow]

Linux has developed a lot lately and now its just as easy to use as Mac or Windows.

Indeed.

I started using Linux myself about 2005, and--despite all the whines about "difficulty" in some circles--it was pretty easy to adapt. It helped that I used user friendly distros--and even back then, I had zero need to do any arcane terminal commands. I still kept a Mac in daily service for several years--but the big factor was application software, which was better on my elderly Mac than what was available for Linux at the time. Eventually, I reached a point of using my Linux system as pretty much my only daily driver system. (Oddly, I discovered that I could do Linux-only on a Mac G4 that I had running MintPPC Linux. Funny that I discovered MacOS was no longer essential by using Linux running on an Macintosh!)

Of course, it helps that I have fairly modest needs at this point. Specialized needs might demand another OS. But then that's always been the case. I remember some Mac writer admitting that he used Windows because he had some issue that meant he needed Windows software. (I can't remember for sure, but I think he had some issue that meant that he needed dictation software to work--and at the time that was more viable on Windows. Or something like that.) And if my needs change, well, I can adapt. There is no reason why if my needs change why I couldn't have both a Linux system and a Mac on the same desk again, both in daily service.

 

[WriteNow]

Linux phones like PinePhone and Purism are interesting.

They interest me, too--but I keep hearing rumbles that they really aren't quite ready for daily driver use. Although I'm not sure how bad it is--I hear mixed stories. It sounds like deGoogled Android phones may be a more viable choice.

 

[MrTSolar]

I’m really tempted by the Librem 5, but I know I should wait longer. From the sounds of it, battery life is still as bad as my iPhone 12. To make that work, I had to install a MagSafe charger in the car to keep from getting caught with a dead battery.

I was researching a Pixel with CalyxOS when I found the Australia article. I have a Motorola Photon running LineageOS that I toy with, but that OS is way too heavy for that phone. It can barely play music without hesitation. I’d rather not buy another phone, though.

Prior to 2020, I actually didn’t use iCloud at all and barely used Apple stuff. I only had the iPhone and iPad. My laptop runs Linux Mint. I had a 12” MacBook, but it was mostly for knowing how to support MacOS for my job. When we went into lockdown, I decided to go ahead and see how the other half lives and try it all out. It was a big help in organizing my photo and music libraries. I bought the MacBook Air and iPad Pro, and early this year bought the HomePods and the iPhone 12 and HomeKitted the house.

Well, the party’s over, back to my regularly scheduled programming. Most of the HomeKit gear I’ll try to keep, but just find ways to break them out of Apple (actually, most of it is pretty easy. All the IKEA stuff is Zigbee, and WeMo has their own cloud control). The HomePods are really nice, but I’ve managed to tune my Hi-Fi system to sound exactly the same. The HP minis are useful for light control and background listening at work, but then again, the family can still control the lights via wall switches or their devices. I have several other speaker options for work that don’t mess with the Wi-Fi.

I have almost no use for my iPad anymore, but the iPhone 12 will likely go and I’ll go back to my iPhone X for now.

 

[q64ceo]

Well, if Windows allows you to play those games that are so important to you, then you actually have reason to be happy with it. Can't have it both ways. You are providing proof of Windows value. Microsoft has and still puts a lot of effort into making Windows game ready, direct X, etc. In Windows 11 they are incorporating auto HDR. It does not matter to Microsoft why you use Windows only that you use Windows.

One does not need to use Windows to run a good amount of Windows games. Thanks to Crossover Mac and other WINE based derivatives, running Windows apps and games on a Mac is possible, albeit not always a 100% guarantee to work properly.

 

[q64ceo]

I’m really tempted by the Librem 5, but I know I should wait longer. From the sounds of it, battery life is still as bad as my iPhone 12. To make that work, I had to install a MagSafe charger in the car to keep from getting caught with a dead battery.

I was researching a Pixel with CalyxOS when I found the Australia article. I have a Motorola Photon running LineageOS that I toy with, but that OS is way too heavy for that phone. It can barely play music without hesitation. I’d rather not buy another phone, though.

Prior to 2020, I actually didn’t use iCloud at all and barely used Apple stuff. I only had the iPhone and iPad. My laptop runs Linux Mint. I had a 12” MacBook, but it was mostly for knowing how to support MacOS for my job. When we went into lockdown, I decided to go ahead and see how the other half lives and try it all out. It was a big help in organizing my photo and music libraries. I bought the MacBook Air and iPad Pro, and early this year bought the HomePods and the iPhone 12 and HomeKitted the house.

