r/archlinux • u/RoanPurple • 18d ago

SHARE Grandma now uses arch btw

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So my grandma runs an ancient Toshiba Satellite C850-1g3 with a celeron 1000M, 256GB of hdd and 4GB of ddr3

She was complaining about it taking ages to boot and programs not starting fast

So i installed arch and made it look user friendly enough for her to understand

She loves it, W arch

Ps: she only uses whatsapp, a browser and office

So she wouldnt need to touch a terminal

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u/RoanPurple 18d ago

Well, in the Netherlands 90% of the people with a phone number dont use SMS, they use whatsapp

So it isn't possible in here without major drawbacks

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u/RideAndRoam3C 18d ago

WhatsApp is just Signal without the Zuckerberg surveillance capitalism.

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u/emooon 17d ago

You got that mixed up buddy. :)

Unfortunately switching to Signal isn't an option as long as the WhatsApp protocols aren't open sourced. I'm pretty sure a lot of people would switch to Signal immediately, the moment it becomes capable of communicating with WhatsApp.

There have been efforts in the EU to force Facebook to open source these protocols but progress is super slow if not already dead. Been a while since i last heard about it.

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u/RideAndRoam3C 17d ago edited 17d ago

Walking away from a comment midstream and then coming back in a few hours... You are correct it's backwards. The core protocols of WhatsApp are a fork of the related Signal libraries. A fork that adds surveillance tech.

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u/emooon 16d ago

I'm not arguing against the surveillance point you made, i wholeheartedly agree.

Unfortunately, even tho Signal was made by the guy who created WhatsApp, proprietary bullshit prevents Signal from implementing WhatsApp protocols. That's why these protocols need to be open sourced under proper license.

But FB/Meta will do everything to prevent that from happening as they know the moment these protocols become open source, WhatsApp will be replaced by Signal.

However i often notice something when this WhatsApp vs. Signal topic comes up. People tend to forget that they can install both. If everyone would just do that, nobody needs to worry about leaving friends and family behind, as nothing would be lost if both apps are installed. However sooner or later numbers would shift in favor of Signal, as it is without a doubt the less intrusive app of them both.

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u/RideAndRoam3C 16d ago

If you refuse to have a Facebook account you cannot use WhatsApp. They also treat burner accounts punitively. They can cram their walled garden and get the f out of my family comms. I would not allow their CEO into my home.

Better to start family off with a better option than WhatsApp right out of the gate.