How do I avoid enshitification of my keyboard and mouse
How do I avoid enshitification of my keyboard and mouse
I have been using Logitech peripherals for years. Logitech gear always just worked.
Now they demand internet accounts to use the features of the keyboard and mouse that I purchased. WTF?
Not only that, have to use wide-open-to-snooping Chrome to adjust the settings. You cannot adjust/use your mouse and keyboard if you just use Firefox.
This only makes sense if they are planning (or are already) tracking my every move online to sell to advertisers or spooks.
What are the good options?
Also, if anybody sees how these changes could be benign, please let me know.
EDIT:
By popular demand:
The keyboard I bought that started this journey: MX Keys S
The key feature that first demanded cloud access: Swithing between computers, now it is requires it to adjust the receivers. I have both a Bolt and a Unifying receiver.
Mouse (actually a trackball) that now is requesting that I use a Chrome Browser to adjust it: M570
Software:
The Logi SetPoint Settings I open from Windows now requires you to log into your Logitech account to make changes to your Unifying or 2.4 ghz usb receiver. This link takes you to a screen that says Logi Web Connect. It does not work unless you use the latest version of Chrome, Edge, & Opera, but reccomends Chrome for the best experience.
Logitech + used to require this to enable options, but I don’t see it on my Windows computer anymore. It is still on my Mac, but upon opening it to confirm for this message, it seems to be announcing that it is now able to incorporate AI into everything I type. (ugggh)
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Buy open hardware with open source firmware.
I'm typing this from a Corne-ish Zen and you can see my firmware (ZMK) with my keymap at https://github.com/Utopiah/zmk-config-zen-2/blob/main/config/corneish_zen.keymap#L27
Nobody can touch this but me. No update can break it. Yet, it's more feature rich than most keyboards.
There are equivalents for most peripherals. It's not cheap, usually even MORE expensive than already pricey ones like Logitech (I have an MX Vertical, still) but IMHO it's worth it. It's good right now, pragmatically speaking, but also morally speaking.
I advise against swimming upstream, namely NOT buying hardware that have such enshitification practices because if they don't do it today, they might tomorrow when there is more pressure from shareholders. Also by buying alternatives you are economically supporting people whom you believe are providing better solutions for yourself and others.
PS: a gateway to such projects is https://crowdsupply.com which is a kind of KickStarter. I bought a dozen things there, all delivered and working.
Can you please provide the link to your keyboard?
Happy to, it is a Corne-ish Zen (6 columns (3x6) / Rose Gold) that I bought as a group buy from https://splitkb.com , ordered in May 2022 and received in January 2023. I've been using it daily, at home and on the move, since.
It's not cheap but if you work hours a day on a computer, if you have pain in the hands or wrist as I did, finding the "right" keyboard for you, both ergonomically speaking and software wise, is worth every penny IMHO.
They don't have it anymore it seems but they have a lot of quality alternatives I'm sure.
It looks like https://lowprokb.ca/products/corne-ish-zen?variant=42051226796196
I'd hope that a $300 keyboard that was designed to be customized would.
What I meant to say is that a lot of commercial keyboards are sold with some "customizable" they are. And it's partly true, you have tool allowing to make some shortcut on popular OSes. It might be sufficient for some people ... but it is NOT the same as putting your own firmware in it.
I'm not advocating for a $300 keyboard over a $30 one, "just" for genuine customization. Some that doesn't have arbitrary limitations from the manufacturer and doesn't have support for only some OSes which in turns (well Windows and MacOS not to name them) also promote a consumer only with limited control options, as OP is saying about enshitification.
Happy Cakeday! 🍰🎂