HN Explorer

Ask HN: Ethical Laptop and Smartphone Replacements

5 points by mrkpdl ↗ HN
The horrific news out of America today has me seriously questioning what devices to use going forward.

http://nypost.com/2025/01/29/us-news/trump-announces-up-to-30k-illegal-immigrants-will-be-sent-to-guantanamo-bay/

I’m currently a heavy user of the Apple ecosystem. Given Cook’s donation to and presence on the stage at the inauguration I feel this is no longer tenable. The problem is I’m not aware of viable alternative devices that aren’t made by one of the companies who were also up there on the stage.

It prompts me to ask, are there any viable MacBook and iPhone alternatives, which aren’t produced by the companies that were up on stage with Trump. Even more ideal would be devices that orginate from within the European Union/away from the US?

What brands are working in this space?

Or are we stuck?

As a consumer the line has to be drawn somewhere, and at some time. I know issues with these companies already existed. I’m keen to understand potential paths forward.

9 comments

[ 3.0 ms ] story [ 43.6 ms ] thread
syndicatedjelly
A+ trolling
mrkpdl
Nope, it’s a genuine question. Maybe the answer is that we are stuck with these providers. But the question is asked with the sincere hope that someone has a Linux laptop that meets the above criteria.
darthrupert
Asus is from Taiwan, so that seems to be the least problematic one from this kind of a geopolitical perspective.

If you don't mind China then Lenovo is an obvious choice. But that would be hypocritical given what your wrote about the US

Europe stopped making computers decades ago. Some companies brand Clevo-made (also Taiwanese) Linux laptops in EU area though.

mrkpdl
ASUS is an interesting thought thanks.

I agree that China would be hypocritical, which is why I skewed toward the EU in the question, though I understand that may be unrealistic. I also understand that almost everything is likely to be manufactured in China, but that is the case with Apple too.

lawn
I use a Fairphone phone with CalyxOS (an android operating system) and it's been very good to me. It's a European company based in Amsterdam.
mrkpdl
Thanks, Fairphone looks promising!
levanten
I guess you can look into Framework for laptops. Many appear to be satisfied with them on HN.
dinkumthinkum
I would normally tend to question the motive oof this question but then again many people on the left tend to seriously believe hyperbolic and alarmist stuff. You think it is untenable to have an Apple product because Tim Cook, who is undoubtedly on the left, went to the inauguration of the U.S. President? And your reason is because what? You realize illegal immigrants have been housed at that base for years under multiple presidents, right? Also, to me it is a strange question to ask on HN, presumably HNers would be aware of laptops and smartphones that are not made by Apple ... I guess I don't get it.
mrkpdl
On the first point I agree - it is possible that I overreacted to Tim Cook partially paying for and attending the inauguration. Perhaps he is doing everything he can behind the scenes to help the people that the new administration are hurting. But we don’t know that.

Your second point misses the gravity of what is happening in America right now. Perhaps intentionally on your part? The new administration are laying the groundwork for severe human rights abuse. History has proven that establishing camps on this scale never ends well.

Your third point (that HNers would be aware of the alternatives) is exactly why I asked the question here. In the hope that somebody can fill me in on alternatives that meet the criteria in my original post…