Non-First Party Tech and Alternative Tech

[Ryoma Maser]

We all know the main brands Apple, Microsoft, Sony, and others but what like main tech you use or are interested in from non-first party tech companies? There is also alternative tech to the main standard technology we are used to, do you use anything that would be considered an alternative technology?

For me if you want to considered it alternative, I use a Samsung Tablet instead of an iPad despite my mostly Apple ecosystem due to cost reasons, it was cheaper in the long run and came with a pen included compared to the buy separate Apple Pen when I did my trade in of my old Macbook. I also do not like in-ear buds, so I use a cheap set of open ears from TJMaxx that was about $20 U.S. dollars at the time called Tech Theory actually really good quality despite the cheap price considering I only mostly use them for stuff at work, or when I can't use headphones.

For what inspired me to make this thread, I was going to get a smartwatch called a Pebble Round 2 before running into issues with the company and asking for a refund, I found this company before it and it ended up becoming a new fixation of mine, Nothing. Nothing Technologies makes phones, smartwatches, earbuds, and headphones and I fallen down a deep rabbit hole of possibly converting. They have a budget line of tech which include the next Smartwatch I am going to buy from their CMF line in addition considering their open ears and their headphones. If I get a chance next time I upgrade, I will see if I can get a Nothing Phone.

Also something I've become interested in getting in alt tech is a MP3 Player (the fact this can be probably considering alt tech in this day and age) from a company called FIIO which sells their Echo Mini, a cassette theme MP3 Player that I would love since I don't use Spotify and I've been wanting a new music player since my senior year of college in 2022/2023.

One last thing I've been interested is this smartphone size E-Ink E-reader from BOOX called a Palma, which I've been wanting to get for travel purposes for ages but having trouble for a good price. I used to be a big reader but even as a librarian I struggle nowadays, so I wanted this as a dedicated reader instead of using my phone or my Kindle tablet.

So, what non-first party tech that you use or alt tech you use? Anything can count!

 

[Archaic]

The term "first party" doesn't really work for the context here, I think? Any company is a first party within the context of its ecosystem.

I built my desktop rather than buying a pre-built. The majority of the parts are from companies who most people looking at computers would know however, so I'm not sure if you'd consider them alternative. Certainly I wouldn't consider Gigabyte (my motherboard and video card), Gskill (RAM), or CoolerMaster (CPU fan) "alternative". Even with those parts from lesser known companies, it's still a bit iffy. My current WiFi card is made by Cudy, but the actual chip on that card is an Intel one, so that's pretty standard.

Perhaps the closest thing I have to what you're looking for that comes to mind is my CyberGadget Retro Freak, a Japanese made console that allows you to play games from a bunch of retro systems using your original carts.

 

[pilosophos]

Alright, I get where you're coming from Ryoma but I don't know if I'd call Samsung, the multi-trillion dollar megacorporation that also produces tanks and oil rigs, alternative.

Personally I think I gush over cool oddware on the internet like e-ink smartphones and cyberdecks but most of the things I actually use daily are devices that used to be mainstream that I just haven't upgraded from. My travel laptop, a Thinkpad X260, turns 10 years old this year! There were probably millions of these things sold and Lenovo's not exactly a family-owned business, but maybe the X260 fits the vibe you're thinking of in today's context?

I am rather saddened that the MP3 player is no longer as popular as it once was. Before it kicked the can, I used the hell out of a Sansa Clip Plus.

The most unusual devices that I own now: a decommissioned Linux-based transit pass reader with integrated NFC and barcode readers, and an open-source hardware MNT Pocket Reform v1 that I got as a gift from someone who I met online who hadn't used theirs in a while.

Imagine this except in purple, and that's what I have. Good conversation starter at conferences and conventions, where people come up just to take a look at the funny little laptop.

 

[recarmdra]

Also something I've become interested in getting in alt tech is a MP3 Player (the fact this can be probably considering alt tech in this day and age) from a company called FIIO which sells their Echo Mini, a cassette theme MP3 Player that I would love since I don't use Spotify and I've been wanting a new music player since my senior year of college in 2022/2023.

i have one of these!!! the exact one!! i got the light blue one and i absolutely love it to bits!

i've been wanting to downgrade to a regular phone, not a smartphone (what people now call "dumbphone") but the reliance on apps at the moment, and the services provided by national phone providers, aren't really matching up with my wishes right now...

 

[Ryoma Maser]

The term "first party" doesn't really work for the context here, I think? Any company is a first party within the context of its ecosystem.

I only really did it cause what do common non-tech infuse people really think of the well-known brands? They are the main systems we use Apple, Microsoft, Samsung and whatnot so in a way they are the first/main party tech people, but see the problem in the long run.

Alright, I get where you're coming from Ryoma but I don't know if I'd call Samsung, the multi-trillion dollar megacorporation that also produces tanks and oil rigs, alternative.

Spoiler

It is a weird way to describe it, but since iPad dominates the tablet market, in a way it is a weird alternative to do so (people also confused it for an iPad). I only did it cause I considered it cheaper (I traded in my old Macbook, since at this time I no longer need a laptop, and got the max value at the time of about $140(?) and with the combo of the best and lowest price iPad with the Pencil it was cheaper to do the Samsung tablet due to a lower price but great quality along with the pen being included) and and did it to see if I can get away from Apple. Honestly, never had problems with it besides the charger (since all my charging blocks were older) and sometimes the case I bought for it but those are issues unrelated to the tablet itself.

i have one of these!!! the exact one!! i got the light blue one and i absolutely love it to bits!

I am really considering one along with my Nothing purchase as I've been unable to get music onto my old iPod that I have (even with Linux powers that strangely worked on it) and for the storage of it compared to said iPod. My concerns is ordering from AliExpress which looks to be the main buying point of it (I've seen it on Backmarket refurbished for $125 U.S.) and the people saying how plastic it may be a structural weakness of it (I've seen leather cases though).

i've been wanting to downgrade to a regular phone, not a smartphone (what people now call "dumbphone") but the reliance on apps at the moment, and the services provided by national phone providers, aren't really matching up with my wishes right now...

I considered somehow getting a Samsung Folder, a Korean flip phone with some smart phone capabilities as my next phone but considering how much you kinda need a smartphone nowadays and with most of my field of works needing I don't see it anytime soon plus it not even working in the States where I live. My therapist did recommend something called a Callback phone from Commodore when I was talking about my new Nothing tech fixation but I think I would hope to make my next phone a Nothing Phone if it has to be smartphone.

I have seen some people review some weird combo smart and feature/dumb phones like this channel along side other tech I've discovered.