Well, the party’s over, back to my regularly scheduled programming. Most of the HomeKit gear I’ll try to keep, but just find ways to break them out of Apple (actually, most of it is pretty easy. All the IKEA stuff is Zigbee, and WeMo has their own cloud control). The HomePods are really nice, but I’ve managed to tune my Hi-Fi system to sound exactly the same. The HP minis are useful for light control and background listening at work, but then again, the family can still control the lights via wall switches or their devices. I have several other speaker options for work that don’t mess with the Wi-Fi.

I have almost no use for my iPad anymore, but the iPhone 12 will likely go and I’ll go back to my iPhone X for now.

The Librem 5 is thick, heavy, the CPU is slow as ****, storage is abysmal, RAM is comically low, there is no hardware graphics acceleration, it's woefully overpriced when placed up against phones with similar specs (not talking about a $50 difference, but more like a $400 difference), and until a few months ago it was unable to actually make phone calls as it was released before it could (A phone that could not make phone calls. Think about that for a minute). But hey, at least it has a user replaceable battery and the g̶o̶v̶e̶r̶n̶m̶e̶n̶t̶ Apple isn't spying on you. So have fun.

 

[jseymour]

The Librem 5 is ...

... a non-starter, sounds like. Yikes!

I expect I'll go to a Pixel 5a and tune out as much Google as I can, or load LineageOS, GrapheneOS, or CalyxOS on it. After I upgrade the home Linux server I'm going to fire up an OwnCloud instance on it. That's what I'll use for cloud storage.

 

[keeper]

I find myself at a crossroads. This whole CSAM scanning issue has really given me a kick in the butt to get switched over to privacy-focused software.

I was so excited to finally downsize to a small phone with the iPhone 13 mini after wanting to for years, but now I’m considering the Pixel 5 with GrapheneOS instead. But I’m so invested in the Apple ecosystem from the Apple Watch to Apple Card to AirPods Pro to Find My that just can’t really be replaced.

I also just don’t really like Android design, and I’d always be 6 months behind on the latest tech because that’s how long on average GrapheneOS takes to be ready for the newest Pixels. But I would like more privacy, and I like the choice that Android would provide, like to install GrapheneOS or set Signal as my default messaging app.

Idk, I just feel so stuck. Everytime I switch to Android, I always end up switching back to Apple and staying with Apple much longer. This is the deepest I’ve ever been in the Apple ecosystem, and to leave, I’d be paying money to lose out on convenience, polish, features, and my preferred ecosystem.

It’s amazing how, overnight, I went from never seeing myself ever leaving Apple to feeling the need to get out of Apple’s ecosystem and having a very bad taste left in my mouth.

Just install a Synology NAS use that for photos and documents etc and use the Apple stuff as a front end to your private data.

 

[q64ceo]

... a non-starter, sounds like. Yikes!

I expect I'll go to a Pixel 5a and tune out as much Google as I can, or load LineageOS, GrapheneOS, or CalyxOS on it. After I upgrade the home Linux server I'm going to fire up an OwnCloud instance on it. That's what I'll use for cloud storage.

There is in no way shape or form any kind of justification for charging $800 for a phone with 32GB of internal storage and 3GB RAM along with a quad-core slow-ass CPU and a screen with the resolution of 720×1440. Only idiots who are in fear that the government is going to find their deepest darkest secrets would shell out that much for such a pitiful device.

 

[jseymour]

Only idiots ... would shell out that much for such a pitiful device.

I don't think that needed qualification

 

[I7guy]

All my games run fine in Linux, actually, better than in Windows. Don't know what you are even talking about. Took some effort sure, Fallout 4 had major issues but now runs like a clock.

Helps tons that Steam has Proton support. I force-enable it and that automagically allows a ton of 'unsupported' games to run. Those that don't work with that solution (fallout 4) takes a lot of time in Terminal and research.

My two favorite AAA games, Doom Eternal and MSFS 2020, will not run on Linux and I don't do gaming consoles.

 

[I7guy]

Just install a Synology NAS use that for photos and documents etc and use the Apple stuff as a front end to your private data.

What does one do if the NAS gets destroyed somehow? Fire, flood etc. That's one of the reasons documents should be backed up off-site.