What Makes Good Tech?
Table of Contents
When we evaluate technology providers, we're not just looking at features or pricing - we're examining the fundamental relationship between a provider and their users. Think of it like any other relationship: it should be built on respect, honesty, and the freedom to leave if things aren't working out. Here are our key criteria to tell good and bad services apart.
1. Freedom
Remember trying to leave Facebook but feeling stuck because "everyone's on it"? Or wanting to switch away from iMessage but dreading the green bubble shame? That's exactly what we want to avoid. Good technology gives you the freedom to leave.
What this means in practice:
- Follows open standards that other services can implement
- Connects with other providers to avoid centralisation
- Makes it easy to take your data to a new provider
E-mail is a great example for an open protocol where all the different implementations and providers can play nicely with each other. It's also decentralised, because there's no central authority controlling it, and it's federated - meaning all the servers can talk to each other to deliver mail between users. And when you switch to a new provider, you can often migrate your data with just a few clicks, giving you the freedom to switch.
2. Privacy & Security
We've all had that moment - you talk about something, and suddenly ads for it appear everywhere. That's what happens when tech companies disrespect your privacy. They can learn who you are by reading your emails, messages, search and browser history and even your journal. And that's just the tip of the iceberg.
Real privacy means:
- No selling of any data
- No tracking or profiling
- Not using private data for anything
This is one of the reasons that makes open-source software so important and such a focus for us. With open-source you can always know what an app does and when, and if it starts doing shady things the community always makes a copy and removes the shady behaviour.
But privacy isn't just about not collecting data - it's also about protecting the data that is necessary for the service. Think about your bank - they need to store your balance and transactions, but they better make sure nobody else can access it. Good providers:
- Only store what's absolutely necessary
- Use strong encryption to protect your data
- Keep their systems up-to-date and secure
- Are open about their security measures
3. Transparency & Fair Value
A good provider is like an open book - you should be able to understand exactly who they are, how they operate, and what you're getting for your money. This transparency builds trust and helps you make informed decisions.
Real transparency means being open about everything:
- Where they're located and how they're funded
- Their technical infrastructure and its limitations
- Their business model and financial stability
- Their strengths and yes, even their weaknesses
- How they handle problems when they occur
You shouldn't have to dig through fine print or guess what's going on behind the scenes. When a provider is truly transparent, you can evaluate whether they're a good fit for your needs and trust they'll be around for the long haul.
And when it comes to value, it's about building a relationship that works for everyone. Good providers:
- Don't trap you in expensive subscriptions you don't need
- Scale pricing fairly as you grow
- Price their service to be sustainable while staying competitive
Think about it - a provider needs to make enough money to maintain their service and keep improving it, but they shouldn't be gouging users just because they can. When the pricing is fair, everyone wins - the provider can thrive, and users get good value for their money.
Making the Choice
When we look at a service, we ask:
- Can we leave if we need to?
- Is our data protected and private?
- Do we understand who they are and how they operate?
- Are we getting fair value for our money?
The answers tell us whether a provider truly serves its users or is just another tech company building an empire at users' expense.
Good technology empowers you rather than trying to control you. It's that simple.