November 5, 2025
No browser, big brawl
Radiant Computer
A freedom-first PC sparks fights over AI, access, and “where’s the UI”
TLDR: Radiant unveiled a clean-slate, browserless, open PC that promises focus and user control. Commenters cheered the vision but clashed over accessibility for disabled users, baked-in AI, and a custom language, demanding real demos and proof before buying the anti-Big Tech dream.
Radiant says it’s building a clean‑slate computer that cuts out Big Tech and even skips a web browser, pitching a calmer, offline‑first space for making and learning. The crowd went wild—then split. Some cheered the rebel vibes of Radiant; others heard “AI‑native” and slammed the brakes.
The loudest thread? Accessibility. Commenter mwcampbell worried clean‑slate often means “forgot the blind people” until it’s painfully bolted on later. Fans argued starting fresh could be a chance to do better, but skeptics demanded receipts: screen reader support, keyboard‑only control, high‑contrast modes—now, not someday.
Then came the AI panic. user_7832 loved the “computer as your mind’s notebook” idea—until the line about an AI‑native operating system. Cue side‑eye. lowsong dunked on the site’s “AI slop artwork,” saying the creative‑freedom talk doesn’t match the AI push, despite promises it runs locally and keeps data private.
Developers chimed in with spicy pragmatism: underdeserver questioned why Radiant needs its own custom language, warning that if you want apps, don’t make coders learn Esperanto. And the meme of the day: “Screenshots or it didn’t happen.” slater’s “So what does its UI look like?” became the chorus. Radiant’s vision is bold; the internet wants proof—and a path that includes everyone.
Key Points
- •Radiant Computer proposes a clean-slate personal computing system focused on autonomy, creativity, and privacy.
- •The system omits a web browser and uses its own network with no social media, scripts, or trackers.
- •Radiant is fully open from hardware to software and is designed as an offline-first environment.
- •All applications and interfaces are accessible as code that users can read, edit, and extend.
- •The project explores an AI-native design to assist creation and coding while keeping data private; it is an ongoing research effort.