Comment by daemin
4 days ago
If you phrase it as "sideloading" then probably not, since it doesn't sound like something they might want to do, it also sounds difficult and technical. If you phrase it as installing your own software then it might garner some interest from the general populace, as who wouldn't want the option to install their desired software.
A lot of people won't even understand the question, because they can install their apps from the app store, because that's where the apps come from, the app store has what phones crave.
Some of them will even be frightened by the question because they consider their devices scary and dangerous enough already.
A lot of people don't need general purpose computing devices either, but some people, myself included, do want them. I want to be able to install applications from any source of my choosing, including developing my own software.
The problem in these conversations is that we’re in a fairly small niche of people who understand their systems and want to be able to tinker with them.
I agree, my mother doesn’t really need a general purpose computing device. She needs a device that can do Whatsapp video calls and the odd bit of banking.
I don’t think you and she should get the same device. But there are a lot more of her than us. So you’re left with buying a niche, open device (usually pricey and less up to date hardware) or railing against the people making devices for an audience who are for the most part closer to my mother’s aptitude than yours.
I don’t see an easy answer here.